On November 6th, most of us turn our clocks back one hour to have brighter mornings! And although we are gaining an hour of sleep, adjusting your routine may be difficult. So, we wanted to share a few tips we practice getting your routine back!
- Practice a good nighttime routine. Try to set a night routine that you can follow every day. This can be as long or as short as you like. Setting and following a nighttime routine will remind your body that sleep is coming soon so you feel ready for bed. Having your bed ready before going to sleep will help you feel more organized too! Many of us in the office love crawling into our Mulberry Silk Comforters in every season because it keeps us perfectly toasty in the winter and amazingly cool in the summer. HINT: having a cozy bed to sleep in may help entice you to go to sleep.
A few other items to add to your night routine may be putting on lip balm and lotion, drinking a bit of water, and prepping for the next day. Being prepared for the next day can help save time in the morning too (trust us, it can be a game changer!). Lastly, the tough one -- try to avoid electronics before falling asleep as that may affect your ability to relax and feel tired.
- Stick to morning coffee. Did you know that caffeine can stay in your system for around 5 hours?! That means the afternoon coffee or tea may contribute to not being able to fall asleep easily at night. As an alternative, whole foods such as nuts, berries, sweet potatoes, and dark leafy greens offer energizing nutrients that may give you the pick-me-up you need. These healthy choices make for great alternatives to caffeine and can help you get through the rest of your day. Overall, a balanced diet should help with energy levels during the day, all without keeping you up at night. A Mother Nature win!
"Did you know that caffeine can stay in your system for around 5 hours?!"
- Stay active. Morning exercise may help improve productivity and focus and enhance energy! This will help keep you up during the day while not affecting your sleep. However, it is not always possible to exercise in the morning. So instead, you can try to stay moving throughout the day by moving your legs while sitting and practice sitting up straight to keep your core engaged. While staying active is important, try to avoid exercise within 4 hours of bedtime as it can make it harder to fall asleep.
- Eat meals at a consistent time. Keeping a similar routine everyday will help your body adjust to the time change. We love meal prepping with Flat Stacks so we can plan our meals in advance and the containers fold down for easy storage. This way we always have food ready to eat at consistent times. Planning and preparing your meals help mitigate stress because once it is done your schedule is set. Scheduling meals is helpful to anyone especially when the busy holiday season is approaching. Let’s be real, all of the tempting treats and easy meals while out can be hard to resist! Do your body a favor and prep for a happier, healthier you.
- Limit your stress. Yah, right, easier said than done! However, destressing does not need to take very long and can be simpler than you think. Meditation, yoga, journaling, and breathing exercises are all great options for quick stress releasers. These exercises can be added to your nighttime routine, so they are practiced daily. It is important to know what strategies help you deal with stress and incorporating them into your daily life.
We sure hope this gave you some motivation for the weekend and weeks ahead! Be well.
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