For some people, there’s nothing better than getting up nice and early while the rest of the world is still sound asleep. For others, mornings are more of a living nightmare, particularly in winter when getting up means leaving the warm, cosy bed behind.
If ‘become a morning person’ was on your New Year’s resolution list, you’re not alone. Fatih Mustafa Çelebi, co-founder and CEO of Meditopia, an all-in-one mental health solution with personalised wellbeing support, has given his top tips to help you achieve your goal in 2025.
Understanding your body
Although it’s tempting to jump straight into trying all of Fatih’s tips, he urges you to take a moment to assess why getting up early is a struggle.
Everyone has a chronotype which is your body’s natural sleep preference. It determines whether you truly are a morning person or a night owl, or even somewhere in between. Figuring out which one you are can help you adjust your schedule to better suit your internal clock, making waking up far easier.
Fatih mentions several other factors that can contribute to difficulty getting up in the morning, such as poor sleep quality, stress, diet, and underlying health issues. If you address these first, you’ll be much closer to achieving ‘morning person’ status.
Establish a consistent sleep schedule
Fatih says that getting up and going to bed at the same time every day is going to be the biggest contributing factor to your success – yes, even on weekends.
Creating a routine will regulate your internal clock and help modify it to better suit your lifestyle. You can either do this gradually or completely cold turkey, but sticking to it is what will really make the difference.
Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep a night, and Fatih claims you’ll be able to see results in less than a week.
Create a calming bedtime routine
This tip goes hand in hand with creating a sleep schedule. A soothing bedtime routine can signal to your body that it’s time to wind down and prepare for sleep. This will be particularly helpful if stress was one of the factors contributing to difficulty in getting up.
Fatih recommends reading a book, taking a warm bath, or practicing relaxation techniques like meditation.
Try to get your clothes ready the night before too, as well as making your lunch and packing your bag. Not only does this reduce the stress you’ll face in the morning but allows you to get in an extra few minutes of sleep.
Avoid watching TV or going on your phone right before you sleep, as the blue light emitted can interfere with your body’s production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep.
Shift your mindset
It may be hard to think positively when you’ve been forced out of your bed at 6:30 am, but Fatih claims having a can-do attitude will help start your day on a much better note.
Repeating positive affirmations such as “I am capable,” “I am energized,” or “today is full of possibilities,” can replace your negative thoughts, and essentially ‘fool’ your brain into thinking that it’s happy to be up early.
The theory is, with enough repetition, you will no longer have to trick your brain because you will genuinely feel happier when you get up.
Further tips from Fatih
-
Use natural light – Waking up to natural light has been shown to make you feel more awake and energised for the day. Try leaving a crack in your curtains for the light to flood in when the sun begins to rise. If natural light is limited, consider investing in a light therapy lamp to simulate sunlight and help regulate your sleep-wake cycle.
-
Morning meditation – Giving yourself the time and space to relax in the morning can set a positive tone for the rest of the day. Meditation reduces stress, increases mindfulness, and improves your overall sense of well-being, all of which are also connected to your quality of sleep. Having a moment to reconnect with yourself can make mornings something to look forward to, easing the struggle of getting up.
-
Use sleep–promoting apps – Technology can be a great way to aid your sleep. There are several apps that help you to keep track of when you’re going to bed and waking up, and those that play sounds like white noise to help you fall asleep faster.
Commenting on the advice, Fatih Mustafa Çelebi, co-founder and CEO of Meditopia said: “The start of a new year is always exciting as it gives people a fresh chance to achieve their goals, and being able to get up early is something that will be on a lot of people’s New Year resolution list.
“Perseverance is really the key here. There are going to be cold, dark, horrible mornings where all you want to do is press the snooze button on your alarm and go back to bed. These times are critical, as when you give in once, it becomes easier to give in again, and the whole routine will slip away.
“Focus on the small wins, listen to your body, and create a routine that you feel confident you can stick to.
“With the help of these tips, you’ll be able to proudly call yourself a morning person in no time.”