Not a Morning Person? How to Wake Up Happier

By Rigel Celeste on March 9th, 2010

Morning people can be so annoying, unless of course you’re one of them. How you start the day can have a domino effect that runs straight through to how you finish the day, so making an effort to start off right can really pay off. Waking up happy might be easier than you think, given these simple tips.

Energize with color

Bright colors like red, orange and yellow can stimulate adrenaline and give your system a rush of energy. Put a splash of color somewhere where you’ll see it right when you wake, like on your pillow, bathrobe, or bathroom wall.

See (and smell) the roses

A study out of Harvard found that women who woke up to see a flower bouquet reported increased energy and a better mood for the entire day. Now you have a no-guilt excuse to indulge in one of those cheap (but pretty!) supermarket bouquets every so often.

Stop hitting the snooze

Your brain knows the alarm is going off again so it doesn’t go back into any real stages of sleep. The result? You’re more tired than you would have been if you’d just gotten up right away.

Hydrate!

Our bodies are mostly water and every single body process requires water to work — stay hydrated and you’ll stay energized and happy.

Let the sunshine in

Take the extra time to open a window or step outside while getting ready for work and let the sunshine in — you’ll feel more energized and get a mood boost versus rushing around in the dark only to head off to a windowless office.

(Photo courtesy of adripoveda on stock.xchng)