Thursday, November 19th, 2009

Morning Rituals

stretch

Setting our clocks forward one hour marks the true beginning of the fall season. With fewer hours in the day, and a colder chill outside, our bodies often feel less energetic, particularly in the morning. Many of us are more likely to hide under the covers for an extra round or two with the snooze button, instead of popping up like a bunch of spring daisies—ready for the day. Here are a couple tips to help you wake up and feel refreshed and energized before you start your day.

Skip the Snooze
That’s right, forget hitting that snooze button! You aren’t actually making up for lost sleep in between 5 minute snooze sessions. Once the alarm goes off, it’s time to get up. After all, you set the alarm to get up at the time for a reason, so you might as well do it and start your day off right, by being on time!

Wash Your Face
Whether it’s with hot or cold water, washing your face will help open your eyes—an important step to feeling awake! Gently scrub your face with a washcloth, or hands, to stimulate your senses, shake off your slumber, and start feeling refreshed.

Stretch
Stretching every morning has more health benefits than just helping you wake up. This tip should be a part of your daily ritual, no matter what. Stretching helps relieve tensions in your body that may be caused by sleeping in an uncomfortable position, or lack of sleep. Simple exercises help energize your muscles to keep your body moving through out the day. Create a stretch routine, of your favorite stretches, to help you get up and get going.

Eat Breakfast
You’ve heard it a thousand times, but it’s true—the best way to start off your day is with a healthy breakfast. Your body needs fuel to run—by withholding breakfast, your body cannot properly start the day. Even if you’re not a breakfast person, grab a granola bar, a yogurt, or a piece of fruit to help you get going in the morning.

Remember, while these tips are great ways to feel awake and energized, getting enough sleep is very important. We recommend at least 8 hours of sleep every night to ensure a bright, healthy day ahead of you!

xx, Grace Daniel

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