How To Survive Mornings As A Night Owl

5 Things I do every morning for a great day as someone who HATES mornings.

To start, let us get one thing VERY clear…

I am not a morning person. Never have been, probably never will be. And I have accepted that fact about myself.

My brain doesn’t even attempt to function until at least noon, and honestly, I do my best work when the rest of the world is winding down.

But here’s the silly thing — apparently life doesn’t give a s**t if I’d rather stay in bed until 10 AM . Bills still need to be paid, responsibilities still exist, and somehow just somehow, I still have to make mornings somewhat work for me.

Being a night owl doesn’t mean I want to sleep until the afternoon, but it does mean that I struggle through my mornings.

Contrary to popular belief, the difference between a night owl and a morning person relies less on being sleepy and more on productivity levels.

 You can be a morning person and still hate getting out of bed (like my boyfriend, he is only productive in the mornings but still hates waking up) — it just means you’re just naturally more productive before noon. It also means that once you are up, you are up and ready to start the day.

 Meanwhile, night owls (like myself) can drag themselves out of bed, but our brains don’t fully boot up until later in the day. We need a little extra help in order to become functional.

So, over time, I’ve figured out a way to have a somewhat successful morning routine that doesn’t make me want to throw my alarm clock out the window (not going to lie to you, sometimes it still goes flying across the room. Don’t judge me. I know you’ve debated it too).

If you’re a fellow night owl, struggling to function before the sun is high in the sky, here are 5 things I do every morning to make my day less miserable and more productive.

1. Coffee. Obviously.

Let’s not pretend like I have some magical, caffeine-free morning motivation. Because that is so far from the case. The first thing I do (before even thinking about being a functional human) is get coffee into my system. I don’t care if it’s a perfectly crafted oat milk latte or just whatever coffee is closest to me—I NEED it. If you’re also someone who runs on caffeine, don’t fight it. Embrace it. Your morning routine should include the things that actually help you function, not what some wellness influencer swears by.

There’s nothing wrong with needing a little extra help to wake up, and I refuse to feel guilty about it. I LOVE my coffee. My day doesn’t actually start until I have finished my first cup. In fact, my boyfriend doesn’t even try to speak to me until I am on my second cup. I get that first cup into me as quickly as possible, often sitting on my kitchen counter while I practically inhale it’s magical coffee powers.

 It’s a non-negotiable part of my routine because, without it, I’m just a cranky mess who can’t form complete sentences. Some people meditate first thing in the morning—I drink coffee and stare at the wall until my brain loads. That’s totally the same thing, right?

2. I Get Fresh Air (Even If I Hate It)

Look, I’m not some outdoorsy, wake-up-and-go-for-a-jog type of person. Or a wake up and attempt to contort my body into impossible yoga positions type of girly. But I do have dogs, and they force me to step outside every morning, even if it’s just for a few minutes. And honestly? It helps.

Getting fresh air, even if I’m just standing there scrolling on my phone while they sniff every blade of grass (because seriously, why must they sniff EVERY SINGLE blade of grass), wakes me up a little bit and makes me feel a little closer to a real human being instead of a zombie.

Even if you don’t have pets, breathing some fresh air for just a minute can be a game-changer. I don’t care if you stand on your balcony, open a window, or just poke your head out the door—it does something. Maybe it’s the hit of fresh morning air, maybe it’s the tiny dose of movement, or maybe it’s just the reminder that the world exists beyond my blankets (unfortunately). Either way, I never regret doing it (actually ask me that again when it is -30 Celsius out, because that really sucks and my answer may be different).

3. I Handle Basic Hygiene (Even If I’m Half-Asleep)

Listen, I know it’s basic, but washing my face, brushing my teeth, and putting on deodorant makes a large difference in how I feel.

When I skip this, because yes some mornings are a mess ( I know you have totally ran out the door without brushing your teeth at least once), I feel gross and sluggish all day.

Even if I’m still half-asleep, pushing myself to do my hygiene routine makes me feel like I am almost ready to function.

I don’t have an elaborate skincare routine or a 10-step process.

Just the basics: wash my face so I feel clean, brush my teeth so I don’t have morning breath, and deodorant because… well, obviously.

Now, if I’m feeling ambitious, I’ll put some light makeup on or even *gasp* a spritz of perfume and pretend like I’ve got my life together.

But even on my laziest mornings, I make sure I at least cover the essentials — teeth, face pits.

4. I Get Dressed (Even If It’s Just Sweats)

If I stay in pajamas all day, my brain stays in sleep mode. So, even if I’m just putting on a fresh pair of sweats and a hoodie, I make sure to change out of whatever I slept in.

I am not one of those girls that’s going to tell you a cute outfit makes your day so much better, because lets be real, most of the time it doesn’t. Someone is lying to you if they are telling you that a cute outfit will magically make you a morning person and increase your productivity.

You aren’t going to be productive or have a good day if you’re uncomfortable.

Wear something that feels good—whether that’s leggings, sweatpants, or if you’re feeling it a pair of comfy jeans.

The goal is to be  comfortable but not so comfortable that you can easily crawl back under your covers (or fall back asleep on the couch).

The point is to make a small shift that tells your brain, “”okay, we’re in “awake mode” now””, even if all you’re changing into is a different version of cozy clothes.

5. I Write a To-Do List So I Don’t Flop Through My Day

Mornings are rough, and if I don’t give myself some structure, I’ll end up mindlessly scrolling TikTok for hours and wondering where my day went. So, every morning (usually while I savour that second cup of coffee), I sit down and write a to-do list.

Nothing fancy—just a simple “here’s what needs to get done so I don’t feel like a useless gremlin later” list.

This keeps me focused and makes sure I actually accomplish things instead of aimlessly floating through my day (or beginning a new project I won’t ever finish).

I don’t overcomplicate this at all.

No fancy planners, no color-coded categories—just a list of things that need to happen.

 Sometimes, I’ll even write down super basic tasks like “shower”, “wash face”, “brush teeth”  and/or “eat lunch” just to have something to cross off. Because crossing things off is so satisfying and honestly makes me feel a bit better about myself.

 The point isn’t to be hyper-productive—it’s just to make sure I don’t lose half my day wondering what I was supposed to be doing.

Don’t Force a Complicated Morning Routine

Here’s the thing about morning routines: they should work for you, not against you.

I don’t wake up at 5 AM to do yoga, journal for an hour, and drink a green smoothie.

That’s just not happening. In fact the idea of that happening makes me giggle its so ridiculous.

My morning routine is quick and realistic: coffee, fresh air, to-do list, and then straight into my day.

 If I try to add too many unnecessary steps, I’ll just end up skipping the whole thing. Keep it simple, and you’ll actually stick to it.

Give Yourself a Little Grace

Some mornings, I’m a semi-functional adult who gets things done. Other mornings, I’m a disaster who can barely find her socks and running out there door wearing the same underwear I slept in.

And that’s okay.

The key to having a successful morning routine as a night owl is understanding that some mornings will be harder than others. Instead of beating myself up for not being a morning person, I accept it and work with what I’ve got.

The Bottom Line

If you’re a night owl, you don’t have to force yourself into a 5 AM morning routine to be successful, despite what the internet will tell you.

You can be successful in life as someone who doesn’t like mornings.

 Find what works for you not someone else, keep it simple, and don’t overcomplicate it.

Mornings might never be your thing, but with a few small changes, they don’t have to be a complete disaster either.

Now, go get your coffee and pretend to be awake — because that’s exactly what I’m doing.