My Morning Routine: How to Be a Morning Person in 20 Minutes or Less

I've tried just about everything to be able to consider myself a morning person but most days, I just can't do it! It's crazy because all of my life I've been an early riser and for the past year or two I complain if I'm awake before 8. Believe it or not, in college, I was always the one signing up for 8 and 9 AMs too, and since I graduated something seriously changed, ha! I've tried going to bed earlier, trying to stick to a set sleep/wake up schedule - the whole nine yards. The only thing I've found to help make it easier is having a routine that I look forward to to get my day started on the right foot. I'm a planner by nature and I love having a routine that doesn't have to change (me and change don't get along) on the daily. Getting things done in the morning and planning my day are things I look forward to each morning, and it's made a huge difference.
Whether I have to wake up super early or let myself sleep in/relax a bit, my morning routine doesn't change a bit - and it really helps having it be a daily constant.

Have a healthy breakfast. It's no secret that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it really is because the earlier you energize your body the better off you are! I am NOT a breakfast person... I never have liked breakfast, but since I've seen a difference I make it a point to have something every morning. I'm a huge smoothie person, so most mornings I have this strawberry banana smoothie, it's my absolute favorite! That, or avocado toast with eggs are my go-tos!

Take vitamins. Taking vitamins is one of my 10 things I do every morning before 10 AM. I don't feel as tired throughout the day, and it's a great way to start your day off on the right foot.

RELATED: 7 Tips to Sleep Better at Night
Write in my planner/plan my day. Planning is one of my favorite things to do, so I always have my day planned out before it starts! I try and have each day planned out the previous day so I know what to expect, but reading through my schedule helps me get motivated and I always am adding things/crossing things off, so my planner is always near by!

A full beauty routine. Not one thing makes me feel more refreshed and ready for a day than my morning beauty routine! I always start by washing my face with cold water and honestly, nothing wakes me up more. After my shower I start with a good moisturizer, and a few days a week I'll do a hydrating face mask in the morning (my favorite days!). I love feeling fresh and clean all day long, but most especially in the morning when it comes time to getting the day started! This Dove Advanced Care Antiperspirant is perfect for 48 hour odor/wetness protection *and* it's Dove, so you can be sure that it feels great on your skin! It has Dove's 1/4 moisturizers and NutriumMoisture in it that are the best for softer and smoother underarms. Ever since trying this deodorant out, I've never used another and I've never felt so good about using a deodorant before!

This Dove deodorant has been an awesome addition to my morning beauty routine! It's great for sensitive skin and it lasts for as long as you need it to, all day long. I love the scents it comes in - my favorite is this cool essentials scent, but it also comes in lavender fresh and revive.

Wake up to sunlight. I always sleep with my blinds cracked open because there is nothing that wakes me up more than bright sunlight in the morning! It surprisingly really does help too!

Make your alarm something you love hearing. I think the majority of us use our phones as alarm clocks, and I don't know about you, but I cannot STAND the sound of the annoying alarm beep on the iPhone. It scares the you-know-what out of me (especially when I'm in a deep sleep) and I just can't imagine waking up to that. Instead, I use a song that I love - most of the time it's a OneRepublic song (you guys know my love for them!) - or anything that is upbeat and fun to hear in the morning. It makes a difference in how many times you press snooze. ;) The more you snooze, the harder it is to get up.

RELATED: 5 Tips for Waking Up Earlier
What do you do to have a better start to your morning? Being a morning person isn't always easy, but it definitely makes for a better, more productive day!

XOXO
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.