If you are not an early-riser, waking up early can be a painful experience. For many, hitting the snooze button several times and begrudgingly stomping over to the shower is a regular routine. Starting off your morning on a positive note can mean the difference between a sleepy slow morning and a productive one…so aim to start your day off right with these 6 tips to wake up on the ‘right side’ of the bed!
- Resist the Snooze Button – Hitting the snooze button is tempting. Sometimes we hit it several times without realizing, and almost an hour passes by. You may think the snooze button helps you wake up slowly but in reality all the ‘snoozing’ does is mess with your REM sleep cycle and disrupt your natural sleep rhythm. Basically, you will not actually get any rest from the few minutes of sleep between alarms, so resist the urge and instead invest in a pleasant alarm that allows you to wake up slowly – making the getting-up process more tolerable.
- Have Protein for Breakfast – Do away with the sugary breakfasts and stick with high-protein foods. Protein will provide you with the energy you need to start your day. Protein also takes more work to digest so you are less likely to have the urge to fall back asleep! Do not forget to hydrate yourself in the morning as well – your body gets dehydrated while you sleep.
- Stretch – This may sound simple, but regular stretching can do wonders for your energy levels in the morning. A few simple stretches can gently wake up your muscles. Stretching is a great relaxing ritual to get you moving. Exercising every day also leads to better health and productivity. Some of the most notable successful people workout daily before they even have breakfast.
- Thing Positively – When you wake up with the knowledge that you have something amazing to look forward to that day, is it a lot easier to get out of bed? Start each morning with a few positive affirmations, even something as simple as “I am ready for today!”, or “Today will be amazing!”. Saying this out loud can help put you in a positive frame of mind. Another way to think positively is to list (in your head or on paper) three things that you are happy about. You will be surprised how your mood can change! Another tip is to force yourself to smile. This tricks your mind into thinking you are happy (even if you are grumpy and exhausted).
- Plan Your Day the Night Before – Getting your day started the night before is a great way to get a running start. Waking up organized and prepared can reduce stress and allow you to look forward to (instead of dreading) your day. Plan as much as you can – from your work outfit, to your breakfast, to a list of the tasks you need to accomplish. Not only will you get out of the house faster, you will also have an organized start to a hopefully equally-organized day!
The most important part of a good morning is a good sleep. Make sure to get a full night of rest. Even if you are not naturally a ‘morning person’ you can learn to become one with the help of these easy steps.
