Five panda pointers: Morning people vs Morning moaners

The morning can be a struggle for the best of us. However there are some people who have a real get up and go attitude, which potentially sets them up for a positive day of hard work. But what about those who are sent crazy by the mere sound of the morning alarm? Sure they will get out of the morning rut eventually, but a grumpy commute won’t set them on the path of a positive day.

Let’s set the scene for our latest panda pointers, which will pit a positive morning person against the morning moaner in an epic battle…OK, I’m maybe getting carried away there! It’s a Monday morning, following a nice weekend and another week of work is about to commence. Let our story begin…

1) The alarm

The first sound we hear as we are stirred from our slumber. How do our two characters react to this?

The morning person: Awakening with a big stretch, the morning person reaches over to the screeching alarm with aplomb and turns it off to begin their day. There is no procrastinating…the day has begun and it’s time to get started.

The morning moaner: “What’s that sound? It’s the sound of the gates of hell screeching open, that’s what it is!” So maybe I don’t know a morning person who’s that extreme about the sound of their alarm, but I do know people who at least shudder at the sound. Then there’s the snooze button…the morning moaners worst enemy concealed as a fond friend.

Panda pointer:  When you hear the alarm, just get up and go. Yes your bed is like a siren luring you into its grasp, but resist! Another tip is to pick an alarm that’s not so harsh first thing in the morning, or rotate your alarm settings so there’s a new sound each week.

2) Light

A great way to reinforce that the day has begun…

The morning person: Allowing the natural light to flow in and caress their skin, the morning person loves the sight of the first signs of sun. Even if there is gloomy weather, they embrace the outside world before they tackle it.

The morning moaner: “It burns! It burns!” Need I say more?

Panda pointer: Bright light, be it natural or otherwise, stimulates your mind that it’s time to wake up. Our brains are sensitive to light and welcoming it into the home will make you alert much quicker.

3) Breakfast

As they say, the most important meal of the day…

The morning person: Usually has time assigned to sit down and enjoy a balanced breakfast. They are further energised following sleep as they have time to prepare and enjoy the first meal of the day.

The morning moaner: Haphazardly pours some cereal and doesn't really take the time to enjoy it. A coffee flask to go is their one hope to salvage any nourishment in their morning routine.

Panda pointer: Always take time to enjoy breakfast. To make it easier, you can plan what you’re going to have the evening before and prepare in advance.

4) The commute

It’s easy to sneer at your commute, but keep that positivity going…

The morning person: Stays calm in the crowds and embraces the journey. Having already had a good start to the day, the morning person usually commutes at their own pace and does not get caught up in the morning rush.

The morning moaner: With a rushed mind set in place, the morning moaner finds everything wrong with the commute. Too many people, nowhere to sit, the train is too slow…the negative chain reaction is limitless.

Panda pointer:  Always have a way to make the commute a little easier. A book, a music playlist or even just taking in the journey will remove you from the hustle and bustle. 

5) A set routine

Overall, the benefits of having a set morning routine are second to none!

The morning person: Positive and ready to go, they are at their most productive following a good morning routine. More importantly, they react calmly to potential threats to their routine. For example, the trains are unexpectedly suffering severe delays. The morning person realises there’s not much that can be done and calmly approaches their alternative route.

The morning moaner: No routine means that every morning is different. That could be enough to throw the morning moaner off if things go wrong…they want to get the day under way but a lack of routine makes that pretty tricky.

Panda pointer: While establishing a set routine in the morning will take a few days, stick at it and you’ll soon find the mornings to flow smoothly into the rest of your working day.

Of course, our depictions of the two types of morning people are firmly tongue in cheek. The important thing to take from our panda pointers this week is how important a morning routine is to having a structured and productive working day.