16 Ways to Combat That 'Groggy Morning' Feeling

16 WAYS TO COMBAT THAT 'GROGGY MORNING' FEELING WHAT IS SLEEP INERTIA? Have you ever woken up and felt particularly groggy? So much so that you struggle to perform even simple tasks? The proper term for this feeling is "Sleep Inertia", and happens when we are forced awake during REM sleep (or in other words, when we're jolted awake by the alarm clock). The feeling can last up to 4 hours, so here's 16 tips on how to combat it: QUIT WATCHING TV BEFORE BED GET ENOUGH SLEEP 12 -9 3- The quality of your sleep is essential to you waking up bright and early. The bright light from your TV will affect the overall sleep quality you have that night. It sounds obvious, but the majority of us fail to get enough sleep each night. Experiment with different lengths of sleep. Everyone is different! WAKE UP AT THE SAME TIME EVERY MORNING THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT Maintaining a schedule is important for the body's natural sleep/wake cycle. Keep this in check to avoid sleep disturbances. The 'Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock' app monitors your movement during sleep and finds the optimal time to wake up during a 30 minute window. TAKE A MORNING SHOWER EXPOSE YOURSELF TO LIGHT QUICKLY SOAP Alternating between hot and cold can help relieve our grogginess very quickly. Do this every morning to combat fatigue Sunlight reduces our melatonin levels which will result in feeling more alert and awake. A natural burst of energy! and increase mental alertness. DRINK COFFEE (BUT SPARINGLY) EXERCISE Whether it's a simple stretching exercise, jumping jacks or a full on jog around your local park, starting off your day like this will give you that required boost of energy to release yourself from sleep. Coffee has a high amount of caffeine that will make us feel more awake quickly. However try not to rely too much on the stuff! KEEP YOUR SLEEP SCHEDULE OVER THE WEEKENDS DRINK WATER S MT WT F 34 5 6 7 8 0 (1011 12 13 14 15 1 18 19 20 21 22 (20 25 26 27 28 29 You've just woken up and have gone several hours without water leading to mild dehydration. Rehydrate yourself by drinking a glass of cold water, which will also help to energise you. Any sudden change to your natural body clock/wake cycle can wreak havoc on our sleep. Aim to wake up at the same times on weekends as you do during the weekdays. 12 CHANGE YOUR ALARM TO HAPPY SONGS MAKE YOUR MORNINGS EASIER Many of us currently dread our alarm clock sound. Change up your tune every so often with your new favourite song. Ease your stress levels by completing tasks the night before. Anything from making your lunch to picking out your work clothes. 13 14 INCENTIVISE YOURSELF DOWNSIZE YOUR DINNER Getting up for something we're looking forward to makes it a lot easier. Whether Eating late at night can hinder our ability to sleep properly due to our body busy digesting our food. If you eat late, down- size your portions. it's a freshly brewed coffee, a warm bagel or a quick bike ride, do something you enjoy. 16 STAY OFF THE ALCOHOL DON'T SKIP BREAKFAST While a nightcap may seem like it helps you drift off to sleep quicker, studies have shown that alcohol will disrupt your sleep leading to poor quality rest. While you may be tempted, skipping breakfast won't do you any good. Start your day with some energy boosting foods to kick-start you into gear. Amybedframes www.mybedframes.co.uk @MyBedFrames O facebook.com/MyBedFrames Sources: blog.withings.com | dallasnews.com | huffingtonpost.com I psychology24.org | symptonfind.com |