Let me take you back to when I decided to become a morning person. You know the drill—wake up at 5 AM, sip on some green juice, do a bit of yoga, and maybe even get a head start on the day’s work. I had read countless articles, watched motivational videos, and convinced myself that this was the key to unlocking a healthier, more productive life. So, I set my alarm and started the journey of becoming a "morning person."
At first, I’ll admit, it felt great. Waking up before the world, having that quiet time to myself, and getting a jump on my tasks—it felt like I was finally winning at life. That extra hour in the morning did give me more time to work every day, and I really did feel more productive. But, as the days turned into weeks, I noticed something else creeping in. My health was starting to suffer, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on why.
I began feeling more tired, not just in the afternoons but throughout the day. My sleep was off, even though I was going to bed early. I was more anxious and easily stressed. It didn’t make sense—wasn’t this supposed to make me feel better?
The Harsh Reality
As I started digging deeper, I realized the culprit wasn’t just the early wake-up time; it was what I was doing with that extra hour. Like many of us, I’d reach for my phone the moment I woke up. Before my feet even hit the floor, I was scrolling through emails, checking social media, and catching up on news. It was like a reflex, something I didn’t even think about—until it hit me how this one habit was ruining everything I was trying to improve.
I know what you’re thinking—“But I need to check my phone in the morning!” Trust me, I felt the same way. It was how I stayed connected, got my news, and felt in control of my day. But here’s the thing: by diving into my phone first thing, I was letting all that stress and information dictate my mood before I even had a chance to take a breath. My mind was instantly filled with work emails, perfectly curated Instagram lives, and whatever crisis was breaking in the news that day. No wonder I was feeling exhausted before my day even started!
The Science Backs It Up
And it wasn’t just in my head. The more I looked into it, the more I learned that this morning phone habit was triggering a stress response in my brain. Every time I checked my phone, my brain was going into overdrive, releasing cortisol—the lovely stress hormone. Instead of starting my day calm and collected, I was setting myself up for anxiety and burnout.
And let’s not forget the blue light from my screen, which was messing with my circadian rhythm and affecting my sleep. It’s ironic, really—waking up early to be more productive was actually sabotaging my health in ways I never expected.
A New Approach
So, I decided to try something different. Instead of grabbing my phone first thing, I started leaving it on airplane mode for the first 30 minutes after waking up. I’d stretch, drink a glass of water, or just sit quietly, letting my brain wake up naturally. On days when I really needed some screen time, I’d use a wellness app for a guided meditation or some mindful breathing exercises—something that actually helped me start the day on the right foot.
My Takeaway
I’m not saying becoming a morning person is a bad idea—it can be great if it works for you. But what I’ve learned is that how you spend those morning hours matters just as much as waking up early. For me, ditching the phone-first thing in the morning has made all the difference. Now, my mornings are less stressful, my days feel brighter, and my health? It’s finally back on track. So, if you’re thinking about making some changes to your morning routine, maybe start with this one small tweak. You might be surprised at how much better you feel.