Mornings Matter
Good sleep is the key to doing anything well, yet many of us do not get quality sleep. Therefore, we are beginning the day at a disadvantage.
As March is Sleep Awareness Month, all of my posts and videos will be focused on the power of sleep and how to get your best sleep so you can be your best self on the job and in your life.
Believe it or not, the key to a good night’s sleep starts as soon as you wake up? This signals your sleep-wake circadian rhythm to start beating. For more information about how your circadian rhythm works click here.
Here are 5 tips to start your morning so you can sleep better at night:
Wake up at a consistent time, within 60 minutes, even on the weekends. This keeps your internal clock tick-tocking like it should.
Seek the sun. Exposure to natural sunlight first thing in the morning sends a signal to your brain to start the circadian clock. It is most ideal to get this by going outside vs. looking through a window.
Increase your body temperature. Although counter-intuitive, you can take a cold shower which will raise your core body temperature. The inside of you must work hard to warm up the outside of you and that will increase your body temperature.
Exercise will also kick start your circadian rhythm and get you going. It will also increase your core body temperature.
Delay caffeine consumption for 90-120 minutes after waking up. I know this is hard to do, but if you do items 1-4, this will get easier.
This week’s stretch video is something you can use to start your day or re-start your day if you are feeling sluggish.
Click here for this week’s video
A new addition to my weekly posts is the “Inquiry Question of the Week.” These are designed to get you thinking. I encourage you to journal your response to the question in whatever way you are most comfortable.
Inquiry Question: What distractions get in your way of being your most productive? What is one shift you can make today to minimize one distraction?
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