When your alarm clock goes off, do you want to snuggle deeper into your cozy bed? Many people have trouble waking up in the morning. By adopting a healthy morning routine — and better sleep habits — you can have a smoother start to the day.
Here are five tips for making mornings easier.
Learn more about your sleep habits and how you can get a better night’s rest at the UPMC Sleep Medicine Center.
Tips for Waking Up Easier
Don’t hit snooze
You might think the snooze button is your best friend, but it really isn’t. It’s tempting to sleep for just a few minutes longer. But that extra sleep will likely leave you groggier because it’s poor quality sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
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Program your thermostat
Invest in a programmable thermostat to save energy and save your sleep. People sleep better in a room with the temperature between 60 and 67 degrees, according to the National Sleep Foundation. By programming your thermostat so your bedroom begins to warm up an hour or so before you wake up, you won’t be as tempted to stay in bed.
Streamline your food prep
There’s nothing like the smell of coffee brewing to wake you up and lure you from bed. If you can, program your coffee maker to start when you’re getting up so you wake to the smell. If you don’t drink coffee, set out the ingredients for your beverage of choice before you hit the sack. Put a banana and protein powder next to the blender to make a morning smoothie, or set a tea packet and honey next to your teacup.
Treat yourself
To make mornings easier, do something you love as you get ready. Maybe it’s listening to the latest episode of your favorite podcast or catching a sports radio program or the morning news. Perhaps you dream of savoring breakfast at the table while scrolling through your news feed.
Stop using your phone as an alarm clock
Smartphones have easy-to-use alarm clocks and interesting apps that monitor your sleep. If you check your email or scroll through social media right before bed and first thing in the morning, leave the phone somewhere else. Smartphones emit blue light, which suppresses the melatonin you need to help you sleep, says the National Sleep Foundation. Go old school and buy an alarm clock, or try a light therapy alarm clock which simulates sunrise and gently wakes you up.
Not everyone is a morning person, but by creating your own “rise and shine” to-do list, you can create a healthy morning routine that makes it easier to start the day off right. Learn more about your sleep habits and how you can get a better night’s rest at the UPMC Sleep Medicine Center.