From light therapy to electrocution, a sleep doctor ranks 6 awakening methods.
Whether you just have a rough time with mornings or you’re trying to change your schedule so you can hit the gym first thing, finding a get-out-of-bed routine that really works for you can be a challenge. But, the good news is that you have options. Here, Chris Winter, MD, author of the new book, The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How To Fix It, ranks six ways to rise from best to worst.
The bottom line
No matter how you bring your body back to alertness, Winter says it’s what you do from there that matters more to developing a happier wakeup routine. First, he suggests not snoozing, or if you do, limiting yourself to one 10-minute bout. Once you’re awake, Winters prescribes starting your day with light exposure (artificial, if necessary), exercise, and food. By keeping this habit, your brain starts to learn what it means to get up.