Are you a snooze button hitter?
I didn’t used to be, but college changed that and I’ve never been able to stop. Regardless of the fact that it doesn’t really help, I still use it, wanting to savor those last few minutes in bed.
A poll by The National Sleep Foundation asked people how they feel when waking up and only 8.9% actually felt well-rested (as opposed to groggy or exhausted). So I asked myself – and am asking you – why do so many people wake up this way?
1. The alarm clock: The problem with alarms is that they go off regardless of where we are in our sleep cycle. Frequently, when the alarm goes off, we’re not in the light phase of sleep, and so we end up being startled awake.
Solution: Waking up naturally means you’ve probably reached the end of a sleep cycle. Even if your alarm isn’t about to go off, go ahead and get up. This way, you’ve let your body wake up on its own so you feel well-rested instead of alarmed.
2. The snooze button: The few minutes between buzzers are not going to help you feel better. In reality, they’re only allowing your heart rate to calm down after being startled awake. It confuses the natural processes occurring in the body, resulting in grogginess the longer you delay getting up.
Solution: Contrary to popular belief, getting up right away instead of laying there will make you feel more rested rather than deprived.
3. Nightly sleep disturbance: Waking up frequently during the night could be due to a variety of factors. For example, caffeine or food before bed, nightmares and loud noises could all be culprits. The result is a fitful sleep, making us dazed in the a.m.
Solution: Try and pinpoint the exact cause of your sleep disturbance. If you can’t find the source it’s possible you have an undiagnosed sleep disorder and a doctor’s advice could help.
4. Consistency: Going to bed at a different time every night will likely make you feel groggy upon waking. Your body needs time to adjust to a specific bedtime in order for you to feel well rested (this is what causes jet lag).
Solution: Go to sleep and wake up at the same times every day. The right quantity and quality of sleep needs to be paired with routine or the body will be thrown off its rhythm.
5. Foggy doesn’t mean groggy: We all have a little fog in the morning due to remnants of melatonin still in our bodies.
Solution: Shake it off as quickly as possible – turn on the lights, take a shower, move around, turn on energizing music and eat breakfast. Try and leave the curtains open before bed. This reduces melatonin before you even wake up, helping the body awaken on its own.
By Emily S.
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