Natural light is a great way to wake yourself up in the morning.
Coming back from Spring Break, almost everyone feels half asleep in the mornings and “energy-drained” in the afternoon. If you have that “zombie” feeling in the morning and during the day there are natural tips and home remedies that you can make to help you stay awake other than sugar and caffeine packed coffee.
1. Get rid of that alarm clock and ask someone who wakes up before you to give you a couple of shakes. Waking up to a jarring, loud, annoying alarm clock can cause stress to the body and leave you feeling angry. Alarms such as the Zen Alarm Clock provide calming chimes to help you wake up in a better mood.
2. Although a can of soda or a cup of coffee can boost your energy it only keeps you awake for awhile and can make you feel even more slugish during the day. Be sure to grab a quick bite of breakfast in the morning whether it be an apple or a granola bar. The body needs something right after you wake up in order to boost your metabolism during the day. Some foods such as whole grain toast, fruit and nuts are packed with carbohydrates that your body need to help it wake up and stay awake.
3. In the morning while you’re getting ready for school, try aromatherapy. Lighting a citrus scented candle will help lift your spirits and clear your mind. Also, the smell of peppermint, such as the kind in some gum, will help when you need to think clearly.
4. If you’re in the mood for an “energy” shake in the morning, take the time to make a fruit smoothie. A fruit smoothie provides vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and soy protein and is better than caffeine packed Monster or Red Bull drinks that can only hurt you if you drink too much. Search through your fridge and look for fruits such as berries and oranges.
For a quick breakfast boost try a smoothie and see how it works for you.
- 1 1/4 cup(s) orange juice, preferably calcium-fortified
- 1 banana
- 1 1/4 cup(s) frozen berries, such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and/or strawberries
- 1/2 cup(s) low-fat silken tofu, or low-fat plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon(s) sugar, or Splenda
5. To prepare for waking up, you can do small help full things the night before such as avoiding chocolate and coffee. Also, don’t eat dinner right before bed. Allow some time for your food to settle otherwise food cannot digest right and you cannot digest food while laying down. Take some time for your food to digest and see how you feel in the morning.
Remember not to mistreat your body and think of healthier ways to wake up. Don’t force your body to do unhealthy things such as overloading on energy drinks or keeping yourself up late at night. Get plenty of rest and eat healthy foods that will energize you.
