It’s important to start your work day on the right foot. It can be very hard to feel strong, positive, and energized in the morning when you already feel like you’re running behind. Getting to work on time can be a real struggle for some. So, if you’re not a morning person, or if you find yourself arriving a little late from time to time, it might be a good idea to look into some new strategies for getting yourself up and out of the door in the morning.
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Here are a few ideas.
1. Get a fun new alarm clock.
The only thing worse than waking up to an alarm clock in the morning is sleeping through one. But, what are the heavy sleepers and the overly exhausted among us supposed to do? Health.com recently released an article which offered 10 alarm clock suggestions for rousing even the most committed sleeper. Be warned: these alarms are not for the faint of heart, but they are sure to get you up on time. From talking robots with flashing red eyes to wheeled clocks that jump right off of your nightstand and hide under your bed, there is sure to be a new product here to help you get going in the morning.
2. Don’t hit snooze.
It can be very tempting to grab another 10 minutes of sleep when your alarm goes off. But, research suggests that hitting snooze might actually be doing you more harm than good. Heading back to sleep for just a few minutes after the alarm has already gone off can mess with your circadian rhythms, confusing your internal clock about whether it’s time to wind down or wake up. Also, a five- or 10-minute snooze is not enough time to complete a REM cycle, so you’re likely to wake up again just as your body is starting to relax into the next round of sleep. The snooze button might be tempting, but using is it likely to make you feel groggy and foggy when you do get up. It’s best to just avoid it all together.
3. Go to bed early.
Obviously it will be easier to wake up on time if you go to bed early enough to get a full night’s rest before that clock goes off in the morning. We all have so much to do, so it can be hard to stop running around and attending to things, and get to bed at night. But, a full seven hours of sleep will help you feel energized, optimistic, and generally ready to face the day. Get as much done as you can before your bedtime, and let the rest go until the next day. Your rest should be a priority, and it’s up to you to make it one. That alarm, and the workday in general, will be a lot easier to face if you’ve slept well the night before.
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