Falling behind on your sleep? Here are five tips scientists say will help you make it through the day when you’re extra tired:
1. Leave the snooze button alone. Even though it seems like a little more sleep would be good for you, it actually makes you more sleepy.
2. Let the Sun shine in! Open your curtains right when you wake up. Sunlight tells your body to stop producing melatonin, the hormone that makes you tired. It also raises your serotonin levels, improving your mood and helping you stay focused.
3. Take a cold shower. It really does work. A recent study linked cold showers with higher energy levels.
4. Make sure you get at least two food groups at breakfast. Cereal might give you some energy at first but you’ll run out of gas and crash within a few hours. Something with protein and fiber is better.
5. Don’t drink coffee right away. Your cortisol levels normally go up in the morning, and that helps you wake up. Caffeine can inhibit that process. So, drinking coffee first thing actually makes you groggier. When you don’t get enough sleep, it’s a good idea to wait an hour, or even two, before you have your first cup.
