How To Be A Morning Person
If we lived in a perfect world, we would all wake up on the first ring of our alarm with no intention of pressing the snooze button. We would smile as we rose out of bed throwing the curtains open and letting the sunlight pour over our faces. Breakfast would accompany reading the paper and then we would get ready at an unhurried, calm pace before leaving for the office at exactly the right time. How amazing would that be? Unfortunately, many of us live in reality which is replete with snooze buttons, half eaten toast, spilt coffee, unironed clothes and being late to work at least one day a week. We know for a fact that morning people exist, we’ve seen them operate, so there has to be a way to get in on this plan.
Sleep Well
While most of us are convinced that we are getting enough sleep, are we really sleeping enough? The sleep cycle goes through several different phases out of which only one phase, REM, represents deep sleep. Getting better quality sleep is incredibly important and you can achieve a higher quality of sleep by changing a few things in your routine. These include no caffeine after 4pm, no blue screens around your bed, meditation, setting a bedtime routine, luxury sleepwear and eating at least two hours before bed. By improving the quality of your sleep, you will wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Get Enough Sleep
This one may seem super obvious but do you actually know how many hours of sleep your body needs? Some of us swear that six hours is more than enough for us while others indulge in up to nine hours of sleep. Scientifically, adults need 7-8 hours of sleep a night in order for your body to work at its optimum level. Anything more or less than this can affect your metabolism, memory, weight and blood pressure.
Create A Sleep Routine
For us here at Dandelion Pyjamas, sleep is a luxury and we really indulge ourselves before it’s time for bed. Each person’s sleep routine may differ but ours definitely includes a warm bath before slipping into our cool, cotton Dandelion pyjamas. Something as simple as wearing a fresh pair of cotton pyjamas is sometimes all it takes to feel peaceful and relaxed. Over time, your body will start to recognize the things that you do before you sleep and begin to prepare your body and mind to wind down as you begin them, giving you a better night of sleep.
Open The Curtains
Your circadian rhythm is what is responsible for you being awake and asleep. This body clock tells us that when it is dark, we should be asleep and when it is bright, we should be awake. By withholding these signals from your body with blackout curtains, you are actually making it more difficult for your body to wake up. Sleep in a way that allows natural light to reach you in the mornings so that you naturally wake up when it gets bright enough. This will help you wake up more rested and more organically.
Get Moving
The thought of waking up an hour before your alarm rings for a workout may seem insane but trust us, once you start doing this, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without this morning boost of energy. Having an active routine in the morning not only sets a more positive and healthy tone for the day but it also gives you a shot of energy and metabolism when you need it the most. Though working out in the evening also has its perks (an extra hour of sleeping in!), it’s way more likely that you’ll come up with an excuse by 6pm (such as after work drinks) that will keep you away from the gym. Get into the habit of working out first thing in the morning to get it over with and start your day on an energetic note.
