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How To Feel Energised First Thing In The Morning

5th October 2022

5th October 2022

By Adele Webb

Your set alarm chimes loudly. Once again you must awaken from your cosy slumber, sigh. Mornings are not for everyone, especially with the reduced daylight hours that the colder months bring. They are bitter, bleak, and lack the cheery brightness of summer. Sometimes a night’s sleep is never enough – good sleep is hard to find and therefore in return we wish we could be like Sleeping Beauty and sleep for a hundred years.

Yet, unfortunately, we all must take ourselves away from our dreamy fantasy and force ourselves to get ready for the day. Mornings don’t have to be this way, and if you want to start your day in the right way, we have some useful morning routine ideas that you can start implementing to ensure this becomes a reality. What’s more, it means you will be refreshed and ready to embark on a productive day and get the most out of daily life. However, it’s not all about the actions as someone’s mindset can also have an impact. This is where our Focus Capsules come in, a powerful tablet that boosts cognitive performance whilst improving mental capability. Let’s skip and hop into our top hacks… 

Switch Up Your Alarm Habits

This first one is a common mistake that most make. We have all been there – delaying our morning alarm by 5, 10, or even 15 minutes and repeatedly hitting snooze so we can just get that extra bit of shuteye. However, this does more damage than good, and interestingly, an average sleep cycle lasts about 90 minutes. Leaving your alarm next to your bed not only leads to fragmented and low-quality sleep, but also leaves you with less time to get ready in the morning provoking stress, and nobody needs more of this. Instead, try putting your alarm on the other side of the room so you physically have to get yourself up to switch it off, waking yourself up in the process.

The alarm hacks keep on coming, and this second hack will help wake you up with a smile on your face. Alarms can be irritating. We all know the ones, with a constant repetitive scale that never stops. To enable a happier wake-up call, switch up your alarm with your favourite tune, or even set the radio to play for variation. Waking up in the mornings will become easier, and you never know, may even make you look forward to the morning’s arrival (it’s not so hard to believe).

Make Your Bed

This may seem like a small (and possibly insignificant) task but rolling out of bed and tidying it before you embark on your day can provoke a sense of accomplishment. A ‘yes we have our life together’ feeling – the ‘we have made our bed so we can take on anything that the day throws at us’ approach. Ensuring order from the offset will lead to success for the rest of the day. What’s more, surely, it’s better to go back to a freshly made bed after a long day of work. We think so.

Drink Water First Thing

We know a good cup of coffee can be inviting first thing in the morning to give us that energy kick. However, before you reach for your much-loved coffee beans, we suggest gulping down a good amount of water first. Whilst you sleep, your body can lose a lot of fluid, not to mention a dry mouth – do we have any snorers here? Dehydration can make you feel sluggish, so rehydrating can make you feel more alert in the mornings. For an extra boost, try upping your water intake throughout the day, or if you can’t handle this, opt for other non-caffeinated beverages. Fluid is your friend.

The Shower Trick

Another great option to help you wake up in the morning is to switch up your hot shower to a cold one. Now, we know everyone has their preferences, some of you may even find time to take a soothing bath in the morning, but this will only make you more sleepy (trust us). Taking the plunge and bracing the cold waterfall may seem like a daunting (maybe impossible) task, but there are known scientific evidence to support our madness. Cold water wakes up the body’s cells by spiking blood pressure, heart rate, and metabolism. If this wasn’t enough, icy water also has anti-depressive abilities so you can transform your mood in the morning too.

If this is your worst nightmare - we can’t all be superhuman, and are therefore questioning how to wake yourself up, then instead just splash your face with cold water – this should be enough to awaken your senses without a full-on shock.

Eat A Healthy Breakfast

The idea of eating first thing in the morning may make a few of you feel queasy. Breakfast isn’t for everyone, we know this, but eating a healthy, protein-rich bowl of goodness or even a small snack will give you a boost of energy. During your sleep, your body has been deprived of food for a long period of time, so the best way to kickstart your system is to feed it. Mornings can be busy, and if you need some inspiration, we have outlined the best quick and easy breakfast ideas to help you along the way. High protein breakfasts are a winner, opt for eggs, meat, seafood, beans, and even seafood, and say no to carbs like cereals and bread. It may be oh so easy to reach for a box of Rice Krispies, but the best thing to eat in the morning for energy is fresh produce instead of processed goods – think about all that sugar.

Exercise In The Morning

Exercise in the morning is usually at the bottom of anyone’s list but getting in the steps after you wake up is the best way to get energy in the morning. Keep in mind that the exercise routine doesn’t have to be vigorous, and in fact activities like tai chi or yoga can be the perfect wake up alternative. Exercise is a natural energy booster as it produces oxygen-rich blood sugars through your body to your heart, muscles, and brain, and will also loosen stiff muscles. Maybe spend a spare twenty minutes stretching out on a yoga mat or partaking in a gentle walk. Exercising outdoors can also wake you up quicker than inside due to the cold, fresh air. So, switch off the telly and put down your phone, and instead, lace up your dusty trainers and get moving.

Plan Ahead  

Our last hack is something you can do the night before, and that is to plan ahead! Sounds simple enough, but many of us struggle to keep an organised schedule. Writing a to-do-list before you go to sleep will ensure you keep order when you wake up and make you feel more prepped for the day. 

Intelligent Change, the creators of the beloved Five Minute Journal explain the science:

“Despite a variety of digital tools and never-ending tips on how to hack productivity and get things done, staying on track with our tasks and commitments can sometimes be challenging. It’s easy to forget how simple the solutions can be. Enter: the To-Do List. Our brains release dopamine when we cross of an item on our to-do list, meaning they have the power to influence our brain chemistry, helping us feel calmer, more focused, and more efficient. Once you write down your tasks in a visual way, a certain motivating tension builds up and drives you until the completion of the tasks - even if you’re not continuously working on completing the list.”

