Always waking up tired? 7 easy ways to feel more awake in the morning

Trine Jensen-Burke

To us sleep-deprived mums, there can be no denying that mornings are tough to get through without a large coffee. Or five.

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to awake and ready for your day without being so utterly dependent on the Nespresso machine? Or the local Starbucks?

Now, we are not advocating that you ditch the java for good – sure a girl needs her little indulgences – but it is nice to know that you actually can get up and ready for your day sans coffee too, no?

Curious as to how that can be done? Take a clue from AsapSCIENCE, which explains research-based science in quirky animation videos. Here is its take on how you can perk up in the morning by using these simple coffee-free tricks:

1. Let there be light
Melatonin is critical in regulating your sleep, so when it’s light your body produces less melatonin, making you feel more alert. So first thing in the morning, instead of laying in the dark when your alarm goes off, open up those curtains and wake yourself up naturally.

2. Take a cold shower
Researchers have found that the shock of cold shower increases your metabolic rate and makes you less fatigued. Plus, it makes you want to get out the shower stat, saving you water and time. Clever.

3. Hydrate yourself
During the night we actually sweat quite a lot, which in turn leaves us a little dehydrated come morning. And as studies have shown that even mild dehydration can decrease alertness and negatively affects concentration, your best bet is drinking water as soon as you wake up. Personally, I love a glass of hot lemon water to start the day.

4. Make your breakfast healthy
Eating shortly after waking up in the morning makes you more alert and keeps your energy levels from plummeting. But make sure you stick to healthy choices, as eating simple sugars or a breakfast high in fat could lead you to consuming more food throughout the day.

5. Sip on some orange juice
Citrus fruits like oranges are rich in molecules called flavonoids which, according to one study, have been seen to increase alertness and cognitive function.

6. Get active
Many studies have shown that physical activity enhances cognitive functions due to the increased blood flow providing the brain with more oxygen. Go for a run, do some yoga, have a dance party with the kids, it doesn’t really matter as long as it gets your heart going.

7. Listen to music
Music has the ability to increase brain activity associated with movement and also potentially increases the feel-good chemical called dopamine. Time to update those morning commute playlists.

Now, who’s ready for the morning?