It's been rocky switching my internal clock from going to bed like Lily Munster to rising with the chirping birds and starting the day, but I've figured out a few ways to make mornings not only suck less, but become (almost, slightly) pleasant.

1. Try to get up on the first alarm and continue to rise early - even on the weekends.

When you hit the snooze button repeatedly it messes with the REM sleep process in your brain and increases the chances that you will wake up feeling exhausted instead of refreshed. Try putting the clock across the room and do everything you can to talk yourself into getting up instead of snoozing. And if you do snooze, don't do it more than once. Also, all your hard work at making mornings easier can go to waste if you flip your schedule on the weekends - try to keep it going as long as you can. My solution for this has been allowing myself the privilege to nap on the weekends as a reward for getting up early on Saturday and Sundays.

2. Don't use the loud buzzing alarms.

Those are annoying. Mornings are stressful enough when you're used to sleeping late without the classic beeping clock begging you to throw it out the window. Choose a song you like or maybe a nice refreshing zen noise. It will wake you up if it's loud enough. It doesn't have to be a noise associated with destruction and chaos. Alarms can be pleasant.

3. Eat breakfast.

Honestly, breakfast typically gets me out of bed. Sometimes it's the coffee pot I need and sometimes it's a protein bar and some fruit, but either way try to get your system going by giving it a little food early in the day. If you're one of those people who can't eat right after you wake, try some tea instead while you're waiting. If you kick start your metabolism in the morning before leaving home chances are you'll feel better because you're lifting your feet instead of dragging them behind you.

4. Set the stage for your morning ritual the night before.

Lay your clothes out for the next day. Stack all your papers in a pile. Have your lunch packed and ready to go. Make sure there's a clean towel in the bathroom. Take a soothing bath instead of a shower if there's time. You get the idea. It's incredibly less stressful to not have to think about these little mundane things very early in the morning while your brain is still half asleep. It's even better to not have to think at all until noon in my opinion, but hey... The point is if you do a little work at night to prepare for the next day it makes the morning a lot easier.

5. Embrace the sunlight.

This one is especially important for all the vampires out there like me who enjoy spending time in your dark caves. The sun helps you wake up. It's magic. I know it's hard to open the blinds in the morning, but just do it. And then, repeat after me...

"Get Up. Dress Up. Show Up."

"It's a new day - let's do this!"

Good luck friends! I hope the mornings treat you better!