I've never been a morning person, preferring to start later in the day and work on until the early hours. Although that's all well and good while you're a student, as soon as you get into the 'real world' it's simply no longer an option. Working from home (or for yourself in general) does provide more flexibility, but I personally find that if I'm not at my desk by 10am I tend to faff away the day rather than productively ticking things off my to-do list. If, like me, you struggle removing yourself from the bedsheets and have a tendency to yawn your way through the first half of your day whilst consuming as much coffee as possible, then you may benefit from a few of the tips I've learned over the past few weeks. Admittedly I don't do this every single day, but when I really need to crack on and get things done it's the fool proof way to get my backside in gear and feel wide awake all day long. Here are the five stages that ensure you're energized, wide awake and ready to face the day...
MOVE TO TURN OFF THE ALARM CLOCK
This one has been said many times, but it really is the key to getting yourself up and about - rather than snoozing the alarm five times and making excuses as to why five more minutes won't hurt. Believe me, it will. The longer you stay in bed, the less time you'll have to get ready; that only means you'll be in a crazy rush, forget something and feel like the world is against you come 8am. Move your alarm clock to a place where you can't reach from your bed, meaning you need to physically get up to turn it off. Once you're up, you're up and there's no need to slip back between the sheets.
BRUSH YOUR TEETH & DOWN SOME WATER
Menial tasks help your body to wake up without overthinking, so walking to the bathroom and brushing your teeth or splashing some water on your face will help get you in the zone. I often find by the time the two minutes on my electric toothbrush is up, I'm already much more awake and ready to tackle little tasks - like feeding my animals or making a cup of tea. Drinking a glass of water is also really important not only for the refreshing feeling it offers, but because you're more than likely going to be a little dehydrated after eight hours of not drinking. Tiredness is often mistaken for dehydration, so drinking a large glass of water will help wake you up in more ways than one.
INVEST IN A LITTLE EXERCISE
Nothing gets your heart pumping and your mind ticking like a little exercise. Whether it's a five minute exercise routine you learned from a YouTube video, a quick yoga session, or jumping on an exercise bike (my personal choice,) the movement will get your blood flowing and naturally wake you up while simultaneously burning calories. After fifteen minutes on my bike I definitely start to resemble a human being, rather than the messy haired monster that was snoozing thirty minutes previously.
EAT A HEALTHY, REFRESHING BREAKFAST
Although those sugary cereals may seem appealing at the time, they're only going to see your blood sugar come crashing down in a couple of hours. Opt for a hearty and healthy breakfast that's full of beneficial nutrients; this will fill you up, provide your body with a little boost and prevent you feeling sluggish later on in the day. I love porridge oats, yogurt with granola, a fruit salad, homemade smoothies or eggs on toast; all of these are quick and easy to make, plus you can sprinkle superfoods on top to make them even more beneficial. I love chia seeds, baobab powder, bee pollen, blueberries and honey. Tasty and good for you too!
TURN OFF THE TV; TURN ON SOME TUNES
One of my biggest downfalls in the morning is watching television and getting totally distracted by features that really won't enhance my life. I really don't care about a C-list celebrity's new fashion line, or what's going on in the marriage of a footballer - but it's so easy to find myself sitting down with a cup of coffee and getting totally engrossed. The easiest thing for me is to turn off the telly completely, instead opting for some energising tunes that will have me speeding through my morning routine. Bopping along helps you move from one task to the next, rather than sitting down every five minutes. Before you know it, you'll be out the door and on your way with a smile on your face and a skip in your step!
What are your top tips for starting the day feeling refreshed and energized?
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MOVE TO TURN OFF THE ALARM CLOCK
This one has been said many times, but it really is the key to getting yourself up and about - rather than snoozing the alarm five times and making excuses as to why five more minutes won't hurt. Believe me, it will. The longer you stay in bed, the less time you'll have to get ready; that only means you'll be in a crazy rush, forget something and feel like the world is against you come 8am. Move your alarm clock to a place where you can't reach from your bed, meaning you need to physically get up to turn it off. Once you're up, you're up and there's no need to slip back between the sheets.
BRUSH YOUR TEETH & DOWN SOME WATER
Menial tasks help your body to wake up without overthinking, so walking to the bathroom and brushing your teeth or splashing some water on your face will help get you in the zone. I often find by the time the two minutes on my electric toothbrush is up, I'm already much more awake and ready to tackle little tasks - like feeding my animals or making a cup of tea. Drinking a glass of water is also really important not only for the refreshing feeling it offers, but because you're more than likely going to be a little dehydrated after eight hours of not drinking. Tiredness is often mistaken for dehydration, so drinking a large glass of water will help wake you up in more ways than one.
INVEST IN A LITTLE EXERCISE
Nothing gets your heart pumping and your mind ticking like a little exercise. Whether it's a five minute exercise routine you learned from a YouTube video, a quick yoga session, or jumping on an exercise bike (my personal choice,) the movement will get your blood flowing and naturally wake you up while simultaneously burning calories. After fifteen minutes on my bike I definitely start to resemble a human being, rather than the messy haired monster that was snoozing thirty minutes previously.
EAT A HEALTHY, REFRESHING BREAKFAST
Although those sugary cereals may seem appealing at the time, they're only going to see your blood sugar come crashing down in a couple of hours. Opt for a hearty and healthy breakfast that's full of beneficial nutrients; this will fill you up, provide your body with a little boost and prevent you feeling sluggish later on in the day. I love porridge oats, yogurt with granola, a fruit salad, homemade smoothies or eggs on toast; all of these are quick and easy to make, plus you can sprinkle superfoods on top to make them even more beneficial. I love chia seeds, baobab powder, bee pollen, blueberries and honey. Tasty and good for you too!
TURN OFF THE TV; TURN ON SOME TUNES
One of my biggest downfalls in the morning is watching television and getting totally distracted by features that really won't enhance my life. I really don't care about a C-list celebrity's new fashion line, or what's going on in the marriage of a footballer - but it's so easy to find myself sitting down with a cup of coffee and getting totally engrossed. The easiest thing for me is to turn off the telly completely, instead opting for some energising tunes that will have me speeding through my morning routine. Bopping along helps you move from one task to the next, rather than sitting down every five minutes. Before you know it, you'll be out the door and on your way with a smile on your face and a skip in your step!
What are your top tips for starting the day feeling refreshed and energized?
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