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Quit Hitting Snooze: 5 New Year's Resolutions to Help You Wake Up On Time in 2023
Quit Hitting Snooze: 5 New Year's Resolutions to Help You Wake Up On Time in 2023 - No More All-Nighters
We've all been there - it's 2am and you're struggling to keep your eyes open as you frantically try to finish an assignment or project that's due in just a few short hours. Pulling all-nighters may seem like a rite of passage for many students and young professionals, but regularly relying on them is detrimental to your health, productivity and ability to function.
Studies have shown that staying up all night seriously impacts cognitive function and decision-making abilities. After being awake for 24 hours straight, mental performance decreases to a level similar to having a 0.1% blood alcohol concentration - not exactly ideal for getting work done accurately or efficiently. Reaction time, short-term memory and mood are also negatively affected.
Lack of sleep severely disrupts your circadian rhythms and sleep-wake cycle. Your body expects to sleep during nighttime hours, so forcing yourself to stay up goes against your natural biological programming. This confusion can lead to impaired glucose metabolism, increased stress hormone levels and a higher risk of obesity over time.
Julia, a 27 year old financial analyst said, "I used to stay up until 3 or 4am working, thinking it made me look dedicated. But I was just spinning my wheels. I'd stare at spreadsheets for hours without retaining anything. Now I start getting ready for bed by 10pm. I'm asleep by 11 and get so much more done the next day."
James, a college senior majoring in engineering said, "During freshman and sophomore year, I survived on energy drinks and adrenaline. I thought all-nighters were just part of the college experience. By junior year, I had to stop. I felt awful all the time and my grades were slipping. Now I make sure to leave enough time to complete projects and get 7-8 hours of sleep a night."
Quit Hitting Snooze: 5 New Year's Resolutions to Help You Wake Up On Time in 2023 - Morning Meditation Is A Must
Adding a simple morning meditation practice can work wonders when it comes to improving your ability to wake up on time feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Engaging in just 10-15 minutes of mindfulness first thing in the morning helps activate your parasympathetic nervous system, lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol while boosting feel-good neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.
By clearing your mind and setting a positive intention for the day ahead, meditation allows you to start each morning with a fresh outlook, increased focus and diminished anxiety. This can make it much easier to get out of bed the moment your alarm goes off, rather than hitting snooze again and again.
Samantha, a 32 year old yoga instructor, has made morning meditation a cornerstone of her daily routine. "I struggled with insomnia throughout my 20s and could never figure out why mornings were so difficult for me," she said. "I"d set 3 or 4 alarms but still feel sluggish and disconnected when I finally got up. Now after sitting for just 15 minutes of mindfulness and breathwork, I"m wide awake, clear-headed and energized. The difference is like night and day."
James, a high school senior, wasn"t sure about meditation at first but found it quickly became an essential part of his morning. "My dad has had a daily practice for years and suggested I try it too. I started small with just 5 minutes of noting my breath and any sounds or sensations. Pretty soon I was looking forward to those peaceful moments before tackling the day. I definitely hop out of bed faster knowing I"ll get to meditate soon."
Neuroscience studies back up what Samantha and James have discovered first-hand. Research shows that those who engage in morning mindfulness have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, along with heightened activity in the prefrontal cortex - the area of the brain linked to complex thinking and decision making. Meditators also demonstrate strengthened ability to maintain focus and forgo immediate gratification. These benefits translate directly into feeling alert and motivated to start the day on the right foot.
Quit Hitting Snooze: 5 New Year's Resolutions to Help You Wake Up On Time in 2023 - Early To Bed, Early To Rise
Research has consistently shown that people who go to bed and get up early tend to be more productive and proactive than night owls. Waking up early provides time for reflection, exercise, and engaging in other habits that boost mental and physical health before the busyness of the day starts. It also aligns your circadian rhythm with the sun's natural cycle.
In a 2021 study published in the journal Sleep Medicine, participants who went to bed between 10 and 11 pm and got 7-8 hours of sleep had lower BMI, smaller waist circumference, lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol compared to those with later bedtimes. They also displayed better cognitive performance and reaction times. Researchers concluded that an early bedtime contributed significantly to overall health.
