The art of waking up well
The way you wake up can influence your whole day and even how well you sleep that night. And in this frenetic, tech-dominated world, waking up well isn’t just about getting out of bed on the right side, according to the brain experts at This Works. As well as the brand’s really excellent new range of skincare products – fittingly called Morning Expert (enter for our prize draw here) – This Works has a few tips to help you go gently into the new day. We’ve also popped in a few others that we’ve found helpful over the years.
• Avoid waking up suddenly: loud alarms jolt you out of sleep, increasing heart rate, blood pressure and stress levels. Programme your alarm with a gently escalating sound to take you gradually from deep sleep to wakefulness. Alternatively, invest in a sunrise alarm, which mimics natural dawn.
• Allow your body and mind a few moments to transition into consciousness: as you go from the unconscious state of sleep to full conscious control, you are physically very vulnerable. Forcing yourself to jump out of bed and whiz around can stress your body so you feel weak and poorly. You may also feel more anxious during the wake up phase – probably a hangover from caveman days when people had to be instantly ready to fight for survival. Lie in bed for five minutes practising breathing exercises, being grateful (thinking ‘thank you for the new day’ is a good way to start), or even deciding what you’re going to wear.
• Please DO NOT start the day by checking your phone! It really can wait until you are properly awake.
· Rehydrate: sip a big glass of still, room temperature water, or warm water with lime or lemon. You lose water overnight, especially if you sleep less than six hours.
• Burn off excess cortisol (the morning hormone) by exercising: if you’re strapped for time, this needn’t mean going for a run or to the gym. It takes three minutes max to shake your limbs and your body all over and then tap with a closed fist from top to toe (for details, see here). Stretching helps every bit of you wake up. And do consider investing in a rebounder (mini-trampoline); just five minutes bouncing in the morning leaves you sparkling.
• Body brush before you shower: we defy anyone to feel sleepy after briskly brushing dry skin from the soles of your feet upwards in long strokes. Avoid sensitive patches or broken skin but do brush your armpits and as much of your back, neck and shoulders as you can. (Great for cellulite too.)
• Enjoy your skincare routine: cleanse and moisturise properly the Morning Expert way, apply a sun prep and then a slick of tinted complexion enhancer (see our Alphabet Cream award winners here), mascara (here) and nourishing lippy (here). Et voilà: you’re good to go anywhere.
• Eat a good protein-filled breakfast: eggs are perfect nourishment to power you through the day – pastries and sugar/carb heavy cereals are not. Breakfast is best eaten an hour or so after you wake so that your body is ready to process food energy and nutrients.
• Allow time to go to the loo: getting rid of waste in the gut reduces bloating and helps improve your mood because, apart from the discomfort, waste can trigger anxiety and negativity due to nerve connections between the gut and the brain.
• Come evening, prep for a good night’s sleep: that’s the very best way to wake up well. Avoid heavy food, alcohol and/or sugary treats at bedtime. Shut up shop on emails by 8pm latest. Wind down by reading a novel - in book form so you avoid sleep-disrupting blue light from a tablet. Make a list for the next day. Write down - or just list in your mind - three nice things that have happened to you; even on a bad day, there’ll be something. They can be as simple as hearing the birds sing, seeing blossom, a phone call from a friend – praise at work or a funny TV show. If your bedroom has a street light outside, don a silk eye mask. As you drift off, send blessings to the people you love – and this mad world in general.
