Strategies for Morning Success

Mornings can be tough for anyone. That comfortable bed that calls you back to dreamland is much more attractive than another day at the salt mines. If you just aren't a morning person, here are several strategies you can use to get yourself ready and raring to go.

Get some sleep:

Go to bed and get up at the same time every day whenever possible. This will help to set your internal clock. When you are stressed or excited, your body will be trained to go to sleep even though your brain may have other ideas. This will ease those mornings when you have a million other things going on. The last thing you need is to crawl out of bed late on top of everything else!

Don't bring your troubles to bed:

Sleeping well is the key to being ready for morning. If you lay in bed and think about all of the problems that will be waiting for you tomorrow, you'll begin to associate "bed" with "worry" and you'll be less likely to drop off quickly or to get a sound night's sleep. If you find yourself unable to shut off your brain, try concentrating on your breathing or counting sheep - anything to calm, distract, and relax yourself.

Plan ahead:

Get everything possible ready before you go to bed. Choose your clothes, pack any lunches, put bags and keys near the door, and generally smooth all morning decisions down to choosing between toast and a bagel.

Give yourself a warning shot:

Allow yourself to hit snooze on your alarm clock, but only once. This lets you go back to your warm, cozy nest and wake up a bit more gradually while reserving that second buzz in case you should drift off once more. Spend the time listening to the birds singing outside your window or thinking about how much you love your family. Try not to dwell on the stressful things that await you outside of your sleepy sanctuary.

Move that clock:

Put the clock on the other side of the room, or even farther, from your bed. Rolling over and smacking the snooze button is no way to motivate yourself in the morning. Having to get completely out of bed and walk across the hall will make it easier to stay awake once you're up.

Shed some light on the subject:

Once you're up, open the curtains or turn on the lights. The brighter it is (within reason), the stronger the message to your body that it is time to be up and moving. You may even wish to go to bed with the curtains half-open if you're getting up after sunrise. Gradual lightening will be a strong but unconscious signal that it's time to wake up and is less harsh than a sudden glare from 100-watt bulbs. There are also lamp/alarm clocks that will simulate dawn to start awakening you gently.

Feed yourself:

Eating a good breakfast will jump-start your metabolism in the morning and give you more energy. Even grabbing a granola bar and glass of orange juice will help to fuel your motor and get you ready to attack another day.

Get your body moving:

When you are sleeping, your heart rate, blood pressure, and respirations are reduced. As soon as you get out of bed, take some deep breaths and get oxygen into your blood then do a few stretches to wake up your muscles. If you're really ambitious, turn on the radio and dance around the bed a few times or jump on an exercise machine. The endorphins from a little workout will help you feel much better about being awake.

Jump into the shower:

The water will keep you comfortably warm until you've had an invigorating scrub. If you still can't get going, a shot of cold water can do wonders to blow the cobwebs out of your head. You'll be refreshed and sweet-smelling to start the day. There is even caffeinated soap, for those of you who can't wait for that first cup of coffee. Give your teeth a good scrubbing while you're in the bathroom, and remember to clean your tongue. Not only will it help to wake you up but it will wipe out morning breath, too.

Remember to leave yourself plenty of time to wake up. You don't need to feel rushed or frustrated first thing in the morning. This may mean moving your bedtime back half an hour, but you will enjoy the rewards in the morning. These hints and strategies will send you out the door rested and energized instead of sleepy and frazzled. You'll look and feel better, and so will everything else.