Tricks to function when you’ve underslept

There are many things I love about my job, but getting up at 3:45am is not one of them 😉  That means to get a good 8 hours of sleep I need to go to bed around 7:30 at night. Well  you can imagine how many times that actually happens….especially when it’s light out until 9 or 10pm! Needless to say there are many nights when I’ve underslept and struggle to get moving.
If you’ve experienced the same….here are some tricks to snap out of it and function better throughout the day-
 

1.  Open your curtains as soon as you wake up.  Natural light tells your body to stop producing melatonin, which is the hormone that makes you sleepy.  And at the same time, it ups your serotonin levels, which improves your mood and helps you focus.

2.  A cold shower really does work.  The shock of it makes you breathe faster, which increases your oxygen intake and speeds up your circulation.  A study last year linked cold showers with higher energy levels.

3.  Include at least two food groups at breakfast.  Something like cereal or an energy bar might give you a BOOST of energy.  But you’ll run out of gas and crash within a few hours.  So something with protein and fiber is better.

4.  Don’t drink coffee right away.  Your cortisol levels rise in the morning, which helps you wake up.  But caffeine can inhibit that process and make you groggier.  So when you don’t get enough sleep, it’s better to wait an hour or two before your first cup.