HEALTH

Some of us just aren't morning people. While it's a-okay to be a night owl, it's pretty much given that you'll have to wake up early at some point in your life—whether it's for that awesome internship at the newspaper or simply for another day of classes. It's not easy to become an early bird overnight, but this one simple trick will at least make your mornings a bit more bearable. Hint: You're holding it in your hands.

That's right. The number one way to wake up better? Stop checking social media first thing. We're guilty of it, too—in fact, over 80 percent of Americans admit to the hard-to-break habit. While scrolling through your Insta feed seems harmless, it can not only waste a lot of precious time in the morning but also set a not-so-great tone for the rest of your day. Comparing yourself to the "perfect" blogger babe you follow won't make you feel like the confident, beautiful girl you are. Obsessing over social media before you get up is the equivalent of starting of on the wrong foot. Or, well, waking up on the wrong side of the bed.

If you feel like not checking your phone is *impossible*, don't quit cold turkey. Instead, ease into it. Start by limiting yourself to only 10 minutes of screen time one week, then 7 the next, then 5, etc. Until eventually your mornings are phone-free. You can also remove the temptation by placing your phone across the room while you're sleeping instead of right next to your bed (this will help you get to sleep earlier too instead of wasting time on Facebook at night).

So what can you do instead of mindlessly watching your fave celebrity Snaps? Literally, anything. Consider some of the following: meditate, read a book, go for a run or whip up a delish breakfast (you know, one that you can actually post later). Hello, extra minutes in the day. 

What's your trick to getting up in the morning? Let us know in the comments! 

by Amanda Tarlton | 1/6/2018