According to sleep experts at mattress stores in San Diego, a good night’s sleep is not the only thing you need to have a productive morning. Your morning routine, or lack thereof, can significantly impact your energy levels throughout the day. So, in an effort to have happier mornings, afternoons, and evenings, you can start implementing these daily habits in the AM. 

Don’t Hit the Snooze Button

Sleep experts say that an extra five or ten minutes of sleep can cause you to enter late stage REM sleep. When you are constantly interrupting this natural process by waking up and falling asleep again, you trigger a fight-or-flight response in your body which increases your heartbeat and blood pressure. This can negatively affect your body and your energy levels throughout the day. So, in order to avoid this disruption, you need to fully wake up when your alarm first goes off. 

Stretch Your Body

Morning stretches are a great, healthy practice to increase blood flow and improve circulation. Plus, our bodies tend to get a little stiff and achy during sleep. A little stretch after waking up can help you regain control of your body and feel relaxed, yet alert. 

Open the Curtains

It’s always a good idea to get some natural light in the morning in order to signal to your body that it’s time to face the day. The same way that increased exposure to light at night can make it difficult to sleep, exposure to light during the day helps your body stay awake. Sunlight or artificial light immediately decreases melatonin levels, which make us sleepy, and increases serotonin, which enhances mood and lowers anxiety. If, when you wake up in the morning, there is no natural sunlight, then you can turn on a bright light to get your body adjusted. There are also some alarm clock products on the market that utilize light, along with sound, to wake you up. These alarms will gradually get brighter in the morning to mimic a sunrise. 

Drink Water

Sleep experts at San Diego mattress stores say that hydration is the key to refreshing your body in the morning. While you may be tempted to drink a caffeinated beverage in the morning to wake you up, this can actually dehydrate you and make you more tired. So, even if you are not sticking strictly to water, make sure that you are hydrating between your coffee or tea. 

Have Breakfast

As most people say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day! This is true, to some extent. Your body does need some kind of fuel in order to be productive and support its circadian rhythm. While you don’t need to eat something huge, you should do your best to have something high in protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Avoid things with too much sugar. 

With these healthy routines, both your body and your mind will be more energized to start your day. The key is consistency. It may take some getting used to, but once you establish the habits, it will become easier over time and you will no longer have to think about it.