If you want to be alert in the morning, step away from the caffeine. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports caffeine can cause negative effects such as increased heart rate and breathing rate, nausea, sweating and diarrhea--not great conditions to have during that early morning meeting. It can also delay the timing of your body sleep clock, disrupting your sleep and making you feel groggy the next day. As your body develops a tolerance for caffeine, higher amounts are needed to feel any energy benefits, which wear off more quickly. Addiction to caffeine can cause withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, bad moods and low energy when it's not constantly being consumed.
If you add any sugars or calorie-laden mixers to your caffeine-filled drinks like coffee, and caffeine taken in the morning becomes more unhealthy. Use these four tips to energize your morning naturally, with no negative side effects.
Eat A Well-Balanced Breakfast
Even if you don't typically find yourself hungry when you wake up, prioritize a nutritious early-morning meal. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reports breakfast provides energy for morning activities, contributes to increased concentration and prevents low energy in the afternoon.
Protein from sources such as tofu, such as in tofu scrambled "eggs," helps sustain energy over long periods of time and is essential for any work involving physical activity. Complex carbohydrates in whole grains fuel stamina, while fruits and vegetables deliver essential daily vitamins to ensure your body works at peak performance.
Stimulate Your Mind
Get your mind working before heading to work with fun mental activities. Create some ready-made free word puzzles to work on while you eat breakfast. Read a daily newspaper. Notch in a chapter of a book or take in a magazine article.
You could also use morning time to get in an ideal state of mind by writing down essential tasks to be completed for the day to stay focused. List out three goals you have for the day, such as spending one hour outside with your kids, solidifying a meeting with your boss or dedicating time to working on a painting. Writing down a few things you're grateful for helps positively boost your mood and makes you feel invigorated about being alive.
Drink Lots Of Water
The Mayo Clinic recommends drinking at least nine to 13 cups of water per day, depending on gender. Get a headstart on drinking your daily amount by consuming a couple glasses in the morning.
Staying hydrated flushes out toxins and keeps your body working optimally to perform daily functions. The Mayo Clinic reports even mild dehydration can cause tiredness, which is why stocking up in the morning is beneficial in case your day gets busy.
Exercise
Exercising in the morning may seem counterintuitive, but instead of making you tired early on, it provides bursts of energy throughout your day and boosts your metabolism. From getting limber through yoga stretching to going for a swim or a jog, exercising immediately delivers feel-good endorphins and boosts serotonin, elevating mood.
Regular exercise throughout the week also increases endurance and builds muscle strength, benefiting overall energy and giving you the power to work optimally long after you've exercised. Pair exercise with a daily duty such as walking the dog, and you'll be able to check something off your to-do list and alleviate extra stress throughout the day.
Pair these practices with waking up at the same time every day to get your body used to a regular sleep and wake schedule. Exposing yourself to natural sunlight is also a stimulant for your brain's internal clock that stops the production of sleepiness-inducing melatonin. Draw back the curtains, and say hello to your day.
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