Shake up Your Wake-up

Bzzzzz! My alarm screams at me, and the temptation to press snooze, or throw the alarm clock against the wall is strong. It takes everything inside of me to toss my covers aside and hop out of bed, but if I chose to press snooze I will likely sleep until noon! I guess you could say I am not a morning person. Yeah, you could definitely say that!

Like me, many people set the alarm with the best of intentions, knowing they need to get up to meet the day’s demands. Of course, the alarm clock seems to ring far before we are ready to rise, so you hit the snooze and inevitably, you are running late. Mornings may be rough for some of us, but hold off on sleeping in. There are benefits to waking up with the sun.

Try changing your routine so you are never late again! Here’s a few suggestions:

Power Down Electronics so You can Power Down

Part of getting up on time is getting enough sleep the night before. Getting ready for bed is a process of winding down. Many people use the TV to fall asleep, which is a mistake. The light suppresses melatonin production, and the TV stimulates your mind. Try listening to music or practicing relaxation exercises before bed instead.

You Snooze You Lose

When you set the alarm for a specific time, actually get up at that time. You aren’t doing your body any favors by getting an extra few minutes of sleep after being woken by the alarm the first time. Repeatedly pressing the snooze button confuses your body’s natural waking program. You end up starting your day groggy and sluggish. Set your alarm for the time you need to wake and be disciplined enough to abide by it.

Good Morning Sunshine

The bright lights of your TV before bed can make it hard to go to sleep, but bright light for an hour or so once you wake up helps set your body clock to accept your wake up time. You can go for a thirty-minute walk in the morning, or if it is dark outside you can use a light box designed specifically to mimic outdoor light.

Get your Body Moving

Exercise might be the farthest thing from your mind when you are sleep deprived, but getting your blood pumping has a stimulating effect. Exercising in the morning gives you enough energy to get through the day. Try making this part of your morning routine. You will see the benefits extend far past just the morning time!

You know the Phrase – “Breakfast like a King… “

“Breakfast like a King, Lunch like a Prince and Dine like a Pauper” It’s a well-known phrase, but do you really follow it? When you hit the snooze button a million times you are robbing yourself of time to fix a good breakfast. Chances are you will skip breakfast not to be late. Going through the day on an empty stomach is very counter-productive. You will have less energy, less focus, and end up in a bad mood. Make time for breakfast, there is a reason so many studies prove it is the most important meal of the day!

Having a healthy morning routine ensures the success of the whole day. You might not wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed every day, but if you follow a routine, you should have no excuse to be late again, unless of course, the dog ate your presentation!