I’m a night owl. I’ll work into the wee hours of the morning, and then sleep like a zombie till noon. While this schedule worked for me when I was single, having kids changed that completely. I had to make breakfast, get them off to school—oh the agony! Luckily these energy-boosting tips helped me stay refreshed (or at least functional) on busy mornings.
Stretch
Even mild exercise gets the blood pumping and eases the body (and brain) into consciousness. Try stretching, simple yoga poses. I like to do this while waiting for the coffee or the toast—I’m standing around anyway, might as well do something. It also keeps me from walking to the couch and inevitably faling back asleep.
Stick to a cup of coffee
I used to down two or even three cups just to stay awake but this would make me jittery, then crash. Instead I had one cup, and then a healthy high-fiber breakfast that would keep my energy levels stable.
Drink a lot of water
The body needs rehydration in the morning. In fact, dehydration can make us tired and sleepy. I would drink several glasses of water and juice in the morning—which inevitably led to a lot of bathroom breaks but made a big difference in my energy levels, surprisingly.
Set a schedule
Setting a consistent morning and evening routine prepped my body for restful sleep and also eased me into the day. We’re creatures of habit—while the first three weeks can be hell, after 21 days of doing the same thing every day, we can’t imagine doing anything else.
Wake up to a happy tune
I hate the sound of alarm clocks, but setting my radio timer allowed me to wake up to my favorite station. Another friend of mine programmed her music player to blast Beyonce at full volume—she’d dance her way through breakfast, a shower, and her makeup routine.
Go straight to the shower
Instead of hitting snooze, hit the showers. You’ll definitely wake up. Stock up on refreshing shower gels or soaps, with invigorating scents like grapefruit or mint.
Eat breakfast
Skipping this meal is like driving without gas. No time to make breakfast? You can have yogurt, fruit, or cereal. Read the scientific proof on the importance of breakfast.