Not everybody wakes up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready to conquer the day. And when you’re finally awake, realising that you’ll have to change nappies or prepare breakfast is another challenge in itself. With the many roles mums have to play everyday, it’s very easy to feel tired before the day has even started.
Of course, there are ways to avoid this — and a wonderful way to do so is by having a morning routine. Not only will it perk you up, but it also adds structure to your life. Not to mention, The Independent’s feature on the power of routines notes that morning people are much more proactive than night owls. If getting up in the morning is a struggle, here are some things you can do everyday to muster that morning energy.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
This should go without saying, but no amount of coffee and exercise is going to keep you awake if your body simply isn’t ready to be. Eight hours is most optimal, but even six hours of sleep will do — as long as it is deep, uninterrupted rest. However, as we’ve shared on our ‘Sleep Deprivation and Feeling the Pain’ post, getting a good night’s rest is easier said than done when you’re a mum. Once your little one has gone to bed, cover or turn off all sources of light as you prepare to rest — that includes your smartphone! This allows you to focus solely on sleeping, as well as prevent the sunlight from seeping into the windows in the morning. Additionally, you can have a cup of chamomile tea to help you sleep.
Set Up a Smart Alarm
Nobody likes waking up to the blaring sound of an alarm in the middle of good sleep. Instead, try a smart alarm. SleepScore is an app designed to wake you up at the best point in your sleep cycle. Simply set a window of time you would like to be woken up, say between 8:00 to 8:30, and the alarm automatically goes off when you’re in the lighter stages of sleep. In this way, you’ll wake up feeling less groggy and irritated.
Don’t Skip Breakfast
After more than eight hours of no sleep, it’s only natural that your body starts demanding for fuel. While having a normal, balanced meal is enough to keep you functioning, a cup of tea or coffee has long been a breakfast staple for a reason. Besides caffeine, Pretty Me’s feature on Lean N’ Green Slimming Coffee emphasises the need for all-natural, organic ingredients — even in your cuppa. Look out for ingredients like green coffee bean extract, green tea, and psyllium fibre husk — all of which are proven to give you a much-needed energy boost. If you aren’t a fan of caffeine, turmeric juice is a great alternative that comes with its own health benefits.
Work Out
Another sure-fire way to perk up is to get your body moving. It may sound like the least appealing thing to do when all you want is to lay in bed, but a study published in Journal of Endocrinological Investigation reveals that exercising in the morning is a great way to boost cortisol and feel more invigorated. Plus, the endorphin rush is sure to power you throughout the rest of your day.
So whether it’s taking a walk in the park or a quick session on your yoga mat, spare one hour of your day for this and you’ll thank yourself later.
Meditate
Meditation sounds like something to make you fall asleep, but research says otherwise. Studies on Meditation & Mindfulness show how morning meditations can actually make you happier and energised throughout the day. Mornings also tend to be one of the quieter times of the day so it’ll be easier for you to enter a state of calm and give your brain that extra recharge time.
In conclusion: Mornings don’t have to be so bad. With a little effort, you’ll get used to the routine in no time like clockwork. After all, it always pays to start things off on the right foot — and that includes your days too.
*collaborative post*
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