FEEELING GREAT: Sleep less and feel much better

Believe it or not - most people spend too much time in bed. And even more people make the mistake of thinking that more time in bed equals more energy and feeling ready for the day.
Too much sleep can leave you groggyToo much sleep can leave you groggy
Too much sleep can leave you groggy

Now I know getting out of bed can be tough - the alarm goes off and for a moment and you just want to stay wrapped up in bed, warm and cosy, wishing you didn’t have to move, hitting the snooze button for ‘just 10 more minutes’.

Some days might be different, but doesn’t the day nearly always start off on a bad note? Especially when the last thing you want to do is get out from under the covers, and then spend the little time you have rushing around to get ready.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But here’s why most people struggle on a morning and lose the ‘bedroom battle’ - A lack of vitamin D (sunlight), eating a balanced diet plus spending extra time on the sofa every evening, with a lack of exercise…

Which leads to the big mistake of thinking that the answer to more energy, is spending more time asleep.

That’s rarely the case.

Unless there’s an underlying medical condition, you’re a new mum, or suffer from extreme sleep deprivation.

The reality is that more sleep doesn’t equal more energy. It actually makes you feel more tired.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Here’s some natural ways which can help you wake up of a morning - and there’s no coffee in sight.

Find the light - Melatonin is a hormone produced by your brain and regulates your sleep. When it’s dark your body produces more melatonin making you sleepy. When it’s light, the production of melatonin drops.

If you struggle to wake up, open your curtains to let the light in.

Keep hydrated - your body is made up of 60% water, but when you sleep you sweat, breathe and don’t drink for hours - which dehydrates you.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Before you go to bed place a glass of water beside you and down it as soon as you wake up.

Start the day with a healthy breakfast - it’s been proven that people feel more alert after eating breakfast first thing in the morning.

If you have a breakfast packed full of natural carbohydrates, fats and protein, alertness lasts longer throughout the morning. A favourite of mine is scrambled eggs on brown toast and a glass of orange juice.

Listen to music - music has the ability to release feel-good chemicals throughout your body.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Get active - this one probably sounds obvious but getting up to do something active in the morning gets your blood pumping and releases your feel-good chemicals.

To sum it up - when it comes to sleep, less is more.

On average you need 6-7 hours sleep each night, if you’re currently getting 9 or more, granted, any attempt to switch to less will leave you feeling groggy. But only at first. If you stick at it for about 30 days, it’ll eventually become a habit that leaves you feeling great with MORE energy. And not only that, but you’ll also have MORE time in your life!

Rising earlier could help you to exercise more and give you time to plan and enjoy your day ahead, and even get the housework done in peace if you wanted!

If you manage to make this a healthy habit by climbing out of bed just ONE hour earlier each morning you will find spare time equivalent to an entire week in your life, every month.

For more help on ways to wake up early, and secrets to keeping active and live life free from painkillers, check out my book ‘The Healthy Habit’: www.thehealthyhabitbook.com