Eight Ways to Energize Your Morning After a Sleepless Night

We all have those days; you know the ones, where you have to restrain yourself from using the coffee grinder on the alarm clock. Whether it's the result of a restless nights' sleep, a late party with co-workers, or caring for a sick child that's left you weary and dreary in the a.m., you still need to find a way to function and get busy with the brand-new day.

Here are eight simple steps to help revive your tired body and help get the zip back into your sleep-deprived step.

Stretch: Stretching your muscles stimulates your circulation and gets the blood flow going, especially to where it's needed most - your brain! A few simple arm and leg stretches will wake up your cells and give you an instant burst of alert.

Talk: Hold a conversation with your significant other, children, or call up an early-bird friend. Talking stimulates your brain activity and before you know it, you'll be wide awake. Be sure not to be a grumpy chatter, though as this may lead to unwanted agitated exchanges that may wake you up, but will leave you with the desire to crawl back in bed to begin the day over!

Play Music: Find your favorite uplifting CD and crank up the volume. Before you know it, you'll be tapping your toes, gliding around the house, and ready for a disco marathon. Music has an amazing ability to enliven our senses and get our hearts pumping.

Chew: Grab a piece of gum, an apple, or any other food substance you desire that requires a work-out for your jaw. Jaw movements will stimulate brain and muscle activity, which in turn wakes you up.

Catch Some Rays: If the sun is shining, step outside and soak up a little bit of nature's wake up call. The sun is a natural mood booster and the bright light will offer an instant pick-me-up for your brain.

Change Your Routine: Our bodies and minds are programmed to mindlessly follow routine, especially if you don't vary it often. So if your regular morning regime begins with a cup of coffee, take your shower first, then go grab your cup o' joe. Changing your regular pattern will kick your body and mind into an alert status.

Choose a Scent. The scents of peppermint, eucalyptus, and citrus are known to be energy and mood lifters. Invest in some grapefruit-scented shower gel, a bottle of peppermint aromatherapy, or a fresh mint scented candle for those occasions when you need a little alertness boost in the morning. Other great scents to try are lemon, orange, and spearmint. There are even coffee-scented candles and soaps if the aroma of a fresh brew gets your brain shifted into motion.

Hydrate. Grab a glass and chug down some major H2O, preferably with a little chill to it. Cold water revives your body and will give you an instant sense of alertness. In addition, our bodies continuously crave water to function properly, so after a night without, the refreshment will help to get your gears going.