WAYS TO BECOME A MORNING PERSON

(inc.com) You've heard it all: The morning bird catches the worm, morning people are more successful than night owls, and nothing compares to making that 5:45 am spin class. for those of you who aren't naturally morning people, there are two options. You can either learn to optimize your night owl tendencies, working against a society that favors morning people in all regards, or you can embrace what morning bird tendencies you have. Everyone has them to varying degrees, and you can tap into your own reserves. To be clear, you won't be guaranteed more success, happiness, or a better body if you get up at 6 a.m. instead of 7:30. However, if your schedule, life, kids, or boss dictates earlier hours, you need to oblige. Here are the best ways to adjust your natural circadian rhythm and bring out the morning you.

1. Practice good sleep hygiene

Most Americans don't get enough hours of quality sleep. How much anyone needs varies from person to person. However, avoiding food, exercise, and looking at a screen for at least two hours before going to bed, minimizing light and darkness, and finding your body's rhythm (which might mean no caffeine after 10 a.m. or none at all) are crucial. For those with insomnia or serious sleep issues like sleep apnea, medical intervention is a must.

2. Build a healthy morning ritual

if you're prone to drifting in and out of sleep after your alarm goes off, checking your Facebook feed right away, or running to the bathroom already feeling like you're late, you're not doing yourself any favors. A healthy morning routine should include peace and prepping your body with some light stretching (which can be done in bed if you like). Create a skin regimen that you follow each morning, try starting the day with warm lemon water instead of coffee (coffee can come 30 minutes later if you like), and learn to let go of the snooze button.

3. Create a pre-10am task list

Morning people often say they're more successful because they "get so much done" before many people have even stumbled into the office. Prioritize your tasks as if you were a triage nurse: What absolutely needs to get done and/or requires the most care and attention? This will be different for everyone, whether it's making sure the kids are sent to school with a healthy lunch or answering Client X's requests before any other project. See what you can get done before 10 am, and reward yourself by carving out "me time" later in the afternoon.

4. Do as much as you can the night before

Do you catch yourself putting off a lot of easy tasks and chores for the morning when you're most rushed? Putting out the day's outfit, re-upping your gym bag, packing your lunch, or putting away the dishes can all be nightly tasks. Plus, it's time better spent than vegging on the couch and getting overly stimulated with screen time.

5. Shower the night before

In some countries, such as South Korea, it's incredibly strange to shower in the mornings because there's too much to do. a Shower or (even better) take a bath the night before to take care of your shampooing, shaving, and other necessities. You'll save an incredible amount of time in the morning that's better used elsewhere. Plus, a hot shower or bath can be a great help with sleep hygiene, making you groggy and more ready for sleep.