Is it a struggle to get out of bed every morning? Do you feel sluggish and tired, even after the requisite eight hours of sleep? Grogginess is a sign that you’re not getting quality sleep. These tips can help you rest better and ease yourself gently into the day.
Switch alarm clocks
Loud, blaring rings and other sudden noises are the worst possible way to wake up, since your body’s jolted out of sleep. Look for a clock that allows for a smoother transition, like a gradually increasing ring tone. Others will start with more calming sounds like a babbling brook or birds singing in the forest, before switching to louder sounds like music or a melodious ring.
Get the coffee going automatically
Preprogrammed percolators will have coffee ready for you by the time you wake up, so you can just walk over and pour yourself a mug even if your brain is barely functional. This will also help you fight the instinct to crawl back into bed, which is strongest in the first five minutes after you wake up.
Start the day with a physical activity
So maybe you’re not the type who’ll go jogging in the morning (though that’s actually a great way to start the day). But even if you don’t have the time to squeeze in an early workout, spend the first 20 minutes doing something physical, even if it’s taking out the trash or watering the rosebushes.
Buy a new pillow
A lumpy pillow can lead to neck pain. You know it’s time to change the pillow if you fold it and it doesn’t return to its original shape.
Open the curtains
A dark room sends signals to your brain that it’s night time. Throwing open the curtains or even going out of the door to get the newspaper announce that it’s a new day.
Work with your sleep cycles
You go through several stages in sleep, from light sleep that progressively gets deeper and the nends in REM or rapid eye movement. REM is lighter and easier to wake up from. If you are struggling to wake up then you may still be in deep sleep. Waking up half an hour earlier may help you ‘catch’ yourself before you go into really deep sleep.
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