So you finally decided to start waking up earlier after hearing early birds are happier than night owls, but you’re still not loving that morning alarm? These 10 tips backed by science will keep the beginning of your day bright and ensure you never wake up on the wrong side of the bed again.

Before Bed

1. Set a Bed Time

Adults need about 7-8 hours of sleep a night to be considered well rested. Getting the proper amount of sleep has numerous benefits such as lowering the risk of obesity and diseases, as well as increasing your learning and memory abilities. The takeaway? Set a bedtime that allows you to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night and stick to it.

2. Sleep on your right side

When you get in bed, aim to sleep on your right side. In a Turkish study, those who slept on their left side tended to suffer from a high rate of nightmares. Right side sleepers, on the other hand, gravitated towards feelings of security and safety.

3. Workout

Numerous studies have found that exercise improves sleep quality and helps people fall asleep faster. This plus the numerous other benefits, makes working out a key part of any healthy lifestyle.

4. Keep a Journal

Keeping a journal is one of the greatest things you can do for your health. Not only have journal users been found to be much happier, the action of getting your thoughts onto paper can help clear your head before a night of sleep. This alone can make those late nights spent in bed worrying disappear.

5. Sleep in the Dark

A study in Molecular Psychology found that chronic exposure to artificial light can make you less happy. By decreasing exposure to artificial light you can keep your sleep quality and mood up high.

6. Turn Off Electronics 30 Minutes Before Bed

Staying up late on electronics like cell phones, tablets, and TVs delay the release of the sleep inducing hormone, melatonin. This can impact both your ability to fall asleep as well as your the overall quality of your sleep. Researchers advise shutting down all electronics about 30 minutes before bed in order to avoid such negative effects.

In the Morning

1. Eat Greek Yogurt

Yogurt is good for you – especially greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is loaded with more calcium, which causes the brain to release nuerotransmitters associated with happiness. Plus, greek yogurt has lots of protein to keep you happy and satisfied all the way until lunch.

2. Take a Cold Shower

Cold showers have been shown to have some awesome benefits. For example, faster fat loss, quicker recovery, better circulation, clearer skin, and increased mood are all boons of turning the temperature down. Start the day off right and brave out the cold. It will be worth it.

3. Set Daily Goals

Setting your goals in the morning will help keep you motivated and in the right direction throughout your day – and it only takes 1 minute. Simply ask yourself, “What would make today great?” Then, write down 5 things on a piece of paper and keep it with you throughout the day. This tip alone can boost the achievement of your goals exponentially. If you want more tips on setting goals, check out this post on the science of setting goals.

4. Log gratefulness

Practicing gratefulness has shown time and time again to boost happiness. Even thinking about things you’re grateful for in the morning can have a positive effect on your mood. Make it a habit to write and think about things you appreciate – you’ll smile more as a result.

Keep these tips in mind and you will be on your way to happier mornings!