5 Energizing Morning Routines That Don’t Involve Coffee

If you are like 80% of the population, mornings are often a sluggish struggle. However, there are several things you can do to feel more alive (and they don’t involve a caffeine boost).

Work on a Puzzle.

In the morning, it often feels as though our bodies are going through the motions while our brain is playing catch-up. Effective ways to activate your brain involve a few mental exercises. Try sudoku (number placement game), or puzzles to strengthen your brain’s memory, attention, language, executive functions, or visual/spatial skills. Play games on paper or online with brain apps like Luminosity or Happy Neuron. Both offer free trials. Test them out to make sure your brain is ready for a day of problem-solving!

Play Pretend.

Our mind is a powerful thing. Therefore, sometimes all it takes to wake up is an attitude adjustment. Even if you feel cranky and drained, act alert and energetic. As Amy Cuddy’s recent analysis of over 55 studies confirmed, power poses or postural feedback can help. Even if you don’t feel like it, “Fake it, ’till you make it!” Take one minute to strike a power pose. Research showed that those who struck high power poses felt more powerful than their low pose counterparts. This simple mind over matter trick will help to alter hormones and wake you up. …too shy to power pose? Try taking a short walk to bring more oxygen to your muscles and cells. It turns out that the activities we avoid when tired, such as walking, and laughing can actually energize you.

Try the Morning Pages Routine.

Several successful people swear by this technique. It involves writing three pages of anything as soon as you wake up. You don’t have to think about what you are writing, you just have to write. It is an effective way to clear your mind, jumpstart creativity and sharpen focus.

Enjoy a Protein-Rich Breakfast.

Protein- or carbohydrate-rich foods like oatmeal or eggs will give you energy for the rest of your day. Oprah says, “No one would ever mistake me for an expert on engines, but I know one thing: They don’t work without fuel. Our bodies are the same way, which is why I’m passionate about breakfast.”

Mediate or practice gratitude.

While meditation is a great morning routine, it can be difficult if you are a first timer. However, a research article published in Biological Psychiatry shows that mindfulness mediatation training can improve neurobiological health markers. If you are just beginning to practice mediatation, try looking for an online app that could help such as Calm, Headspace or the Mindfulness App. …adverse to using technology? Start by sitting in a quiet place and close your eyes. Then, conjure up the feeling of gratitude and let it project out of you. It may sound silly but positive psychology research shows that recognizing what you feel grateful for can help your mind to cherish good experiences, and better deal with adversity.