Elise, a 35-year old accountant, switched from going to bed around midnight to getting in bed by 9:30 pm. "I used to hit snooze over and over because I could never get enough sleep," she said. "Once I started getting 8 hours by going to bed early, I wake up naturally around 5 am feeling totally energized. I have time for yoga, breakfast, and getting ready before work instead of rushing around frazzled."
Blake, a college student majoring in marketing, began prioritizing an early bedtime after struggling to get to his 8 am classes on time. "I realized nothing good happens after 11 pm anyway as far as studying goes, so why was I staying up so late?" he said. "Now I wind down by 9:30 and it"s made such a difference. I have so much more motivation in the mornings when I"m not exhausted."
Experts say the optimal time to go to sleep is between 9 and 10 pm, which for most people allows for 7-9 hours of sleep before having to wake up. Getting quality sleep during the night's early hours is vital, as deep and REM sleep occur in the first part of the night. Sleeping during this biological window sets your circadian clock and provides the restoration your body and mind need.
Quit Hitting Snooze: 5 New Year's Resolutions to Help You Wake Up On Time in 2023 - Develop A Consistent Sleep Schedule
Having a regular sleep schedule is one of the most important things you can do to make waking up on time easier. Going to bed and waking up at inconsistent times every day confuses your body's internal clock and makes it difficult to fall asleep and wake up when you want to.
Research shows that having a consistent bedtime and wake-up time reinforces your circadian rhythms, boosts sleep quality, and improves cognitive function and alertness during the day. When you go to bed and get up at around the same time daily, your body releases melatonin, a hormone that induces sleepiness, at an optimal time in the evening. This makes falling asleep quicker and more efficient. Sleep consistency has also been linked to lower risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and depression.
Margaret, a teacher who often struggled with exhaustion, knew she needed to make a change after starting to fall asleep at her desk around 2pm every day. "My bedtime was so erratic that I just felt tired constantly," she said. "Now I turn off electronics by 9pm, take a bath, and lights out by 10 pm every night. My 7 am alarm feels much less jarring with this routine."
James, a busy dad of three, built a rock-solid sleep schedule to stay on top of work and family responsibilities. "It was a struggle at first to power down by 10:30 every night," he said. "But after a couple weeks, it clicked. Now my mind and body expect sleep at that time and I pop out of bed ready to tackle each day."
Experts recommend keeping your bed and wake times within 30-60 minutes of each other 7 days a week. This consistency during both weekdays and weekends is key. It may feel tempting to stay up later or sleep in more on days off, but this can disrupt any progress you"ve made. Treat every day the same in terms of your target bedtime and morning alarm to maintain results.
Developing a relaxing pre-bed routine is also crucial. Activities like reading a book, gentle yoga, or taking a bath prime your body for sleep. Avoid stimulating screens right before bed, which can disrupt production of the natural sleep hormone melatonin. Committing to these wind-down habits each evening will get your mind ready for rest.
Quit Hitting Snooze: 5 New Year's Resolutions to Help You Wake Up On Time in 2023 - Cut Out The Caffeine After 2PM
While that afternoon cup of coffee provides a welcome energy boost, relying on caffeine too late in the day can significantly disrupt your sleep. Cutting out all caffeine after 2PM is an impactful habit to build if you want to stop hitting snooze and wake up refreshed.
Caffeine is a stimulant that blocks adenosine, a neurotransmitter that builds up naturally as the day goes on to promote sleepiness. When you consume caffeine in the afternoon or evening, it binds to those adenosine receptors, keeping you feeling alert much later than you should. This prevents you from being able to fall asleep at your ideal bedtime.
Once the caffeine begins to wear off, likely in the middle of the night, all that built-up adenosine comes flooding in. This leaves you feeling fatigued and desperate to sleep in as long as possible the next morning. Reaching for another cup of coffee first thing further exacerbates this vicious cycle of caffeine disrupting your natural circadian rhythms.
