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I used to be atrocious at waking up.
Valery/Adobe Stock
I adhered to the philosophy: I wake up when I wake up.
Sure, it was nice to sleep in, but getting out of bed was an absolute struggle.
Thats when things got really bleak.
At a certain point, I thought, This has to stop, so I revamped my entiresleep-wake routine.
Expose yourself to light right after you wake up.
Your body pumps outmelatonina hormone that promotes sleepwhen its dark outside and suppresses it when its light.
Light is a melatonin killer; it wipes it out of your system, helping you feel more alert.
How much light exposure should you get before carrying on with your day?
About 10 to 15 minutes should do, she says.
This, friends, is the tactic that made the biggest difference for me.
After a few weeks, I started waking up more alert and energetic.
I was no longer tempted to snuggle under the covers for another 20 minutes.
So you gotta find light somewhere else.
PSA: This is REALLY bright and may be too intense for some people.
Incorporatesomelight into your morning routine in a way that feels doable and pleasant.
Stick to a consistent wake time and resist the urge to hit snooze.
Better yet, not hitting snooze can make the whole getting up ordeal easier all fall and winter too.
Remember how I said I used to wake up whenever?
That sabotaged my sleep-wake cycle.
The cycle would repeat the next day and Id feel super drowsy.
Move your body, even a little bit.
Finally, move your body a little right after your alarm goes off.
It also raises your core temperature, whichboosts your energy levels, she adds.
I started walking my dog first thing in the morning.
Sure, I was a zombie barely inching along but it got me up and out.
You dontneedto go for a proper walk, thoughor immediately start doing Zumba.
The goal is to find something that feels realistic.
Twist your back or pull back your shoulders.
Or, if youre out of bed, do a few push-ups or jumping jacks.
Even simply walking to the bathroom will make getting up less terrible, Dr. Barwick says.
I truly did not think it would ever be an easy task for me.
But Dr. Barwicks tips, which are super simple I might add, really work.
They changed my life, and I hope they change yours too.
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