An early work schedule can be difficult, especially if you’re not typically a morning person. As you want to do well at your job, it’s important that you work on getting energized for work in the morning. Avoid hitting the snooze button and do some energizing activities in the morning, like light exercise. At work, try drinking caffeine in moderation to stay alert and take short breaks when possible. The night before, work on getting high quality sleep. In the future, you should strive to develop a healthy sleep schedule to help you get enough sleep each night for work.
Avoid the snooze button.
Many people crave the extra 6 to 8 minutes of sleep provided by the snooze button. However, hitting the snooze button will actually make you feel more tired. When you hit snooze, you immediately go into an early sleep stage. Being interpreted early in the sleep cycle causes you to become more groggy and tired than you would have been without those extra minutes.
Drink a glass of water.
You often end up mildly dehydrated in the morning, as your body has gone so long without water. Dehydration can make you feel tired or groggy. As soon as you wake up, drink a glass of ice water. This will help make you feel alert and energized as you proceed through your morning routine.
Expose yourself to sunlight.
Natural sunlight can help you feel awake in the morning. As soon as you get up, do something to get some sunlight. Try pulling back the curtains in your bedroom or stepping out on the porch for a few minutes. This may help wake you up, allowing you to proceed through the morning with more focus.
Try caffeine in moderation.
Caffeine can be helpful to get you through an early shift. However, moderation is key. About two or four cups of coffee should provide you with a boost in energy. Anymore will likely result in your feeling jittery and may cause a crash later on.
Avoid sugar.
Sugary energy drinks, sodas, and other sweets may give you a quick boost of energy. This will not last. You’ll end up crashing later, feeling more tired than you were before that soda or donut. Instead, stick to healthy, energizing snacks throughout your shift.
Prepare what you need in the morning.
You’ll thank yourself when rushing through your morning routine if you’ve prepared beforehand. Pick out the clothes you’re wearing for the next day and set them out on a desk or shelf. That way, you won’t have to scramble to choose an outfit in the morning. You could also set up your coffee maker to go off in the morning. If you wear makeup, pick out the types you’ll be using that day. Set up a makeup station for yourself before a mirror.
Avoid electronics an hour before bed.
The light from computer screens, laptops, and phones can stimulate the brain, much like sunlight. Using electronics shortly before bed can make sleeping difficult. Keep things like laptops out of your room and do not use them when you’re trying to wind down for rest.
Make sure your environment is comfortable.
It’s a good idea to evaluate your room to make sure it’s optimal for high quality sleep. An uncomfortable sleeping environment can keep you up at night.
Try relaxation techniques if you have trouble sleeping.
If you’re having trouble falling asleep, try some relaxation techniques. Things like breathing and meditative exercise can help turn your mind down, allowing you to fall asleep faster.