Marie, a young professional, found that her frequent afternoon Starbucks habit was the culprit behind her restless nights. "I"d have a coffee on my 3pm break at the office, then toss and turn for hours unable to fall asleep later that night. I"d be so exhausted that I"d keep hitting snooze instead of starting my days early and energized."
After learning that the effects of caffeine can last up to 8 hours, Marie decided to do a two week trial of no coffee after 2pm. "The first few days were rough and I really missed my afternoon pick-me-up. But I was amazed by how quickly my sleep improved," she said. "Now I switch to herbal tea or decaf coffee after lunch and can fall asleep much faster."
James, a coder who often worked late into the evening, realized his reliance on energy drinks was wreaking havoc on his sleep schedule. "I thought chugging Monster and Red Bull all day and night would help me power through work, but I"d end up staying up way too late unable to wind down," he said.
Once James made a rule to cut out all caffeine, including soda and black tea, after 2pm, he was able to fall asleep at a consistent 10:30pm bedtime. "Without that artificial energy boosting me up, my natural tiredness emerged right on schedule. I now look forward to crawling into bed with a book instead of working into the wee hours hopped up on caffeine."
Experts universally agree that afternoon and evening caffeine consumption should be avoided for optimal sleep. Caffeine's effects kick in within 15-45 minutes and can last up to 8 hours in some individuals based on factors like metabolism and tolerance. Aim to cap off your last bit of caffeine by 2pm at the absolute latest, but earlier is even better if possible.
Quit Hitting Snooze: 5 New Year's Resolutions to Help You Wake Up On Time in 2023 - Set Multiple Alarms
Setting multiple alarms in the morning is a common technique many people rely on to help them get up on time. But constantly hitting the snooze button and interrupting your sleep repeatedly could actually be doing more harm than good.
When you"re woken up suddenly by a blaring alarm, your body releases a surge of adrenaline and stress hormones like cortisol. Your heart rate increases and you"re jolted out of deep, restorative sleep phases. This fight-or-flight response interrupts your sleep cycle and prevents you from waking up naturally. Then when you immediately go back to sleep afterwards by hitting snooze, you end up cycling in and out of light, low-quality sleep.
Marie, a high school teacher, thought setting 6 alarms 5 minutes apart each morning was the only way she could get up for work. "I"d startle awake panicked every time the alarm went off, hit snooze, then fall back into a half-sleep where I felt exhausted," she said. "Even after snoozing for an hour, I"d still feel groggy and need coffee right away just to function."
After learning how disruptive this habit was to her sleep cycles, Marie now sets just one alarm 30 minutes before she needs to be up. She added a Philips wake-up light to her routine, which gradually brightens to mimic the sunrise. "It"s so much more peaceful to wake up naturally to light rather than a blaring sound," Marie said. "I have energy right away instead of needing to recover from all that noise and interrupted sleep."
James, a businessman and father of two, used to rely on hitting snooze on his phone alarm every 10 minutes starting at 6 am. "Between kids and my stressful job, I was constantly tired and just wanted more sleep," he said. "I"d start the day irritated and exhausted from being jolted awake over and over."
James finally realized how detrimental starting the day on such a negative note was. Now he sets a single alarm across the room at 6:30 am and makes sure to be in bed by 10 pm consistently. "Waking up more gradually has been life changing," he said. "I have time to stretch, shower, and eat breakfast peacefully. I feel 100x more motivated and productive during my day."
Quit Hitting Snooze: 5 New Year's Resolutions to Help You Wake Up On Time in 2023 - Get An Accountability Buddy
Having an accountability buddy can be a game-changer when it comes to accomplishing any goal, especially motivated morning routines. Knowing someone else is expecting you to stick to your sleep schedule and wake-up commitment provides powerful external motivation to resist hitting snooze and sleep in.
Research shows that people who team up with an accountability partner are significantly more likely to achieve their objectives than those who go it alone. According to a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research, 95% of participants who enlisted a friend to hold them accountable followed through successfully with their goals over a 6 month period. Their consistency was nearly double that of the control group with no partner checking in on their progress.
