Until recently, I was pretty much the poster child for cranky mornings, grogginess, and sleep inertia. Try as I might, I could never seem to figure out how people woke up with energy and felt alert. But finally, after literal years of trial and error, I’ve nailed down my five go-to’s for waking up ready to tackle the day.
The best part? They all happen to be backed by science, research, and sleep experts. Here’s what’s been working for me–it might just work for you, too.
Speaking of your sleep schedule and circadian rhythm, it’s important to remember that we don’t all have the same natural rhythm. The sleep schedule that your friend swears by might not work for you and vice versa. That said, you’ll want to figure out your chronotype to understand your optimal schedule.
A “chronotype” is any one of four different circadian rhythm types (Lion, Bear, Wolf, and Dolphin), with some being more suited for early mornings, and others, late nights. I’m definitely a wolf, and while I know I’ll never be someone who wakes up at 5 a.m., what counts is how I feel when I do wake up, even if that’s 9 a.m. Adhering to my chronotype has been a major game changer in how I approach sleep and how I feel in the morning.
