5 Tips to Wake Up Faster and More Happily
Shine when you rise even if you're not a morning person with these strategies to banish the brain fuzz
Lisa Frederick
June 23, 2013
Houzz Contributor. After journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications and websites such as Houzz, Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.
Houzz Contributor. After journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately... More
I am not a morning person. Whereas my husband and son both bounce out of bed without so much as a longing glance at the covers, I hit the snooze button until the last possible second, then sleepwalk toward the coffeepot and the shower, in that order. Try to speak to me before I’ve had my first cup, and you’ll get an incoherent mumble at best (we won’t talk about the worst).
So why, you may wonder, am I advising you on the art of waking up in the morning? Well, I have a pretty good handle on what works; I just don’t follow it. But if you have more willpower than I do, try these tactics to dive into the morning routine with barely a ripple.
So why, you may wonder, am I advising you on the art of waking up in the morning? Well, I have a pretty good handle on what works; I just don’t follow it. But if you have more willpower than I do, try these tactics to dive into the morning routine with barely a ripple.
1. Choose a happy wall color. Ever try to shake off the cobwebs in a dark purple or mossy-green bedroom? A color that reflects light and seems to glow from within will help you wake up faster. Sunny yellow is the obvious choice, but think butter, not taxicab — you don’t want to be shocked awake when the sun slips over the horizon.
How color may also help you get a good sleep
How color may also help you get a good sleep
Pale, rosy pinks such as this one glow like your own private sunrise.
2. Go for lots of natural light. Your body relies on light as its cue to snap into gear. The more windows you have near your bed, the easier it will be to wake up in the morning. If you live in a secluded setting such as this, you can leave them bare so as not to block a speck of sun; just be sure that your outdoor surroundings are dark enough not to keep you awake at night.
If you want more privacy or need to filter streetlights, try this high-tech solution: motorized shades. You can activate them by remote control from a reclining position or put them on a timer.
3. Place your alarm clock somewhere pleasant. If I had that view to wake up to, I might look forward to the alarm’s going off. (Well, OK, not really. But it’s a nice thought.) To help you wake up earlier, place your alarm clock on a windowsill or in front of a favorite piece of art — something that stimulates those half-open eyes.
4. Consider a coffee bar. Aside from the incredibly luxurious feeling of strolling across the room to make yourself an espresso, the scent of brewing coffee can lure even the most die-hard sleepers out from beneath the sheets. You don’t need a built-in kitchenette — slip in a pretty table to house the coffeemaker and place a basket underneath for sugar, spoons and nonperishable creamer.
5. Set up a reading nook. Whether you scan stock prices on your smart phone, browse a blog or curl up with a magazine, a few minutes of reading time in the morning eases the transition between slumber and full speed. If you have the space, add a settee or bench at the foot of the bed, perhaps with a table or two to hold books. How could you resist?
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It's not always the quantity of sleep hours but more the quality of restful downtime before slipping into bed willingly that soothes me. This simple change has helped reduce my anxieties about being a night owl, and not resent early morning people, something I have always struggled with...
Now even if I am woken by loved ones, I don't get up wanting to take heads off, I just look forward to my time alone with the night life again tonight!
I am like you kabonzi !