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Do you jump out of bed feeling wide awake in the morning? Or do you feel groggy and sleepy for a while after you get up? I am in the latter group, especially if I get up early. This is inconvenient because I actually really love getting up early. I like to use the early hours of the day to get productive things done, but it’s harder to get motivated when I am feeling sleepy.
Related post: How To Get Up Early In The Morning If You Are A Night Owl
If you, like me, struggle with sleepiness in the morning, I hope this blog post will be helpful. I have put together a list of quick and simple ways to feel more awake in the morning. All of these things definitely help me to banish sleepiness, especially when I do several in combination.
How To Quickly Feel More Awake In The Morning
1. Stand up
During sleep, our production of the ‘alert hormone’ cortisol is inhibited. By getting out of bed and standing up, cortisol will be released in higher amounts, helping us to feel more alert. I read that this has to do with the fluid in our inner ear stimulating certain nerves when we are upright (but don’t quote me on the science!). Therefore, if you want to feel more awake in the morning, avoid lingering in bed and get upright.
2. Open the curtains
Another factor that affects our hormones is light. Light suppresses our production of the ‘sleep hormone’ melatonin. Therefore by opening the curtains and letting the light into your room, you’ll quickly start to feel more awake. Sunlight is best, but if it’s still dark outside, turn on your bedroom light and any lamps to get as much light as possible.
Related post: How To Get Out Of Bed When It’s Cold and Dark
3. Open a window
Our bedrooms can get stuffy overnight, so it’s a good idea to open a window in the morning. The fresh air will energise you and help you to feel more awake.
4. Go outside
Going outside is another way to get some fresh air which will help you to feel more awake. If you have a garden or balcony, try sitting out on the decking for a while and let nature and fresh air stimulate your senses.
5. Drink water
When I first wake up, I often feel dehydrated as well as tired and groggy. Therefore I like to have a drink of water first thing in the morning. As well as providing hydration, this really helps me to feel more awake and refreshed. I prefer to have hot water but you might prefer cold, especially in the summer.
Related post: How To Drink More Water If You Struggle To Drink Enough
6. Consume caffeine
Caffeine is a well-known tool that can help you feel more awake. This usually comes in the form of a cup of tea or coffee. Personally, I don’t drink much caffeine because it makes me feel jittery, but I occasionally have a green tea to give me a boost when I’m feeling extra sleepy. I’d recommend not becoming too reliant on caffeine but it can be a useful tool when you need to be more awake and get things done.
7. Put some music on
Music is a great tool for helping you feel more awake. Try putting some lively, energetic music on or turn on the radio. This will provide stimulation to wake you up.
8. Stretch
Stretching is known for being relaxing, but it can also help to wake you up. Your body has been stationary overnight so your muscles will welcome a good stretch to get the blood flowing to them again. You can try some yoga poses or just stretch in whatever way feels good.
9. Exercise
In addition to stretching, some gentle exercise can go a long way in helping you to feel more awake. If you have time, you could go for a walk or a run, or otherwise, try jogging on the spot or dancing to some music at home.
Related post: How To Get More Exercise Without Putting In Extra Time
10. Wash your face
Splashing your face with water or washing it with a flannel can really help you to feel more awake. I like to use a hot flannel but cold would work too.
11. Have a shower
A shower is a great way to wake yourself up. If you really need to feel wide awake quickly then you could even try a cold shower!
12. Make your bed
This won’t specifically make you feel more awake, but it will make you less tempted to get back into bed! You’ll be sending a signal to your brain that sleep time is over and it’s time to start the day.
13. Smile
Sometimes, we don’t want to get out of bed because we have a long or hard day ahead of us. Therefore we give in to tiredness and snooze for longer so we don’t have to face the day. Try smiling and saying to yourself that it’s going to be a good day. A positive attitude will help you to feel better psychologically, and more enthusiastic about your day. Therefore it will be easier to shake off the tiredness and feel more alert.
How do you make yourself feel more awake in the morning?
Do you do any of the things I’ve mentioned in this post, to help yourself feel more awake in the morning? Do you have any other tips for waking yourself up quickly? Let me know in the comments below!
It takes me a little while to come around in the mornings, possibly because of the medication I am on to help me sleep. But I always feel more awake after making my bed, pulling my blind and opening the window. Love a good morning cup of tea too! Thank you for sharing these other suggestions.
Lauren x
Oh, I can imagine that certain medications would definitely make it harder to feel awake in the morning! Glad you’ve found some things that help you feel more awake, though. Opening the window definitely helps me a lot too! Thanks for reading and commenting x
Loved this post as I’m slowly trying to become a early riser. Caffeine, opening curtains, making the bed, and getting ready right away are what work best for me. All great suggestions!
I’m so glad you loved this post! I’m glad you’ve found some things that work for you. Thank you for reading and commenting!
I am really a night owl and I find it extremely hard to get up in the morning. This blog was informative. Thank you for posting it!
I find it so hard to get up in the morning too! I’m so glad you enjoyed this post x