Have you ever noticed that the older you get, the tougher it seems to be to get up in the morning? The bed seems warmer, your body feels heavier, and the coffee seems farther away.
Sometimes, it’s difficult to distinguish whether that change is purely due to physical reasons, or whether it is also mental. You may also find it tough to know whether or not you are just having one tired morning, or if there is a pattern of having lower energy.
Below are a few simple considerations which may be affecting your morning energy levels. Sharper mornings may be a simple fix away.
Table of Contents
Drink Water
We‘ve all been guilty of forgetting to hydrate. You should not only be drinking water when you notice you’re thirsty, though. If you wait until you feel thirsty, it means you’re already dehydrated, and prevention is always better than waiting until you have to fix the problem. Hydration will not only help your skin and your health, it will also have a big effect on your energy levels. You may be surprised at the impact that remembering to drink water will have. Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, and remember that liquids like coffee and soda are actually dehydrating. Also ensure that you drink a big glass of water when you wake up in the morning, because your body dries out overnight, especially if you have a heater on in the cold months.
Set Your Alarm Clock to Play a Song
We all have a sound we dread: the blare of our familiar morning alarm. Once you get used to it, the sound that you associate with waking up for work can instill feelings of dread and anxiety, which is an awful way to begin your day. Instead, try setting your alarm noise to be a song you love, especially one that’s upbeat and makes you want to start moving. It can even become a fun nightly activity:choosing a different song to wake up to each morning. Then you wake up with a positive feeling and plenty of energy. For extra motivation, place your phone away from your bed before sleep. You’ll rest better when you’re removed from the temptation to check your phone in the middle of the night, which is always problematic as blue light from screens disrupts sleep. You´ll also be forced to jump out of bed to turn the alarm off, and often it’s that first effort to actually get out of bed which is the toughest hurdle.
Pick the Right Mattress
Obviously, the surest way to wake up with energy is to get a good night’s sleep. You spend a third of your life horizontal on your mattress, so it’s worth investing in a good one! If you ́re uncomfortable, you may be waking up several times throughout the night to adjust yourself and get comfortable. These moments where you wake up may be so brief that you aren’t even aware of them in the morning, except to notice that you feel like you haven’t slept at all and are still exhausted after eight hours. Look into finding which mattress is the best for your, depending on your sleep style. You may soon discover you haven’t been sleeping the whole night through, and the difference can be striking.
Sleep with Your Blinds Open
There’s nothing better than being gently woken by the sun. Blackout curtains have become quite popular for those who have difficulty falling asleep, but if you are more concerned with being an early riser, try leaving your curtains open so that you wake up with sunlight filtering in through the windows. Your body will naturally respond to the presence of sunlight, and will begin adjusting its circadian rhythm to match the times of sunrise and sunset. Soon enough, you may find yourself rising naturally, without even needing the alarm clock.
Avoid Carbs Before Bed
Eating simple carbohydrates, like white bread or pasta, causes your body to turn that energy into what essentially amounts to sugar. This in turn causes your body to release insulin, and your body has to work harder for less reward. The simple carbs we eat don’t provide energy efficiently, so instead, eat a low-carb, high-protein snack before bed, like a bit of peanut butter or a hard boiled egg. The protein will keep you feeling full and sustained throughout the night,and you won’t wake up feeling like you ́ve just come down off a sugar high.
These simple fixes won’t take long, but you should be able to see the payoff in just a few days. Sweet dreams!
