The majority of us have already figured out whether we’re a morning person stoner or a night owl stoner, or if we fall somewhere between. Each one of us has an internal clock, our circadian rhythm, that naturally determines when we feel awake and when we feel tired. We are wired to be most excited in the morning around 9 am, and then again twelve hours later. It’s just the way our brains are wired.
But, can we change this pattern? Can a late-night-toker of a stoner become a morning person?
The answer is YES, but with some planning.
If you’re up late reading this, then you’re on the right track.
Why Become a Morning Person Anyway?
Before we dive into the benefits of being a morning person, we’re going to preface this section by saying there’s absolutely nothing wrong with staying up late, ripping the bong into the wee hours of the morning. In fact, there is plenty of research to support staying up late as being beneficial as well.
That being said, sometimes new jobs, life events, or relationships can spring up and cause us to switch up our routines. Or, perhaps you simply just want to become a morning person to make more use of your day.
If your daily routine requires you to be awake and focused between 8 am and 6 pm, becoming a morning person can play a pivotal role in your ability to concentrate, react faster, feel more agreeable and uplifted, and have overall improved self-awareness than someone who stays up until the wee hours of the morning.
Additionally, a 2014 study discovered early bird individuals who got 20 minutes of sunlight between the hours of 8 am and noon had a notably lower BMI than those who were exposed to light later on in the day. It can be concluded that, should a person not get sufficient light at the right time of the day, it can throw off your internal clock. This de-synchronization can cause fluctuation in metabolism and, therefore, weight.
So, having your morning wake and bake in the sunlight can help you reach your wellness goals in more ways than just getting your puff on.
How Do You Become a Morning Person?
So, how exactly do you go about becoming more of a morning person?
These 13 tips may make it easier to learn how to wake up early.
1. Change your mindset
Depending on your personality, early mornings are either something to embrace or something to loathe. Whatever the case, there truly is a way of starting the day off in a way that lets the previous night slip away, taking with it the grogginess, the heaviness in the body and mind. In a way that lets you begin the day feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to take life head-on.
Now, waking up early will feel like an abhorrent chore at first. Your way of thinking must change from I am not a morning person, at all! to I am on my way to being a morning person.
This prepares your system to be activated and awake. If positivity is something you need some help with, try some positive affirmations for stoners.
2. Keep a consistent bedtime and rise time
How tomorrow starts largely depends on how your mind and body are prepared the night before, which is why having and maintaining a nightly routine is key. Consistency is everything when it comes to shifting your sleep pattern, so you can sleep and wake up at the same time, naturally, each day.
By consistently waking up at the same time each day with your alarm, you may very well discover that your body naturally wakes you up around that time after only just a few weeks.
You do want to try to get seven to eight hours of sleep every night. So, if you currently go to bed at two in the morning, but want to start waking up at six, you should start getting in the routine of closing your eyes by 11 pm.
Many people have trouble falling and staying asleep; even more so if your body’s clock isn’t used to relaxing that early. Some tips include smoking a strain that promotes sleep, putting on some light ambiance noise, and getting under cozy blankets to help support relaxation and create a low-energy sense of comfort that will help you to fall asleep.
3. Eat your last meal of the day sooner
Start eating dinner earlier as you go on your journey to becoming a morning person. Many people who stay up late tend to have a late dinner, which can work for them because they aren’t going to bed right away.
If, on the other hand, you’re trying to become a morning person and get up earlier, you will want to plan to have an early dinner – around two or three hours before you head to bed. You want to give yourself time to fully digest, so your body is not working overtime when it’s supposed to be resting and recharging.
To promote strong relaxation and uplift your mood, eat a medicated meal for dinner.
4. Skip the midday caffeine boost.
Sure, everyone is different. But, studies have shown time and time again just how disruptive caffeine can be for your sleep patterns. Generally, you want to ditch the coffee after 2 p.m., as drinking it past that time can keep you awake later or cause you to wake in the middle of the night, unable to fall back to sleep.
Instead of reaching for your usual coffee or energy drink, go for a cannabis beverage. Not only will it perk you up for the rest of the afternoon, but it can also help with your productivity and focus.
5. Let some sunlight in
Keep your blinds drawn, but slightly open. This little trick can help you to rest your internal clock – and it doesn’t require you to hit the Snooze button a thousand times to shut off the godawful beeping of your alarm.
The night owl in you may get a bit grumpy at the sunlight pouring in through your shades – just enough to wake you. But, the motivated morning person you are on your way to becoming may actually find it a lot more gentle and peaceful of a way to wake up.
6. Establish a morning routine
Let’s say you’ve decided to start waking up at 5:30 am, but realize you have no idea what to do with all that extra time.
Everyone’s morning routine is different because everyone themselves is different. It’s important to find what works for you and makes you content, now that you’ve gotten up far earlier than you are used to waking up.
Some stoners love starting their day with a large dab – and maybe even a bowl or two as well – while others enjoy a blunt and a morning journaling session. Still, others enjoy taking the time to make a large, home-cooked breakfast to satisfy their munchies.
