It’s Wake-Up Time
Whether you’re a 20-something-year-old struggling to get out of bed or a family man with three kids and a complicated morning routine, waking up is a science. Having the right routine can be the difference between a happy, productive day or a slow, sluggish one. Here are ten things to NOT do as soon as you wake up.
Scrolling Through Your Phone
What harm can a 10-minute scroll through Facebook do, right? Well, going to the screen first thing in the morning disrupts the body’s natural process of waking up, making you feel stressed and distracted for the rest of the day.
Snoozing Your Alarm
The temptation of those “last five minutes” of sleep can be difficult to resist. However, you need to stop snoozing your alarms if you want to feel energised in the mornings. The sleep you get after snoozing your alarm is usually light and fragmented, and can leave you feeling groggy and tired.
Getting Coffee First Thing
36% of adults in the U.S. drink coffee first thing in the morning, but that doesn’t mean that it's a healthy habit. Drinking coffee in the first hour of waking up can seriously spike your blood cortisol levels (the stress hormone). This can make the caffeine ineffective and increase your stress levels.
Making Your Bed
Yes, it goes against everything your parents told you when you were little, but, scientifically speaking, leaving your bed unmade for a few hours after you wake up might be good for you. It is an easy way to dehydrate and kill the millions of dust mites that accumulate on your sheets when you sleep.
Staying in the Dark
If you’re the type of person to get through your morning routine in the dark, it might be time to make a change. Not getting natural light in the morning makes your body’s internal clock think that it’s still nighttime and leaves you feeling cranky and irritated.
Not Drinking Water
Sleeping for six to seven hours a night can leave your body extremely dehydrated. Having a glass of water on an empty stomach first thing in the morning helps you rehydrate and feel less sluggish.
Staying in the Sheets
The temptation to stay in bed and cuddle up is completely understandable, especially when the weather is nice and cozy. But, lingering in bed for too long can only worsen your productivity. Get out of bed as soon as you wake up to set a good tone for the rest of your day.
Not Eating Breakfast
“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day” is a maxim we’ve all heard for far too long, because it is absolutely true. Skipping breakfast can deprive you of the energy you need to start your day well. Over time, it can also lead to serious health conditions like insulin resistance.
Eating a High-Sugar Breakfast
Pancakes, muffins, danishes, and cereal are all popular “breakfast foods” that you absolutely shouldn’t eat for breakfast. Having a breakfast loaded with sugar can cause a crash later in the day that can leave you feeling tired, irritated, and sluggish.
Not Stretching
No matter how well you’ve slept, your body will feel stiff when you wake up. A five to ten minute stretch can be a good way to shake your body awake, get rid of any stiffness, and increase blood flow to your muscles and joints.
