Your entire day can be affected by how you wake in the morning. Starting the day off right can make such a huge difference in your mood throughout the day, but when you wake up feeling less than, you can feel it morning, noon, and night. The good news is that if you do wake up on the wrong side of the bed, you can turn how you feel around, making sure that you head into the day feeling happy, relaxed, and carefree.
Ahead, I’m breaking down common scenarios that can make people feel “blah” from the second they hop out of bed and how to stop the funk in its tracks.
When You Wake Tired:
If you’re feeling tired in the morning, start the day off by drinking an ice-cold glass of water. This can help stimulate adrenaline that will get your heart pumping and boost blood flow to your brain. You can also jump in a cold shower. The cold water increases your body’s circulation, which means your body requires more oxygen, helping you feel more awake and refreshed.
Also, shake off those morning blahs by incorporating some morning exercise. Something as simple as a morning walk will get you out in the fresh air to re-energize yourself and help boost your metabolism throughout the day.
When You Wake Sad:
Lower levels of serotonin can lead to feelings of depression, so the goal in the morning is to raise those levels nice and high. The photoreceptors in your eyes regulate your energy levels, mood, and sleep patterns. These receptors respond to the blue light of the sky. When you wake up in the morning, open the blinds and immerse yourself in natural light. This can help turn that sleep switch off in your brain and raise your serotonin levels naturally, helping you feel calm and less glum.
When You Wake Anxious:
When you wake feeling anxious, choosing the right breathing exercise can work fast to calm your nervous system. You may need to try a few techniques before you find the one that works best for you, but the more you use them, the more effective they will become. A simple breathwork exercise is to visualize your breath. When you inhale, picture your breath traveling into your nose, through your entire body, and out again. Imagine it traveling all the way to your toes and fingers, before it comes back out during your exhale. Putting the focus on breathing activates your parasympathetic nervous system, which slows your heart rate and encourages your body to calm down and relax.
Also, resist checking your social media, the news, or your emails for at least 30 minutes after you wake up. Instead, use that time as calming personal time for yourself, like going for a morning walk, practicing your breathwork, or having a quiet cup of matcha or coffee.
When You Wake Lonely:
The importance of connection plays such a fundamental role in your overall happiness and well-being. Waking up feeling a sense of loneliness could be a signal to you to reevaluate the relationships you have around you, and what you can do to bring in more connection. Because we can’t necessarily control waking up alone, don’t only focus on filling your attachment tank in the morning. What do you do throughout the day or in the evening to bring you the connection you need? Perhaps it’s finally making that coffee date with your friend, or scheduling a regular FaceTime with friends or family from far away. Look into joining a club or gym to bring you the social contact that you need.
Also, to help make those lonely mornings a little more connected, tune into a favorite podcast or show while you get ready to start your day. Familiar voices speaking on topics that interest you can help you shake away the quiet blues and start your day off right.
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Alanna McGinn is the founder and Certified Sleep Expert of Good Night Sleep Site, a global sleep consulting practice. She is the host of the “This Girl Loves Sleep” podcast and author of This Baby Loves Sleep. Alanna has established Good Night Sleep Site as a #1 sleep resource for families, and she and her team of sleep consultants strive in helping families (baby to adults) and corporations overcome sleep challenges. You can find out more about Alanna at goodnightsleepsite.com and follow all her sleep tips on Instagram.
The content provided in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice and consultation, including professional medical advice and consultation; it is provided with the understanding that Poosh, LLC (“Poosh”) is not engaged in the provision or rendering of medical advice or services. The opinions and content included in the article are the views of the author only, and Poosh does not endorse or recommend any such content or information, or any product or service mentioned in the article. You understand and agree that Poosh shall not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information in the article.
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