Ok so my new job (watching kids earlier than usual) requires me to be up at 7am and working by 7:30. I LOVE my job, but it's sooooo hard for me to stay awake in the boring early morning period where my 3 year old and a 4 year old that I watch just want to watch cartoons until they really wake up at around 9am. I tend to snooze off while still alert to what they are doing. I HATE coffee, so that doesn't help. I get 7 hrs. of sleep, I am just NOT a morning person. Any suggestions on how to wake up without coffee? This all new to me and I haven't done this early thing for a few years.
Nice advice, Tracy- she's watching MY KID! No dozing off!
Bethany- I know you like frapuccinos, so you don't "hate" coffee! You just haven't tried the right kind. Try central market coffees- all kinds of flavors to choose from, and you can add cream and sugar, it's delicious.
I used to work as 'breakfast b!tch' at a hotel... at to be there at 5am. OUCH. I am sooooo not a morning person (but I DO love coffee!!)
Go to bed earlier than usual. Start with 30 minutes, then an hour... it will help soooo much. Even if you can't sleep, keep the t.v. off, the lights low, and read. The point is to start shutting down your brain, not stimulating it.
Shower in the morning; it will help wake you up. Lay your clothes out the night before. On your way to work, crank the AC (cool air is proven to help wake you up) and turn on some tunes and SING... singing gets the blood and oxygen flowing!!
And this sounds silly, but do a few jumping jacks before you get into the office, like in the parking lot. Again, this wakes your body up and gets you going :)
I get up at 5:30 every morning so I feel your pain! First, try not to hit "snooze"... you don't really go back to sleep and it just makes you drowsy. Second, when I get up I splash cool water on my face to get my eyes open.
Go for a quick walk if you can- just around the block. It really will help!
Eat an apple. It will give you more of a boost than even coffee can.
Cola has almost as much caffiene as a cup o java.
When I get up earlier than the kids,exercise then take a shower and get dressed and put on makeup with a necklace to top it off...I feel soooo good. And ready to tackle the day with kiddos. I don't drink coffee...never have.
If you're against coffee (which I personally couldn't *survive* without!), then I'd suggest getting your blood pumping with a little exercise or yoga. Take a shower or at least get dressed and outta your jammies.
I know people who start the day with caffinated teas or even coke (yuck!).
Ugh, it was hard for me to wake up this morning, too. I was up WAY too late posting on Mamapedia! : )
But the one thing that will guarantee you wake up and more energy all day long is to drag yourself out of bed, put on your tennies, and head outside for a brisk 20 minute walk. Getting out there is the hardest thing you'll have to do all day. But when you look at it that way, -- that waking up and walking outside is the hardest thing you will have to do all day -- it makes the rest of the day look like a piece of cake!
I'm off to get my coffee!
go ahead and doze off. if that doesn't work for you - take a Multivitamin and B-Complex. B-Complex really wakes me up.
Get up, get a shower & get dressed, including shoes. You'll feel more awake.
In a world with no coffee I would probably try stretching and a little bit of exercise. Showers make me want to crawl back into my nice warm bed.
I hate coffee. But I am addicted to Starbucks. Why? Their coffee doesn't taste like coffee, and it wakes me up. You need to learn to like it. It really is the only thing that works. Or, you need to go to bed a lot earlier. 7 hours of sleep is the very minimum you should be getting.
Good luck.
Okay I know you don't drink coffee but could you choke down a couple of chocolate covered coffee beans?
Gross but done in a minute. ;)
-get up early enough for a quick walk around block b4 hubby leaves
-cool/warm quick shower
-cold glass of oj
-change clothes for work day
-cold protein shake (premade, bought at costco)
-cold cereal w/ cold milk
I start by cleaning up the kitchen after my older boys and hubby have made their bowl of cereal. Just using my lemon/mint dish soap to clean up makes me feel awakened.
I'm not a coffee drinker either (yuck) but I do drink tea. Get some flavored stuff that you like and make sure it's not decaf. Also no chamolmile tea either, that's to get to sleep :)
Have a cup of tea. Take some B12. Turn on an exercise show and do 30 minutes of what ever they are doing.
