Mornings are only easy for a select few people. It’s possible to train your body to get up and get moving without any trouble, but it takes time and dedication. For those of us who struggle with feeling tired in the morning, it’s important to develop strategies for a morning boost. Here are 11 tips to help you get moving in the morning.
1. Set Your Alarm Clock to Play Your Favorite Music
The sound of most alarm clocks is miserable and can elicit feelings of anxiety in many people. Thus, by using a standard alarm clock, the first thought in your head each day is a negative one. That’s a terrible way to start the day! Instead, set up your alarm clock to play music that makes you happy. The first thought in your head each day will be a bright one. Unlike with an annoying alarm clock sound, you won’t even want to push the snooze button! You will just want to dance, and you can’t sleep when you’re dancing. Before you know it, you’ll be in a headspace that will make it easier to get out from under the covers.
2. Drink Caffeine Shortly After Waking
Often, people feel sluggish and slow for the first hour or two after waking up. Feeling groggy leads to lower productivity and means more time spent on certain tasks than is necessary. To eliminate the morning groggy feeling, drink a cup of coffee or tea within about fifteen minutes of waking up. It prevents you from wanting to go back to sleep and will give you the energy you need to get your morning tasks done quicker and get to work on time.
3. Place Your Alarm Clock Far From Your Bed
By placing your alarm clock far from your bed, you will be required to get out of bed to turn it off. Use a dresser or a windowsill, but make sure you have to take at least a few steps to get to it. Getting out of bed is often the hardest part about waking up in the morning. By getting out of bed faster, you increase the likelihood of starting your day instead of pressing the snooze button.
4. Exercise in the Morning
Some light exercise in the morning will get your endorphins flowing and give you more energy. The optimal duration and intensity of exercise varies from person to person. After a brief workout at the gym, I feel energized and ready to take on the day. In addition, it leaves the rest of my day open for other activities. If you prefer something more relaxing, get out and take a short morning walk when you wake up. Studies have shown that workers who receive exposure to natural light in the morning tend to sleep better at night experience less depression, and fall asleep quicker[1]. These are all great reasons to get outside in the morning!
5. Drink Water Right Before Going to Sleep
When you drink enough water before going to sleep, you’ll have to go to the bathroom early in the morning. This will make you want to get up and prevent you from falling back to sleep. However, try to avoid excess amounts of water within the few hours prior to going to sleep as it may cause you to wake up in the middle of the night. I recommend experimenting to find the optimal timing and quantity of water to drink prior to sleeping.
6. Leave Your Blinds Open
Leaving your blinds open at night will allow the sun to enter your room and wake you up, helping you feel more alert. The sun is also a source of vitamin D, which is a natural source of energy. One article pointed out that “waking up with the sun also allows your body to wake up gradually, in a natural process, instead of being startled out of much-needed REM sleep — a.k.a. the deep sleep your brain needs to learn, store memories, and regulate your emotions — with a piercing, sudden alarm”[2].
7. Eat Before Sleeping
One of the reasons why you feel groggy and slow in the morning is because you haven’t had any sustenance during the eight hours you were asleep. A small snack before bed can help prevent this feeling. You can check out this article for the best bedtime snacks and drinks. I usually eat a low-carbohydrate and easy to digest snack, such as cottage cheese, yogurt, milk and/or peanut butter. Too much food or those that are difficult to digest may prevent you from sleeping, so it’s best to experiment to find the best quantity and types of food to eat before you sleep.
8. Eat When You Wake Up
A small and easy-to-digest meal in the morning will give you a boost of energy. As discussed above, during your 8 hours of sleep, you haven’t provided your body with any sustenance. I recommend a piece of fruit, yogurt, or muesli with whole grains. A healthy breakfast is key to giving your body the boost it needs when you want to know how to get more energy. Try to make sure you get a good balance of protein, healthy fats, and carbs in the morning to give your body everything it needs to produce the energy you’ll need for the day. Here is some inspiration to help you create a great breakfast: 31 Healthy Breakfast Recipes That Will Super Boost Your Energy
9. Go to Sleep and Wake up at the Same Time Each Day
Keeping a regular and consistent sleep schedule helps your body get in to a natural rhythm. By doing so, you will begin to naturally fall asleep and wake up at the same time each day as your circadian rhythm gets into a consistent pattern[3]. Waking up will feel more natural, and you will have more energy in the morning.
In addition, it will help you fall asleep earlier. Getting the right amount of sleep will help you feel more energized. Staying up too late when you have to be up early the next morning can be detrimental to energy levels.
10. Do Something You Enjoy Doing in the Morning
Stimulating your mind by doing an inspiring or enjoyable activity will give you energy. Knowing that you will be doing something fun will make you more eager to get out of bed in the morning. Some ideas of things you can include in your morning routine are:
Doing a short yoga practice Reading an interesting book Journaling Going for a run
Find what motivates you to get out of bed and get moving.
11. Schedule Something in the Morning
Having “peer accountability” is one of the most effective motivators. If someone is dependent on you for something or monitoring your progress, you will feel motivated to do it. Scheduling a breakfast or workout with a peer will give you a clear deadline to attain in the morning, thus giving you a kick-start.
The Bottom Line
If you want to know how to get more energy, start to apply these simple ways in your daily routine. Maybe add one of them to your routine every month. Gradually, you will have more energy throughout the day. You will also be more productive and achieve more!
More Tips to Help You Get More Energy
20 Simple Ways to Bring Positive Energy into Life Right Now Boost Your Morning Motivation with These 30 Refreshing Routines 7 Morning Rituals to Empower Your Day And Change Your Life
Featured photo credit: Dayne Topkin via unsplash.com
