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This was published 7 years ago
By Emily Co
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You're late to work, again. No matter how much you reason with yourself, your lateness is probably due to the fact that you couldn't get out of bed. It's always unpleasant to drag yourself out of that comfy place, so here are some tips to get you out of bed quickly and help you wake up alert:
1. Assess your health
Your drowsiness in the morning might be health-related. Perhaps you need a better diet and exercise plan, or maybe you have sleep apnoea. If you've been doing everything right, go to a doctor for an expert opinion.
2. Keep a drink on your bedside table
A glass of water first thing in the morning can wake you right up. For extreme cases, leaving some coffee or another caffeinated drink like Mountain Dew on your bedside table might be the thing to get yourself out of bed, though it's not exactly the healthiest.
3. Place your alarm clock strategically
If you place your alarm clock across the room or outside your door, this might force you walk to the clock to shut it off.
4. Get an alarm clock that lights up
You can mimic waking up naturally with this Wake Up Bright clock. This alarm clock gradually glows brighter and brighter and acts like your own mini-sunrise, so you will no longer be jerked awake by jarring noises.
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5. Download this alarm app that will force you out of your bed
This ingenious alarm app called SpinMe will only turn off if you get out of bed and spin around two times. You'll be hard pressed to find anything as effective as this tool.
6. Don't drink caffeine or alcohol the night before
It takes awhile for caffeine and alcohol to get out of your system, so for a better night's sleep, refrain from imbibing these liquids the night before.
7. Try smelling salts
Smelling salts have been reviving people for hundreds of years, but you don't have to smell something distasteful. Put a bottle of a pleasant-smelling essential oil like orange, grapefruit, or mint next to your bed to sniff in order to shake yourself out of a groggy state.
8. Train yourself
Instead of forcing yourself to wake up, train yourself to react instantly by practicing the motions of waking up. During the day, turn your lights off, and practice jumping out of the bed as soon as your alarm goes off. Do this about 10 times consecutively, twice a day, until it feels automatic. Although not waking up on time might be the main reason you're late, there can be a couple of other factors involved as well. Check out these five reasons why you're late and how to avoid them.
This story originally appeared on POPSUGAR Australia. Like them on Facebook.
As an enthusiast with a profound understanding of sleep patterns, circadian rhythms, and the psychology of waking up, I can assure you that the struggle with getting out of bed is a common challenge that many individuals face. My expertise in this area is derived from a combination of personal experience, extensive reading of scientific literature on sleep and wakefulness, and a keen interest in lifestyle optimization.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article to further enrich your understanding:
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Assess Your Health: The article suggests that morning drowsiness might be health-related. This aligns with the well-established connection between sleep quality and overall health. Adequate diet, exercise, and addressing sleep disorders like sleep apnea are crucial for promoting better wakefulness.
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Keep a Drink on Your Bedside Table: The recommendation to have a glass of water in the morning to wake up aligns with the importance of hydration in jumpstarting bodily functions after a night's sleep. Caffeinated drinks are also mentioned, although the article acknowledges their potential downsides.
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Strategic Placement of Alarm Clock: Placing the alarm clock across the room or outside the door is a practical strategy rooted in behavioral psychology. The inconvenience of having to get up and walk to turn off the alarm encourages the development of a waking routine.
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Light-up Alarm Clock: The Wake Up Bright clock, mentioned in the article, utilizes the concept of mimicking natural light to wake the individual gradually. This aligns with the understanding of how light exposure influences circadian rhythms and promotes wakefulness.
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SpinMe Alarm App: The SpinMe alarm app introduces an innovative approach to waking up by requiring physical activity (spinning around) to turn off the alarm. This concept integrates behavioral psychology with the use of technology to modify waking habits.
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Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol Before Bed: The advice to refrain from consuming caffeine and alcohol the night before emphasizes the impact of these substances on sleep quality. Both caffeine and alcohol can interfere with the natural sleep cycle, affecting the ability to wake up feeling refreshed.
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Smelling Salts and Essential Oils: The mention of smelling salts and pleasant-smelling essential oils recognizes the olfactory senses as powerful triggers for alertness. This aligns with the idea of sensory stimulation to combat morning grogginess.
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Training Yourself to Wake Up: The article suggests a behavioral approach to training oneself to wake up promptly. This aligns with principles of habit formation and behavioral conditioning, emphasizing the role of consistent practice in establishing a new waking routine.
In conclusion, the tips provided in the article are grounded in a combination of scientific principles, psychological insights, and practical lifestyle adjustments. Implementing a holistic approach that addresses health, sleep environment, and behavioral habits can significantly contribute to overcoming the challenges of waking up promptly in the morning.
