How to Become a Morning Person

I've never really been a morning person growing up. I remember my dad waking me and my sisters up at the crack of dawn when we were younger in order to make first tracks on the ski slopes. What did I care? I was a teenager and wanted to sleep! Even in college I despised having to take a class earlier than 10am. If I did somehow manage to schedule myself for an 8:30am class, you can bet I'd show up in sweatpants and head right back to bed afterwards.It wasn't until very recently that I have had a change of heart around mornings. When I was on maternity leave, Finn, Juneau and I would stay in bed until 10 or so. We'd be incredibly lazy, binge watch Netflix, and end up slowly getting our day going after the morning was long gone. It was nice while it lasted, but it also made the day seem so much shorter and ultimately made me want to stay up later - making me more tired the next day.Now that I'm back at work, waking up early is a necessity. There's just way too much to get done in the morning to press the snooze button. Strangely, though, I really don't mind the early wake up call. It's the early morning, before Finn wakes up, that have become so important to me. Even the first few minutes at my desk in the morning are usually my favorite. I sip my coffee, catch up on email, and read through the blogs I follow. It's a nice little routine before I dive into my work.So here are a few things that have helped me to enjoy my mornings a little more:Enjoy a cup of coffee!It's such a small thing, but having my morning cup of coffee is something I've always enjoyed. Maybe because it's really the only time of day that I drink coffee (at least I try to only have it in the morning), but there's something cozy and nostalgic feeling about coffee. It reminds me of cold winter mornings in New York at my parent's house and of all those mornings in college when coffee was the only thing fueling me after a late night.Give yourself some quiet time.The rest of the day can be loud and chaotic. Mornings are meant to be tranquil and quiet. Leave the television off, turn down the radio in the car, and get lost in your imagination.Get outside.There's nothing more perfect than a chilly fall morning. We have witnessed a couple this season in Virginia, but I can feel it in the air - there are more coming! I don't give myself nearly enough time to take a long walk in the morning, but the days that I do, I feel so refreshed and peaceful afterwards. Juneau is usually so psyched to get outside, too, and seeing a dog's excitement is one of life's simple pleasures. Make it about you!There's a lot to be said for a little "me" time. I don't know about you, but as much as I love being around people, sometimes just being alone to reflect on my day is the most amazing thing. Working full time with a baby at home gives me little time for myself. The mornings - whether it's when I'm in the shower, or driving to work, or even pumping! - are usually the only time I'm truly alone.