1. Let the sun in and stretch. Exposure to light helps stop producing melatonin (the hormone that induces sleepiness). Stretching as your first activity of the day will increase your body temperature and blood flow to your brain.
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2. Look at something you love. In the early morning we're in survival mode so our body feels like it's under threat, and that saps our energy. If we put something in our room that makes us feel grateful (flowers, photo of a loved one, etc.), we can trigger positive emotions that will fight that energy drain.
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3. Get moving. Working out in the morning can trigger feel-good endorphins and lowers stress hormones - even lasting 6-8 hours! Bonus: people who exercise in the morning tend not to have midmorning slumps.
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4. Scent your shower. Smelling citrus, eucalyptus, or mint causes a burst of energy to flow through your body, clearing your mind and giving you a little lift. Try Origins Grapefruit Body-Buffing Cleanser or Burt's Bees Peppermint & Rosemary Body Wash.
5. Eat a colorful breakfast. To make sure you have a nutritional breakfast, make 80% of your plate colorful, unprocessed foods. The rest of your breakfast should include a combination of lean protein and complex, fiber-rich carbs.
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Are you a morning person? What helps to get you going in the morning?
source: tips from Real Simple, May 2011
