The sun in its own sense is a natural alarm clock, so it’s understandable in the winter months to want to sleep in later when you open your eyes and it’s still dark outside. Seasonal affective disorder can also affect many people during the change to the darker, colder seasons, also known as the “winter blues”.
Here are some tips you can implement into your day to start off on the right foot:
- Keep a consistent wake up time and stick to it. An alarm clock which gradually wakes you up with a ‘sunrise’ effect may help you to feel more naturally awake when it’s still dark outside.
- Don’t hang around in bed for too long – you might as well have slept in! As soon as your alarm goes off get out of bed or sit up and give yourself 5 minutes to properly wake up. You could even try a little meditation, deep breathing or stretching.
- Create a morning routine you look forward to and feel good after completing, give yourself enough time to get everything done and not feel rushed as that can induce stress.
- Eat a good breakfast to energise you for the day ahead, you don’t want to be ‘hangry’ (hunger- angry) as people call it.
- Investing in a SAD lamp can boost your mood as the light box creates a chemical change in your brain for a more positive mood.
- Get moving and go for a walk during the day whilst it’s light out – take advantage of your lunch break and soak up the fresh air and what sunlight there is. It’s very tempting to ditch your workout when it’s cold outside but it’s important to get at least 30 minutes exercise a day.
- Save yourself time in the morning and prep for the next workday when you get back from work or the night before.
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If you would like to discuss any of the above in more detail, then please do not hesitate to contact us on 0161 476 8276 or email [email protected].
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