In the moment, it can feel impossible to lull your body back to sleep. But it is possible. Here's how to make it happen.
3 Ways to Be a Better Morning Person
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Wake up at the Same Time Every Day
Getting up at the same time every day might matter just as much as getting up early. One study that followed 61 Harvard students for a month found that individuals with the most consistent wake-up times performed better than those who opted to mix it up, despite getting the same amount of sleep overall. When authors Benjamin Spall and Michael Xander interviewed 300 successful people about their morning routines, they found that the average wake up time was a very specific 6:27 a.m. Every single day.
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Make Time for Things That Make You Feel Good
In their research Spall and Xander also found that the most successful morning people got up early to carve out time for things that make them feel good. This may be especially important for parents who may not otherwise have that time once the kids wake up. There’s evidence that journaling and exercise are great ways to get ready for the day, unless you hate exercise and journaling. Marie Kondo says she starts the day by opening windows, burning incense, and of course, tidying up, but the trick is finding what works for you. Drawing a blank? Morning sex can boost mood, lower blood pressure, and improve concentration, not to mention make for a better marriage. So maybe start there.
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Kill Your Alarm Clock
While it may seem hard to become a morning person—and certainly a consistent one—without an alarm clock, learning to not depend on it is one of the best things people can do for themselves. Alarm clocks jolt people awake and cause what experts refer to as “sleep inertia” — a period of cognitive and motor impairment after waking up that feels like it qualifies as a coffee emergency.
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Appreciation and validation are big parts of any relationship. Here are the ways in which men would like to hear them expressed.
So, What Makes for a Good Compliment?
Who doesn’t love a compliment? Compliments, good compliments that is, are powerful things that should be doled our sparingly. They work best when they’re unprompted. If your partner says, “Doesn’t this outfit look good on me?” before you’ve had the chance to tell her yourself, then you’ve already lost. Additionally, specificity is key. If you can point out something specific about a person, that shows attention to detail and gives sincerity to the compliment. So, if your partner brings out a new blue dress, don’t just say, “That dress looks nice.” Hitting them with, “Wow, blue really looks great one you.” elevates the compliment and shows them that you’re sincere. Even better? “You wear off the shoulder dresses so well.”
Above all else, the key to a good compliment is positivity. “Always phrase your compliment in a positive way,” says Jill Lieberman, author of Choose Happy. “Even though your heart may be in the right place, you want to make sure your words are well received.” Think: “You look so well rested!” instead of “You don’t look tired today.”
Here’s some more insight into what makes a truly great compliment.
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