Are you one of the people that feel like they're moving through peanut butter when they wake up? Well, get in line, that makes the most of us. While you might not feel energized when you wake up, the good news is your situation doesn't have to stay that way. For the longest time I just thought I wasn't a morning person — I needed more coffee than Lorelai Gilmore to get my day started, I'd sucker punch the alarm every time it went off, and I'd weep into my pillow a little bit before getting it together and hopping into my slippers. But the thing was, I made sure everything around me created an environment that would assure that level of crankiness. I would stay up late into the night hours (because I was a "night owl" after all), I'd eat a ton of snacks right before bed, and I'd make sure my room was dark enough to allow for endless hibernation.
As you can imagine, that wouldn't even make the most determined person a morning person. Which is exactly my point: You need to plan ahead if you want to wake up energized in the morning. And here's exactly how. Here are 11 tips on how to wake up refreshed every single morning.
1. Get Rid Of Your Blinds
Or at the very least, get curtains that filter in more light than the garbage-bag-heavy ones you currently might have. Lifestyle writer Jenny Sugar from POPSUGAR explained, "Blocking out streetlights to make your room pitch black can help you fall asleep and stay asleep, but if daylight isn't able to creep in by morning, your body's circadian rhythm won't know that it's time to wake up." Letting in the light into your room will help you wake up more naturally, leaving you more energized.
2. Eat A Light Dinner
I know that burger or massive plate of pasta might seem crazy appetizing, but the key to waking up less lathargic is to eat a small dinner. Lifestyle writer Melissa Chu from Lifehack offered, "If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, it could be because your dinner portions are too big, which takes longer for your system to digest. Instead, make fruits and veggies the star attraction at dinnertime. They’re easy to digest, making it easier to have a good night’s sleep." It'll help.
3. Mindfully Set Aside Your Stresses Before Going To Sleep
Most of us do a juggling act with worries on a daily basis: Will we finish that project before deadline, why isn't there enough in our savings accounts, was buying that leather jacket a bad idea, etc. In order to wake up refreshed the next morning, make sure you take some time putting those worries to rest before going to sleep. Sugar recommended, "If something's bothering you, then figure out a way to settle your mind, whether it's jotting down thoughts in a journal, talking to your BFF, or doing these relaxing yoga poses in bed." You'll be happier about it come morning.
4. Keep A Glass Of Water On Your Nightstand
If you drink a glass of water first thing in the morning, then you're not only hydrating your body but also pulling it out of its lethargic state. Lifestyle writer Emily Blibb from POPSUGAR explained, "Hydration first thing in the morning is important, because it increases the rate at which new muscle and blood cells are produced. A hydrated body allows for a healthy flow of oxygen, allowing you to stay alert and energized." So get a glass ready!
5. Have A Routine You Look Forward To
If you lay down a fun routine to follow in the morning, not only will you know exactly what to do when you first wake up (motivating you to move,) but you'll also have a reason to jump out of bed. If it's something you look forward to, slapping off the alarm will be less of a chore. Chu recommended, "One routine might be that you get up, go exercise, shower and then eat breakfast. Maybe you like to start off calmly by doing a bit of reading or the daily crossword puzzle. Do whatever helps you warm up for the day." Whether it's reading, making a fancy cup of coffee, or watching cartoons for 30 minutes, do what will make you happiest.
6. Get A Soundtrack Prepared
Rather than shuffling to the bathroom to brush your teeth in a groggy silence, get an a.m. playlist prepared that will add a spring to your step. Lifestyle writer Kate Bratskeir from Huffington Post suggested, "Craft yourself an a.m. playlist packed with your favorite energizing tunes and listen to it while you’re getting ready in the morning." The uplifting, booty-shaking beats will help you shake off the cobwebs faster.
7. Don't Plan For The Snooze Button
While it might feel great hitting that snooze button before getting up in the morning, you're actually ensuring that your day will start out more lethargic by doing so. Instead, don't plan for the snooze button. According to Sugar, "If you're one of those people who purposely sets your alarm early so you can hit the snooze button and feel like you're getting more time in dreamland, then you're actually getting less. That extra snooze time is constantly being interrupted by the startling sound of your alarm, and the sleep you're getting in between beeps isn't quality sleep." Instead, ignore that itch to hit the snooze.
8. Place Your Alarm Clock Further Away
Try to put your alarm clock in a place that would require you to get out of bed in order to turn it off, getting you moving right off the bat. Lifestyle writer Amanda Bravo at health site Health and Sleep pointed out, "Put your alarm clock further away so you have to get up to turn the alarm off. If it is within your easy reach it will be put off by you even unintentionally." And if you're already out of bed to turn it off, you'll spend less time burrowing into the pillows and muttering over how tired you are.
9 Stick To A Consistent Sleep Schedule
If you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day (including weekends!) then your body will get used to that rhythm and start to naturally wake at that hour. According to Bravo, "Keep a consistent sleep schedule and adhere to it. Fall asleep and wake up at the same time every day." You won't wake up groggy anymore because your body was expecting to wake up anyway.
10. Avoid Certain Noms
Certain foods have been proven to give you a bad night's sleep, so try to avoid them as much as possible after lunch. Health writer Charlie at The Daily Mind explained, "Coffee, red wine and chocolate have been scientifically shown to disturb your sleep more than any other food. They upset your intestines in such a way that you will wake up constantly or have a very light sleep that doesn’t re charge you at all." I know it'll be hard to avoid that dark chocolate, but it will be worth it.
11. Breathe Deep
When you first wake up, energize yourself by taking big, cleansing breaths that get you energized to start your day. Charlie offered, "The first thing you should do in the morning is take some deep breaths into your stomach and concentrate on waking up. Imagine breathing in a bright white light that makes your body feel happy and light." When you're breathing in bright light, how can you not bounce straight out of the sheets?
If you try these easy tips, you might just make that impossible switch to "morning person." See you on the other side!
Images: @lichipan/Instagram
