How to Wake Up with More Energy

By , Woman's Day Staff
Discover ways to revamp your sleep routine so you can feel great in the morning.

Get Sleep Savvy

As you sleep, your body builds up its supply of a hormone called cortisol, which is then released throughout the day to help give you energy. Cortisol levels should be highest in the morning and depleted by nighttime, so you'll get the zzz's you need. Click through to learn how to get the most of your slumber, so you can be ready to move in the morning. 
 
Morning Madness

Energy Buster: Blaring alarm clock

You may need a foghorn to get you out of bed, but when you wake in a panicked state, you use up much of that cortisol, which means you'll have less to keep you energized for the rest of the day.

Energy Booster: Consider a smarter wakeup call.

Some alarm clocks use soft sounds or music so you're not jerked alert in a frenzy. Smartphone users, try the Gentle Alarm Clock app (99¢), which lets you choose from a variety of soothing sounds, or the Gentle Alarm app ($3.99), which was developed by a neurologist and slowly brings you out of your final stage, or REM, sleep. This helps you maintain optimal levels of cortisol for the day.

Snooze Fest

Energy Buster: Hitting snooze 

If you play Whack-a-Mole with the snooze button, you're fragmenting your REM sleep—the most restorative period—and interrupting your sleep to the tune of roughly 30 minutes a day.

Energy Boosters:

Move your alarm clock. Position it so you have to get out of bed (and even walk across the room) to turn off the alarm. And once you're up, don't lie down again. Write a note and leave it by your alarm reminding yourself to stay up.
 
Regulate your sleep habits. Turn in at the same time every night, wind down an hour beforehand, and wake up within an hour of the same time every day—even on weekends. This will help you skip the snooze button altogether.

Click here for more energizing tips from Woman's Day.

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