The famous snooze button.
Often the first way to start our day, you and I would typically wake to a jarring alarm clock, hit snooze for that extra few minutes only to wake again with that extra groggy feeling.
My best mornings happen when I just wake up without an alarm.
Sometimes I get up at 4am. Other times it’s 6am.
As your next experiment, try waking up to start the day without falling asleep again. Here’s how you can do it without snoozing:
Get to bed on-schedule.
Chances are you are tired in the morning because you had a different sleep pattern. Your body needs to stick to a consistent schedule of bed times and wake up times. The average adult needs 7-8 hours of sleep. Stick to your schedule to feel awake every time you hear that alarm clock ringing.
Place the alarm clock far away from your bed.
Please ensure the alarm is still audible! By scrambling in the dark to find and turn off the alarm, you get a short boost of exercise that will hopefully keep you moving.
Stop using alarm clocks.
If you follow step 1 religiously, your consistent sleep schedule will actually allow you to wake effortlessly, without the need for an alarm clock.
Drink a cup of water before bed.
One cup of water will get you up in the morning. By the time you head to the bathroom and back, you will feel less in need of more sleep.
Get passionate.
If you are motivated, you will have a desire to wake up with a positive energy. A personal passion or interest will get you in a positive mood, ready to tackle the day. Find the activity that lights a fire under you and sleep will become a secondary endeavour.
Eat healthy.
Healthy eating has the benefits of improving your sleep. Your digestive system will thank you and leave you with a peaceful sleep if you go to bed with a stomach free of toxins, like sugary foods. Your brain function will be sharper and more focused when fed the right nutrients. Can’t say enough about this one.
Next time you prepare for bed, give these tips a try and let me know what works best for you.