7 Ways to Wake Up in a Better Mood

You have to wake up at 6 a.m. Would you rather do it assuming you’ll just grab a granola bar as you head out the door or knowing you have a delicious smoothie bowl or frittata waiting for you? We’re willing to bet you went with the latter, so plan to have (or, better yet, start to prepare) a delicious breakfast the night before. Warning: You might end up dreaming of waffles, but there are worse things in the world.

A good morning really starts with a good night’s sleep, and fortunately, there are some things you can do to ensure your eight hours are as restful as possible. First, sleep on your back. Sleeping in a supine position (on your back) is best for your spine and neck, meaning you’ll have fewer aches and pains the next day. (Sleeping on your back is also best for preventing wrinkles, so there’s that.)

We don’t know about you, but the last thing we want to do first thing in the morning is dig through our closet for what we want to wear. Choosing outfits in the morning is more stressful than doing so the night before—and means you can either sleep in a little longer or use the extra a.m. time for something more fun and productive. (Like eating waffles. See above.)

Easier said than done, but powering off all electronics at least an hour before falling asleep will make your night way more restful (and the next morning much happier). The National Sleep Foundation recommends turning off all electronics an hour before hitting the sheets.

Yes, even on the weekends. Getting into a routine of waking up at the same time every day stabilizes your circadian clock, which in turn improves the quality of your sleep and how productive you are during waking hours. And while we’re on the subject of alarms, consider switching up your alarm tone from the unforgiving Apple default tone to something a touch more soothing, like chimes or birds chirping.

Waking up to a super-messy room is kind of a bummer, so take a few extra seconds each night to clean up a bit. A less important but still lovely trick is to make your nightstand pretty. Considering that’s probably where you keep your phone, it’s most likely the first thing you see when you open your eyes. We’re not suggesting major design renovations, but you’d be amazed at what a simple vase of flowers or a pretty candle can do.

…And by “get up,” we mean physically. Wake up when your alarm goes off, but don’t get out of bed right then. Spend a few minutes stretching, running through your mental to-do list and even thinking of a few things you’re grateful for. This is an easy but excellent way to put yourself in a productive and peaceful mindset for the rest of the day.