How many of us can truly say we are morning people? How many of us can jump out of bed before the alarm sounds feeling fully energised and happy? Not many of us, that’s for sure, especially if it is the morning after you have been out partying with your friends.

Even when you don’t go out for the evening, and you go to bed at a sensible time, you may find yourself tossing and turning with a thousands thoughts racing through your mind, and keeping you from some much needed sleep.

Here are some simple tips to try and  make your mornings more of a positive experience:

1: Let the light in!

If you sleep well, but find it difficult to wake up in the morning, then try to go to sleep at night with your curtains half open. This way, you will be filling your bedroom with natural morning light as the sun rises. This sends a signal to your brain to start producing more adrenaline. By the time your alarm clock sounds off, you will already be half-awake, and getting up will be less of a shock to your system.

2: Make bedtime earlier

If you find yourself filling your evenings with pointless stuff, like surfing the net or endlessly scrolling Facebook, then set your bedtime for up to an hour earlier than normal. As long as you schedule in your recommended 7 hours of sleep per night, you may well find yourself altering your sleeping habits so that your rise with your natural body clock rather than with the alarm clock.

3: Breakfast like a king

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and when you think about the word ‘breakfast’, it is exactly what it is – to break a fast! Your body goes into repair at night while you are sleeping, and it uses a lot of essential nutrients to maintain and repair essential bodily functions. A healthy breakfast would be something with a good balance of protein and carbohydrates, so scrambled or boiled eggs and toast, or a bowl of natural Greek yoghurt with some fresh or frozen berries would be better that something too sugary, such as cereals or toast and jam.  The protein in your breakfast will keep your blood sugar levels on an even keel, and will keep your energy levels up until lunch time.

4: Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier

Give yourself more time to wake up properly in the morning. Avoiding the fluster of having to jump right out of bed as soon as the alarm sounds. By giving yourself a few extra minutes to gently wake up, stretch and ease yourself out of bed will help to keep your stress levels down in the mornings.

5: Recite a motivational quote each morning

Keep a list of motivational quotes by your bedside. Each morning choose a different one to recite before you get out of bed. Think about this quote as you busy yourself with your morning routine and you will find yourself feeling ready and raring to go!

6: Wake up to the smell of fresh brewed coffee

We may be a nation of tea drinkers, but there is nothing like waking up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee! Make your first cup of the day the best it can be – buy the absolutely best coffee you can afford and keep this for your mornings only. Caffeine is a stimulant that works directly on your central nervous system, it will wake you up and increase your blood flow. A good cup of quality coffee will help you to focus on tasks that require special attention, process information, and solve problems with a clear head.