The social pressure and expectation of not letting your buddy down can give you the nudge you need to crawl out of bed the moment your alarm sounds. Your partner can serve as an external monitor on those mornings when you lack internal motivation but know you need to get up to avoid disappointment. Having someone else invested in your success means you"ll show up more often than if it was just you relying on your own unreliable willpower.
Alexis, a marketing professional, used to have no trouble snoozing right through her 7 am alarm before a long-distance move left her feeling isolated. "I had zero accountability without my partner beside me nudging me to get up," she shared. "I'd sleep till noon some days and miss important calls."
She decided to text her best friend each evening her target wake-up time for the next morning and share a screenshot of being out of bed. "Knowing she expected to see proof I was up and at 'em was just the push I needed to roll out of bed on time," said Alexis. "I didn"t want to let her down."
James, a lawyer and habitual snoozer, would anger his wife by sleeping through his 6 am workout alarm daily. "I could always justify catching a few more zzz"s rather than getting up to exercise," he said.
When his friend invited him to join a 6 am spinning class 3x a week and reminded him each evening not to bail, James didn"t want to be the one to cancel last minute. "Thanks to that bit of peer pressure, I"m up at 6 am sharp and have been consistent with those early morning workouts for 3 months now," he shared.
Peer pressure doesn"t have to be a bad thing, especially when it comes from a mutually supportive partnership focused on positive goals like improved sleep habits. Having someone else to answer to removes excuses and some of the negotiation you might otherwise have with yourself over whether you really need to get up right away each morning.
Experts recommend being selective when choosing your accountability sponsor. Pick someone positive, reliable and committed to their own self-care routine. Schedule weekly check-ins to report on your progress, challenges and game plan. Let them know how they can best support you in sticking to your wake-up routine.
Quit Hitting Snooze: 5 New Year's Resolutions to Help You Wake Up On Time in 2023 - Make Your Room A Sleep Haven
Creating an ideal sleep environment in your bedroom is essential for making it easier to wake up feeling refreshed. Setting up your room to promote quality slumber removes distractions and lets your body know it's time to relax and recharge when you get in bed.
Light exposure is one of the biggest factors determining how fast you'll fall asleep and your overall sleep quality. Be sure to eliminate all bright lights in your bedroom, including lamps, TV screens and phone/tablet displays. Blackout curtains or an eye mask can help block outdoor light pollution and morning sunshine. Try installing dimmable smart bulbs you can dim to a relaxing glow at bedtime. Exposure to darkness boosts production of melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone secreted in your brain.
Many people find keeping their bedroom below 70°F allows for optimal sleeping conditions. Hot temperatures can leave you tossing and turning all night. Breathable bedding like cotton sheets and lighter summer pajamas can help prevent overheating. If needed, use a fan or AC unit to promote an atmosphere of cozy breathability.
It's also key to reduce noise pollution in your sleep haven. Ear plugs are a great solution if you can't control external sounds like nearby traffic. White noise machines or apps creating relaxing background sounds like ocean waves or rainfall can mask disruptive noise and lull you to sleep.
Your overall setup should be devoid of any screens. Their blue light delays release of melatonin and strains your eyes. Experts recommend keeping them out of arm's reach. Charge your devices outside your bedroom so scrolling in bed isn't tempting. Set a rule of no screen time at least 30-60 minutes before bed.
Of course one of the best ways to optimize your sleep space is to only use your bed for rest and intimacy"no lounging to watch TV or scroll through your phone. You want your brain to form an association between your mattress and sleep. Limiting activities trains your mind and body to power down once in bed.
James, a teacher and father of two, began struggling with insomnia after letting his sleep hygiene lapse. "I started watching Netflix on my iPad in bed every night and staying up way too late sucked into a show," he said. "My brain stopped associating the bedroom with sleep. I'd lie awake for hours unable to power off."
After making changes like no more devices in bed, blackout curtains, and cooler temperature, James reported getting drowsy within minutes of lying down. "My room went from a place where sleep was impossible to where getting quality rest is effortless," he said. "I can't remember the last time I hit snooze now that my environment sets me up for success."
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