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Here’s How You Can Still Feel Alert in the Morning Without Coffee
Most of us depend on and look forward to that delicious cup of hot coffee every morning just to entice us out of bed. Whether you’re trying to give up coffee for health reasons or you just want to try something new, here are seven tips to help you naturally feel more alert in the morning without having to reach for that trusty caffeine buzz.
Drink a Glass of Cold Water: Most of us are dehydrated when we first wake up in the morning and because dehydration can cause fatigue, starting your morning with a cold glass of water can help you feel a bit more energized and ready for the day.
Sleep With Your Blinds Open: It’s extra difficult to get out of bed in the mornings during the winter when it’s cold outside and the sun hasn’t even come up yet. Try letting a little extra light into your bedroom in the morning by sleeping with the blinds open. Note: if you live on the ground floor of an apartment building then this tip probably isn’t for you.
Get Some Exercise: Getting up to exercise early in the morning may sound like the least-appealing option on this list, but it will absolutely do the trick. You can certainly choose to do a full workout first thing in the morning, but even something as simple as a brisk walk in the cold air or some jumping jacks will have you feeling more energized in no time.
Eat a High-Protein Snack: It’s still up for debate whether breakfast is actually the most important meal of the day, but it’s been shown that eating a nutritious snack can help you feel more awake in the morning without having to reach for the coffee pot. A good mix of carbs, protein, and fat is ideal, and be sure to pick something that’s low in sugar!
Drink Tea: If you’re not quite ready to give up caffeine completely yet, we totally understand. Most teas contain less than half the amount of caffeine that’s in coffee, but way more health benefits. Green tea, for example, has antioxidants, improves brain function, and may even help to prevent cardiovascular disease.
Try Some Gentle Stretching: Stretching can be a good way to ease your body into waking up in a calm way. Look into starting a short morning yoga routine, which will help you control your breathing and improve your focus.
Get Enough Sleep: We know, this one is probably a huge no-brainer to you, but let’s be honest with ourselves: most of us go to bed way too late every night. Getting enough sleep and having a rigid sleep schedule will get your brain accustomed to winding down and waking up at the same time every day.