Whether you’re trying to limit your caffeine consumption or have just run out of coffee, here’s some ways to feel more awake and ready to go in the morning.
Stretch & Exercise
You don’t need to jump into your workout clothes and run a 5k as soon as you get up, but a little stretching and exercising in the morning is a great way to improve the blood flow in your body and feel more alert. Exercising will increase your heartbeat which can help improve the flow of oxygen to all parts of the body, including the brain which will get you ‘awake’ in no time.
Take a Cold Shower
While a warm shower may make you feel all fuzzy, a cold shower is actually what you need to revitalise your senses and get yourself into the active mode. If a cold shower seems a bit too extreme for you, you can also take a normal shower and then end with a blast of cold water towards the end. Doing this has been found to help reverse the symptoms of fatigue and can increase your metabolic rate, making you feel more alert.
Get Some Sunlight
One of the simplest and easiest ways to feel more awake and energetic in the morning is to get some exposure to sunlight. Natural light can wake you up like nothing else and it can also help your body stay in sync with its natural circadian rhythm, making you feel more alert.
If natural sunlight is in short supply, use a body clock light that will gradually wake you using light from a time you set.
Eat (and Drink)!
You may have already heard how breakfast is the most important meal of the day and how you shouldn’t skip it. Start off with a glass of ice cold water and then follow it up with a good breakfast. Try to include more complex carbs in your diet since they’ll help you stay more focused and alert throughout the day. A glass of orange juice can also be great since it gives you that natural sugar boost and is full of flavonoids that help you feel more alert.
Give Yourself a Mental Task
Starting your day with a little task that requires some mental effort is also a good way to wake yourself up. It can be anything, a word game on your phone, a crossword puzzle in the newspaper or even doing a few calculations, it’ll help get your mind buzzing again, and before you know it, you’ll be active both mentally and physically.
