8 Tips to Make Illinois Winter Mornings Hurt Less

Illinois winters can be brutal.  They make us moody.  We want to stay under the covers.  We don't want to get out of bed even after we've snoozed our alarm a thousand times.  It happens to all of us.

You'd think with the amount of months we spend out of the year living in cold weather, we'd be adapted to the freezing temps by now.  Well, I'll tell you from experience that it never gets easier.  I've even contemplated calling off work just so I didn't have to get out of bed.  Ain't no shame over here!

So, to make it a little easier on you the rest of winter, here are some ways you can slowly make your way out of bed, in a timely fashion, without groaning, moaning, and saying, "UGHHHHH, WHY DID I CHOOSE TO LIVE IN AN ALL-SEASONS STATE??"

8 Tips to Make Illinois Winter Mornings Hurt Less

Add mood lighting to your room

Get a self-timer lamp that has a warm hue to help you wake up more naturally.  Make it a routine to open your blinds so your brain goes, "hey... it's time to wake up!"

Stick to a solid sleep schedule

Weekends mess with our sleep schedule, especially if you stay up later than normal.  Going to bed and waking up around the same time helps your body stop acting shocked every morning.

Stop hitting snooze

This is a note for me, and for you.  It makes you groggier, late, and you don't give your brain a chance to wake up!  Don't hit snooze, wake up after the first alarm.

Wake up early enough to wake up your mind

Rushing straight from bed to the car in the cold is CRIMINAL.  Give yourself a few minutes to exist before responsibilities show up.  I promise, it makes a huge difference!

Add upbeat music to your life

Music is a game changer!  It reduces stress, lowers anxiety, improves mood, and boosts creativity.  A good playlist can fully trick your brain into thinking things are fine.  As you get ready, turn on a lofi playlist and let your mind go to happy places!

Hydrate before bed

Winter hydration is sneaky. Our throats get dry, we have dry coughs, and hydrating is key to feeling alive.  Drinking water before sleep (and again in the morning) helps with energy and focus.

Don't be angry before you sleep

This one really matters!  Carrying stress into bed makes morning heavier.  Clear the air, let things go, and wake up feeling good knowing all good is in your world!

Winter really isn't the easiest season to live in around here.  But your mornings don't have to feel like a punishment, that's for sure!