Regardless of what your morning routine looks like, it’s what will get you out of bed in the morning. It’s what puts your feet on the floor and helps you to start your day. So, create a routine that is sustainable, and then make it part of your day-to-day life.
Learning the ways for a stoner to become a morning person and change up their circadian rhythm may seem like a nearly impossible task. But, with the right strategies and tools, you’ll be waking up early in no time. You’ll smile at the sunrise now, rather than cringe at it.
7. Create a bedtime ritual you can look forward to
Not all of us are the type that falls asleep within minutes of hitting the pillow. If the thought of laying there, tossing and turning, doesn’t bother you, then more power to you. But, if you’re the kind who lays there uncomfortable for hours, you’d benefit from a relaxing bedtime ritual to unwind. You’ll get up easier and earlier after doing something relaxing the night before.
One example of a bedtime ritual consists of a cup of hot tea with CBD tincture added to it, smooth jazz music playing on the speakers, and cuddling up with a good book for an hour.
But, if that doesn’t sound relaxing to you or tea isn’t your thing, don’t do this bedtime ritual – find one of your own.
8. Prepare for the next day
In order to ensure you have adequate time in the mornings and don’t have to rush around, take care of the little things the night prior. Make a list of every single thing you do in the morning that doesn’t bring contentment. Do those things the night before so it will take up less of your time in the morning. For example, get your bong and flower ready for your wake and bake, make your lunch, tidy the kitchen, and set out your outfit well before you even start your bedtime ritual. Do everything you possibly can to ensure you wake up prepared, calm, and ready to take on the day without frantic stress.
9. Go to sleep fifteen minutes earlier each night
Once you’ve established a regular sleep schedule, you can become a morning person by gradually shifting your bedtime earlier and earlier, using increments of 15 minutes. As you do, adjust your alarms to wake up 15 minutes earlier. Again, do this gradually, giving yourself a few days in between each new sleeping shift.
10. Turn it into a habit
Habits allow for change without the stress of decision-making processes. A morning person doesn’t think “okay, I’m getting up early tomorrow,” every time they go to bed – they just do it.
Don’t set your alarm and just pray you’ll wake up rested. Early rising takes time to turn into a habit, requiring you to have a couple of weeks (generally) of adjustment until your body is used to the alarm going off in the early morning.
While it may be tempting to let yourself get as much sleep as possible on the weekends, that’s not the best idea for your sleep schedule. Instead, try waking up within an hour of your usual time.
11. Avoid electronics for 30 minutes after waking up
If you start your day off by scrolling through social media first thing in the morning, you will nail in the idea that you’re missing out on something you don’t want to miss. This creates a sense of stress and anxiety that puts a sour note on your day.
Besides, it’s an additional 20 – 30 minutes you could spend doing something beneficial – such as stretching or packing the bong.
Rid yourself of the habit of checking messages and notifications until at least 30 minutes after you’ve woken up. If it’s absolutely too hard to resist going on your phone, leave your phone in a different part of your home and rely on an alarm clock to wake you.
12. Get moving
Maintaining a consistent exercise routine improves your quality of sleep. One study found that morning and evening exercise both have a particularly significant effect on the circadian rhythms of those who stayed up late. In fact, it may even help move up their sleep cycles to about thirty minutes earlier.
13. Go easy on the coffee before bed
Consuming caffeine up to six hours before you go to bed can profoundly disrupt your sleep and make falling into Dream Land a seemingly impossible task. Limit your caffeine intake to morning hours, avoiding taking in more than 400 mg daily. Remember, decaf coffee still contains some caffeine and won’t do anything to help you get the sleep you need.
Becoming the Morning Person Stoner You Were Always Meant to Be
There are days (okay, it’s most days) when you just want to sleep in for hours past your alarm. You want to hit that Snooze button and fall back into the warm slumber you were in.
But, instead, you’re here reading a blog post about how to become a morning person. People who have changed their routine can attest to how difficult it is to change up your sleep/wake cycle, even if it’s only by a couple of hours. The reason it’s so hard to become a morning person is that doing so requires adjusting your internal clock, which takes some time and quite a few lifestyle and environmental modifications.
For instance, you can become a morning person by decreasing your electronic use before bed, cutting back on caffeine, consuming a meal well before bedtime, and establishing an entire morning routine.
For stoners, this switch to becoming a morning person involves waking and baking with some pick-me-up strains to get the day started off right.
While it can be frustrating to adjust your sleep schedule and find your body won’t let you get anywhere close to sleeping in, becoming a morning person has a lot of benefits – including more time to medicate. The pros certainly outweigh the cons when it comes to finding ways for a night owl stoner to become a morning person.
All you have to do is start.
Disclaimer: Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit-forming. Smoking is hazardous to your health. There may be health risks associated with consumption of Marijuana. Marijuana, in any form, should not be used by individuals that are pregnant or breastfeeding. Marijuana is intended for use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. This product may be unlawful outside of Washington State.
