If you are not a natural “morning person,” don’t worry – you’re certainly not alone! Many people struggle with waking up in the morning and can feel groggy for minutes or even hours after opening their eyes.
But would you like to be more alert and refreshed when you first crawl out of bed? Or maybe want to have an extra boost of energy that lingers throughout the day?
There are a few things you can do to make the transition to being wide awake much easier. First, determine if your issue is part of a bigger problem. And then, take a look at our simple tricks that might help you feel well-rested and ready to face the day, or at the very least, a little bit more enthusiastic about getting out of bed.
How Do I Know If My Sleep Loss Is Due to A Bigger Issue?
It’s not uncommon to have a few sleepless nights on occasion. Virtually everyone has experienced a bad night’s rest due to stress, a busy schedule, or other factors that impair our ability to get the sleep we need.
But if a lack of rest is becoming a routine, it could easily be a sign of a deeper issue that needs to be addressed. Sleeping disorders and conditions often become noticeable with the onset of that tired and poorly rested feeling. And without treatment, these symptoms and effects worsen over time.
You Snore
Snoring is one of the leading symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. It’s an indicator that you are struggling to breathe normally while you are asleep. Increased, louder, or more frequent snoring signifies that this condition is present or is increasing in severity.
You Lack Focus
Are you feeling more forgetful or scatterbrained during the day? When we sleep, our brain filters and stores all our memories and information. So, if your brain can’t complete this process, it can easily lead to forgetfulness and an inability to concentrate during our waking hours.
Weight Gain is an Issue
When you cannot rest well, your production of chemicals that help you feel full and maintain an active metabolism is lowered. So, you may start noticing the numbers of your bathroom scale ticking up without a clear reason why. Yet gaining weight makes your snoring and pauses in your breathing worse.
Therefore, watch for sudden and unexplained weight gain. And also, pay attention to an increase in hunger and cravings and a decrease in physical activity.
Headaches Are Common
Headaches are another common but subtle sign of a sleep issue. This is especially true when they occur when you first wake up in the morning.
You Are Exhausted
Clearly, a sleepless night will lead to feeling tired the next day. But do you consistently feel waves of fatigue? There’s a good chance your lack of rest is something more severe. Insomnia and sleep apnea link to continual daytime fatigue and a drastic change in energy levels during the day.
Let’s Talk About Ways to Reset Your Sleep Habits and Patterns
So, what do you need to do now if any of the above symptoms and side effects sound familiar? Well, it’s time to dig deeper to find out what’s causing your poor-quality sleep and reset your sleep habits and patterns!
Shut Down the Snooze Button
Sleep experts attest that hitting the snooze button multiple times in the morning can make it harder to wake up, simply because, during these “dozing” periods, you are missing out on quality rest. So if you have to use the snooze button, only do it once, and keep it near your regular wake-up time.
Let in the Light
Leaving the blinds and window shades open at night can lead to a big dose of sunshine in the morning, which in turn can help you wake up much faster. This is because our bodies are hardwired to respond to the cues of the day and night for sleep and wake up times. Hence natural light is a reliable energy booster that will help you feel refreshed in no time.
Keep Your Sleep Schedule Consistent
It can be tempting to sleep in for a few extra hours on the weekend, but a consistent sleep schedule will help you wake up with little effort daily. On the other hand, adjusting your schedule by just a couple of hours can lead to grogginess (similar to jet lag). So, try to keep your schedule routine as much as possible to feel rested all week long.
Only Use Your Bedroom for Sleep
Our bedrooms can often serve multiple purposes besides sleep. And if you use your bedroom as an office, entertainment or living area, or even as a place to snack, it can make it harder actually to fall — and stay – asleep.
So, make sure that your bedroom’s primary purpose is as a place to rest. That way, when you wake up in the morning, you can get up and moving and focus on all the activities you need to do outside of your sleep sanctuary.
We’re Here to Help
If you have sleep issues, then that tired feeling you have when you first wake up in the morning will likely linger all day long. This is because you never get the quality rest you need, which causes excessive daytime sleepiness and grogginess on a routine basis.
So, if you think there may be a problem with your sleep, the best thing you can do is address any potential sleeping conditions and disorders. By doing so, you’ll immediately make it much easier to get up and face the day! Contact us today.