It’s early. Sometimes it’s so early it’s still dark outside. But the alarm sounds and you’re jolted out of your peaceful slumber. You awake suddenly, groggy and disoriented and reach over to press the snooze button. You’re not yet fully awake but you cant go back to sleep either. So reluctantly, you prop yourself up and begin your morning get-ready routine.
If this sounds like you, then you’re not alone. Many of us struggle to get out of bed in the morning and we often rush through it to get ready like zombies who haven’t eaten for awhile. But becoming a morning person doesn’t come naturally, you have to work at it to truly make the most out of your morning. Here are some lessons to emulate if you want to wake up early with more energy to remain productive throughout the day:
This seems obvious but it’s shocking how many of us don’t actually know how much sleep is enough for our bodies to function at their optimum in the morning. Be realistic with yourself and ask yourself how many hours of slumber you really need. Some of us need five hours of rest during the weeknight while others may need eight. As long as you’re not short changing yourself in the sleep department, you should be able to wake up fresh and raring to go in the AM.
Be aware of how food and drinks affect your sleep cycle. Next time you want to reach for that nightcap to help you doze off, stop. There’s plenty of evidence that alcohol does not improve sleep quality, even though it might feel that way. Also, many of us like to indulge in a little bit of dessert after dinner most nights, but beware of sugar and things like chocolate as they both can raise your insulin levels so you’ll feel restless at bedtime.
(Related: Eat Your Way To Better Sleep)
Sometimes your body needs external signals to realise that it’s time to power down. Begin by lowering the light sources in your home. Switch off some lights so the indoor glare isn’t so harsh. Also, try to refrain from using technology at least two hours before you want to go to sleep.
Coffee is deceptively important. While a hit of caffeine in the morning is nice, it’s actually the preparation time that will aid your AM routine. The process of boiling water and brewing your cuppa keeps you occupied, giving your body and brain a chance to truly wake up and think about the day. Don’t drink coffee? No problem, just have something else to do to give yourself time to reboot.
(Try This Recipe: Date And Coffee Loaf)
We’re hard-wired to wake up when it’s light and get sleepy when it’s dark. If you need to wake up before sunrise, you need artificial light to stimulate your senses so you don’t feel groggy when you get up. Try turning on every single light in your immediate vicinity as soon as you are awake and this should help you to alert your body.
Having something to do is part of “how to wake up early,” but for it’s also WHY we should wake up early. Exercise is a great morning activity. Even doing dishes, ironing shirts, or straightening up the apartment helps you to wake up and feel productive before the day has even started. It’s not always easy, but you can learn to love mornings.
(Try this recipe: Morning Cleanse)