3 Things To Do Right When You Wake Up
Trying to be productive after not having a great night's sleep can often be, what seems like, an insurmountable task. Here are my recommended 3 Things To Do Right When You Wake Up for a better day.
Wake up to peace and quiet (sort of)
OK, this one sounds a little counter intuitive, however the way you wake up can often be the first sign of a great day or trouble. This tip actually starts the night before. If you can help it, try to be more aware of how you would like to wake up each morning. Use a clock radio, cell phone or other digital device to set your own personal wake up anthem that you know puts you in a positive mood. Could it be a song? Sure. What about another soothing sound? Absolutely. I once used a sleep app called Sleep Cycle that uses a volume escalating alarm that starts slow and low before escalating to a shock inducing buzzer. It's a much more gentle way to wake up but even a positive song (possible suggestion: Don't Worry Be Happy?) can help you start your day off on the right foot.
Stretch it out
Taking a few moments to stretch before getting out of bed can be a quick an easy way to improve flexibility and limit injury.
In an article on Huffington Post, Director of the Sleep to Live Institute Dr. Robert Oexman states:
"The greatest incidence of slipped discs occurs within 30 to 60 minutes after we wake up."
Stretching out your back can help limit back injuries throughout the day which can be especially helpful if you work in a labor-intensive environment or even sit most of the day in front of a computer screen. You can read the full article here.
Wake up with intention
In order to get mentally prepared for the day, take a few moments to decide how you want to envision your day. A few moments of visualization can help you set the tone for the entire day. Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself:
What goals do I want to achieve today?
How can I best meet those goals?
What challenges might I face today? And, how will I face them head on?
While there is no fail proof way to have the perfect day, taking a few extra moments in your morning to wake up nicely, stretch and envision the day's events can help your move throughout your day with a sense of feeling balanced and motivated.