Everybody knows how busy the holiday season gets, and waking up early becomes a necessity to get everything done throughout the day. But sometimes the hardest part of the day is getting it started, especially if you don’t consider yourself a morning person. The good news is that there are many things you can do before and after your sleep to make rising early easier. Try some of these routines to start your day so that the next time you say, “Good morning,” you’ll actually feel it.
Make sure your body is ready for sleep the night before
Making sure that you are relaxed before your sleep will make it easier to get up in the morning. Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed as it will make your sleep less restful and you could wake up in the middle of the night. Also, try to avoid using mobile devices or computers in bed; the light from the screen and the plug in to your work or social life will make it difficult for your brain to wind down before sleep. Learn about more habits for a good night’s sleep here.
Say “no” to the snooze
It’s everyone’s favorite button, but it’s not helping anyone wake up. Instead of reaching over to the nightstand to hit the snooze button on your alarm clock, try putting your clock somewhere in the room where you have to get out of bed to turn off the alarm. It will give you the extra motivation to get up and get going.
Set up your environment to help you wake up
Placing your alarm clock farther away from the bed isn’t the only thing you can do to help you wake up easier. Have a robe close to the bed for cooler mornings. Get some blinds or curtains that will let in the sun in the morning. And if you’re a coffee person, you could invest in a timed coffee machine that will automatically brew when you wake up.
Don’t get ready for the day in the dark
Open up those curtains and get some sunshine. Light lets your body know that it is daytime and time to be awake while darkness will do the exact opposite. Seems like common sense, but it really will make a difference to how you feel when you’re getting ready in the morning.
Drink a glass of cool water
While this is a harder habit to adopt, it could make your mornings much easier. After you wake up, your body has gone through 7 to 8 hours without drinking water, so drinking 16 oz. of cool water helps to rehydrate you in the morning. Your brain tissue is 75% water, so staying properly hydrated will help give your brain energy so that you feel less drained. Drinking water in the morning also starts up your metabolism.
Get up and stretch
When your body is asleep for hours, it means you wake up with tight muscles and body stiffness. A light stretching routine can help you to relieve muscle tension and limber up. Stretching also helps your circulatory system better deliver nutrients to your muscles so you can tackle those daily activities.
Eat a good breakfast
After you get up, make sure you get energy! Eating a good breakfast will give you nutrition and energy for the day. Choose foods that are rich with protein and fiber which will help energize your body. And no—drinking just coffee doesn’t count as breakfast.
Time to rise and shine!
