4 Ways to Naturally Enhance Your Morning Experience

By Alicia Geigel on May 22, 2017

Every person usually agrees with the notion that mornings are difficult, and the process of jumpstarting your body in order to function is no easy task.

Many have different remedies and rituals that work, such as drinking coffee or getting a shower, but a majority of the time these are temporary, quick-fix solutions to the unbearable feelings we all experience in the morning.

Looking to turn that lasting frown upside down? These four simple steps have helped me be less of a grump and I guarantee that you would feel better than you ever had in the morning, and throughout the whole day!

Image via Pixabay

1. Before bed, make the area where you sleep as dark as possible

The first step in making your mornings great is making sure your sleeping area is the darkest you can possibly make it. This means trying your best to eliminate any artificial light around you, i.e. lamps, televisions, cell phones, laptops, tablets, power lights from electronics, etc.

If this is difficult for you, invest in a sleeping mask; I recently picked one up myself for $1.49! So what is the reason for all the darkness? It involves a powerful hormone called Melatonin (and not the kind you can find over the counter, either).

According to Irene Liu of The Naked Label, “[Melatonin] plays a significant role in the circadian rhythm, which is an internal rhythm that helps to regulate our sleep, wake cycle and other functions in the body.”

Sleeping in the darkness is imperative as it helps to increase the functionality of our mind and our bodies by regulating our internal clock.

Image via Pixabay

2. Upon waking up, avoid use of electronic devices

Sleeping in the dark and this next step go hand in hand. Due to the fact that artificial lights such as LEDs can be disruptive to our natural rhythm, it is also important to avoid the use of electronic devices when you first wake up in the morning.

Instead, open a window (or even better, go outside), take off/out your glasses/contacts and look into the direction of the sun for at least 15 seconds, but you can look for as long as you like.

Liu notes that “morning light exposure has been proven to align your daily rhythm and increase your energy for the day.”

Image via Pixabay

3. Cold water soak

This sounds unpleasant, but I promise it will be so refreshing and stimulating that it will become part of your daily routine!

After you’ve completed the first two steps, head over to the bathroom and fill your sink with cold water (the coldest you can get it). Fill your sink with enough water so that you can dunk your head in it, and after (you guessed it), stick your head in the cold water for as long as you can, or at least 15 seconds.

Believe it or not, there’s a scientific reason to torture your head with freezing water! Cold water in the morning helps to stimulate the vagus nerve, which is the longest nerve in your body.

According to Jordan Fallis of Optimal Living Dynamics, “The vagus nerve is a key part of your parasympathetic ‘rest and digest’ nervous system. It influences your breathing, digestive function, and heart rate, all of which can have a huge impact on your mental health.”

While it does seem tortuous, after a few mornings of cold water, this will be not only a routine, but you’ll want to do it!

Image via Pixabay

4. Bulletproof Coffee

Forget Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts, and fuel your brain with Bulletproof coffee. You may be asking yourself, what is this miraculous concoction? Bulletproof Coffee consists of three staple ingredients: coffee, coconut oil, and raw, grass-fed butter (yes you read that right, butter)!

Brew between 8-10oz of your favorite coffee, add 1 tablespoon of organic, cold-pressed coconut oil, 1 tablespoon of raw, grass-fed butter and a sweetener of your choice (I highly recommend using a natural sweeter such as Stevia, which is a no calorie, natural sweetener) then blend in a blender for around 30 seconds.

While raw, grass-fed butter is usually more expensive than your store-brand sweet cream butter, it is great for your health, as it contains omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins A, D, E, and K. If you cannot find raw, grass-fed butter, try to find a RBST-free butter such as Kerrygold, which you can almost always find in your local grocery store.

Coconut oil, on the other hand, contains MCT fats (medium chain triglycerides), which help to improve cognitive function. Mix all of this together and you will get a powerful, delicious, frothy coffee elixir that will change your life for the better!

Image via Pixabay 

Sound easy? This new morning routine will take less than 5 minutes, and will not hold you back from accomplishing your goals for the day, but in fact, will inspire you more!

After you’re done completing these simple steps, you will feel lasting energy, increased happiness, and greater mental clarity — what else could you want?

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