Banish Grogginess with These Tips

By Stepy Kamei

If you're a self-proclaimed early bird who has no problem falling asleep and waking up as the sun begins to rise, you probably have learned how to push through any drowsiness you may feel when you first wake up, or maybe you just got acclimated to those early hours for any number of reasons. For the rest of us, waking up can be a real drag, even if it's as late as 11 a.m. or noon (or later still). By following just a few useful tips, we can find ways to move past any feelings of grogginess or drowsiness so waking up no longer has to be the chore we once considered it to be. 

Plan Out Your Bedtime

The problem may be as simple as you staying up too late and having to get up too early. The average adult needs 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, so aim to always reach for that timeframe every night. You can always experiment with different amounts of sleep to see which amount leaves you feeling the most refreshed -- maybe you only need six hours, or maybe you really need 10 hours to feel truly awake throughout the day.

Set Your Alarm Clock ... Away From Your Bed

If you have a problem with turning off your alarm immediately and falling back to sleep, you should try keeping your alarm on the other side of the room. This way, you're forced to get out of bed and move around in order to turn off the noise. Bonus points if you use a truly obnoxious sound to wake you up (as long as it won't bother anyone else who may be living with you). 

Leave Your Blinds Open

It may help you to keep your blinds open at night, so as the day breaks, the natural sunlight can slowly seep through your windows and gently rouse your body into a state of wakefulness. Many people find sunlight to be a great energy booster, since it signals a feeling of alertness to the mind. 

Everyone has the occasional issue of having trouble getting out of bed when it's early or they didn't get enough sleep the night before, but if you're finding you are having trouble getting up most days, or you feel flat-out exhausted all day no matter how much sleep you get, you'll want to consult with a healthcare professional to see if your tiredness is being caused by some underlying physical or mental health condition.