Had a sleepless night?

It's a nightmare: your eyes are barely closing when the alarm goes off. Still half disoriented, you get out of bed, as that work appointment unfortunately can't wait. It feels a bit like you're always running behind the facts. A bad night is never pleasant, but according to sleep experts, it doesn't have to determine the rest of your day. These tips will help you get through it.

Take a cold shower

I know, this sounds really terrible. But fortunately, you don't have to give up your entire warm shower. Only at the end of your routine do you turn the temperature to its coldest. Just tough it out for a bit, and after 30 seconds you can go back to warm. Warm up for another half a minute and you're ready to go. This mini ice shower stimulates your circulation and provides more energy. Your body wakes up and you feel much more ‘awake’.

Don't drink too much coffee

Starting the day with a cup of coffee is not only nice, it also gives you that energy we miss in the morning. Now I understand that you think: after a bad night, I'll just drink a whole thermos. Well, you better not do that. The first two cups will indeed help, but after that, the effect is so small that it's not worth it. It can actually have the opposite effect. Once all that caffeine wears off, you'll experience a huge dip. And that's exactly what we can't afford.

Make a to-do list

Due to that fatigue, you might not be fully focused. To ensure that you can still be productive, it's handy to start your day by making a to-do list. Just make sure to put the more difficult tasks first, so you can tackle them while you're still a bit fresh. Later in the day, when your energy really starts to dwindle, you only have easy things left to do. This way, you can always fall back on your task list and you don't have to constantly think about what still needs to be done. That saves a little bit of energy.

Seek out daylight

Do you know that feeling? You didn't close the curtains properly in the evening, and as soon as the first rays of sunlight shine in, you wake up. Normally, that's super annoying, but after a night full of ceiling duty it's exactly what you need. The sunlight helps you wake up and makes you alert. Your sleepiness disappears and you can think better. So, if possible: try to take a little walk before work. This morning walk gives your day a positive start.

Eat a smart breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day; you've probably heard that a hundred times. But it's really true. The longer you wait to eat, the harder your body has to work and the more energy you lose. Especially after a bad night, breakfast can give you just the energy you need. Sorry to all the sweet tooths, but a slice of bread with chocolate spread is not the best choice. Too much sugar ultimately only leads to an energy dip; fibers, fats, and proteins work much better. Treat yourself to a delicious avocado toast and you're completely ready for the day.

Source: Women’s Health, Image: @matildadjerf