If the sound of a blaring alarm effectively puts a drape over your awakening mood, then you just may be in line for a little morning shake-up. From the time you fall asleep to the time that you wake up, your body is rejuvenating itself so that it can perform optimally the next day. If you spent the dying moments of your day curled up in a blanket watching Netflix, your brain may not have completely “shut off” before you got that ever-needed shut eye. And waking up to a buzzing phone alarm isn’t exactly the most pleasant way to roll yourself out of bed. Changing these pre-/post-sleep habits may just be the key for you to have not only a better morning, but a better day. Here are 5 tips for you to use if you want to start your own morning routine.
1. Go To Sleep Early
Let’s talk about the most important point first - going to sleep early makes a huge difference in how your next day will start. For students and adults alike, the average daily schedule starts early and ends just prior to the evening. If you need to wake up for your job, it can be obviously stated that a 10:00 pm bed time would be better than a 12:00 am bedtime. Get to bed!
2. Turn Your Phone Off
Using your phone before bed often proves detrimental to your health, as stated by neuroscientist Anne Marie Chang “Read an actual, printed book if you must stimulate your mind before bed, and avoid screens like your life depends on it, because it actually might.” Avoid your phone before bed like the plague.
3. Let The Light Shine In
Literally, let the light shine in. Leaving your blinds up effectively keeps your melatonin levels - which are sensitive to the levels of light in the environment - high, which keeps you asleep for longer. In needing to get up early, let the sun do its job instead of using an alarm.
4. Workout
You knew I couldn’t forget this one! Waking your body up with a nice jog or an short-lived, intense workout stimulates your entire body to be ready for the day ahead. In turn, you’ll not only be creating a sense of achievement early in your day, but you’ll also be stimulating your mind for all of the tasks that you have ahead. Get up and go!
5. Drink Water
This seems simple, but it’s easy to forget something if it isn’t a habit. Waking up and drinking a glass of water every morning is a great way to literally “break the fast.” Your body will be dehydrated after 7+ hours of no water, and starting your day with a glass of water is essential to mood regulation, alertness, and even your appetite. Simple enough, so make it a habit!
As simple as these points are, using even one of the above recommendations can help show you're the kind of rest that you’re actually missing. One at a time, take these tips in stride and help each new day be better than the last.
