Sometimes in the morning it’s just harder to get your motor running. We feel tired, even after a full night’s rest. It can be frustrating and even depressing to wake up feeling like this day after day. So what can we do about it? We’ve rounded up easy morning tips on ways to get more energized and feel refreshed every morning.
Quality and Quantity of Sleep
Initially, you need enough good quality sleep to feel like doing anything in the morning. Exercising and eating well, and avoiding over-consumption of caffeine can greatly improve the quality of your sleep, going to bed on time matters too. The American Medical Association recommends 6-8 hours minimum of sleep for an average, healthy adult. Once you have these healthy habits in place, falling and staying asleep will be easier.
Have a Good Breakfast
A good breakfast doesn’t mean a huge breakfast. It does mean a small to medium sized meal that is high in protein. If you are watching your sugar intake, morning is the only time you should eat fruits. Your body uses it more effectively if consumed in the morning as opposed to later in the day. Being high in protein helps you feel full and satisfied longer and minimizes the temptation to snack before lunch. Skipping breakfast is a mistake a lot of us make each day. Eating just a small bowl of oatmeal is better than going on an empty stomach.
Caffeine
Caffeine is kind of a double-edged sword. A cup of coffee or tea in the morning with breakfast or on your commute to work actually increases your awareness, helps you focus and gives you a small mood boost in the morning which translates into feeling more energized. Too much caffeine, however, or coffee only on an empty stomach is just a recipe for disaster. You will feel jittery, shaky, and when the effects of the caffeine wear off, you feel more tired than before you had any at all. So, if you have a little breakfast, enjoy some coffee or tea in moderation and this will actually help your energy levels get off to a good start.
Exercise
“I don’t have time to exercise.” Nope, no excuses! If you want to feel more energized in the morning, the cold hard fact is that nothing energizes you as much as exercise does. If you don’t have a lot of time, then do 30 minutes of yoga or get on the treadmill for half an hour. It really doesn’t take much to get your circulatory system functioning making you feel much more awake and refreshed. Studies have proven that people who first exercise in the morning not only look fit and trim; they feel more energetic for rest of their day too. This means you will be turning to the coffee pot for support a lot less frequently, and not reaching for a sugary snack to give you a boost. All these effects combined are going to result in a much healthier lifestyle and plenty of energy to keep you going.
Listen to Music
Music has all kinds of health benefits, most of them mental. Psychologically, listening to music that we like drives us in a better mood and starting each day off in a great mood sets the tone for the rest of our day. Put on your earphones while exercising and upbeat your workouts. You’ll be humming for the rest of the day!
Choose Your Company Wisely
If you hang out with people who are slow or depressed in the morning, that stuff is contagious. Avoid people who are cranky or else you could wind up cranky as well. If you are, especially chipper, since you’ve taken all this great advice and have energy to spare, why not strike up a conversation with a person on the way to work? You might actually enjoy it! And who knows, maybe you make a new friend.
Adopt a healthy lifestyle for healthy living. These morning tips can get you off to a great start and your days will be better for it, guaranteed.
Source:
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20653367,00.html
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/11-ways-get-more-energy-the-morning.html