So, it doesn’t need to be a full detailed plan outlining every waking activity but can map out major tasks or things you want to accomplish. It could be things like writing down what you are going to eat, or what clothes you are going to wear, or even small tasks like popping to the shop or seeing your friends. Taking that weight off your shoulders will make a huge difference to how you feel in the mornings. A messy schedule equals a messy life, lists are the solution. 

Summary

Some of you may love mornings and jump out of bed with a spring in your step. And some of you may reluctantly drag yourselves out of bed with a sombre expression, bed head and all. Whichever your approach, there are improved ways to ensure your energy levels are switched to the max. You don’t have to make a complete transformation but can use our hacks above to start small. Say goodbye to your old sluggish ways and hello to your new energising morning routine. Wake up and smell success.

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Strength Training 101 Webinar
You may have heard that we recently held a Strength Training 101 webinar. Within this webinar, we talked all things strength training, from its benefits to how to get started with weight training. One thing we touched heavily upon were some common strength training myths and why you should stop believing them. If you missed our webinar and would like to catch up, check out the video below. But if you're short of time, read on for a run down of some of the most common strength training misconceptions.  What Is Strength Training? Strength training, also called resistance or weight training, is a type of exercise that aims to make your muscles stronger and improve endurance. It typically involves using weights or resistance to achieve this. The main purpose of strength training is to improve your muscles' ability to produce force. This leads to increased muscle mass, better tone, and improved overall fitness. When you use external resistance like weights or resistance bands, it causes tension in your muscle fibres and microscopic tears. During the recovery phase, your body starts repairing these tears by creating new proteins and muscle fibres, which is what makes your muscles stronger. 4 Common Strength Training Myths: The buzz around strength training doesn’t come without common misconceptions and myths, and I’m sure you have heard many reasons as to why it might hinder your health or just not be of benefit to you.  1. Strength training can make women bulky This myth is  so prevalent within society but seems to be slowly decreasing. Actually, a balanced strength training program with a good diet gives you a lean and toned physique. Numerous studies have shown that genetic and hormonal differences between ourselves and our male counterparts, such as testosterone levels, make gaining large amounts of muscle a greater challenge for women. Studies have also shown that strength training in women tends to lead to an increase in lean body mass, which is associated with improved metabolism and fat loss and contributes to a toned and athletic appearance rather than bulkiness. 2. Cardio is better for fat loss Strength training actually plays a significant role in shedding fat by boosting metabolism and promoting lean muscle mass. A 2019 study by the Institute of Sports Sciences found that muscle is more active than fat -  a pound of muscle can burn anywhere from 10 to 20 calories a day, while a pound of fat burns only 2 to 5 calories a day. A 2020 study published in the Journal of Sports Science also shows that your metabolic rate is increased for up to 72 hours after strength-training exercise. This means that you’re still burning additional calories hours and even days after your workout. Not to mention, combining strength training with cardio creates a more exciting and enjoyable fitness routine than just doing cardio alone. 3. Strength training isn't for older people: It's commonly believed that strength training can injure older people, but research suggests strength training is actually a great activity for older adults. Research shows that after the age of 30, adults can lose 3-5% of muscle mass per decade, so strength training helps to combat this age-related muscle loss. It also helps to maintain bone density, improve joint health, and enhances overall functional fitness. So strength training could actually help prevent age-related injury and promote a higher quality of life as we age.  4. Strength training is time consuming: Lots of people think strength training takes up a lot of time but you can actually achieve effective strength training in short, focused workouts, even 30 to 45 minute workouts can yield significant results. In fact, according to the British Medical Journal, a period of between 30 to 60 minutes of strength training per week is all you need to reap the benefits of strength training. As cliché as it sounds, it's very much quality and consistency over quantity.  In terms of needing a gym, strength training can be a very versatile practice that you can do anywhere, living room, local park, or even the garden. The main key is completing more bodyweight exercises, and adding things like resistance bands. Benefits of Strength Training Now that we've unpacked some truths about strength training, we want to turn our attention to the science behind the holistic benefits that strength training provides. 1.Mental health: Regarding our mental health, current research suggests regular strength training sessions reduce symptoms of both anxiety and depression regardless of age or health status. One way this occurs is through the release of hormones called endorphins which act as a natural mood enhancer and stress reliever, and are part of the reason why when you exercise you feel a little buzz. Our mood can also be improved by the feeling of accomplishment you get when you complete your strength-goals- like upping your squat by a few kg, holding a new yoga pose or just pushing yourself to do a few more reps.On top of this, a systematic review that studied 754 adults showed a significant link between strength training and positive body image, including body satisfaction, appearance, and social anxiety around how you look. 2. Cognitive benefits: A lesser known benefit of strength training is improved cognitive function and neuroprotective effects. Those who engage in strength training may have better brain health and protection against age-related cognitive decline. This is because strength training improves blood flow, reduces inflammation, and increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is basically what’s linked to memory and learning. Multiple studies have also pointed to other significant cognitive improvements after participating in strength training, like processing speed, memory, and executive function. Executive function is like the CEO of your brain—it's the boss that helps you plan, organise, manage your emotions and get stuff done. It's what makes sure you remember to grab your keys before leaving the house, helps you follow a recipe, and stick to a schedule without procrastinating or binge-watching TV. 3. Physical strength: It may seem like stating the obvious, but it’s an equally important benefit, and that’s your physical strength. As Shiv talked about earlier, as you progressively challenge your muscles with resistance, they get better at generating force by bringing in more muscle fibres after those microscopic tears. This allows you to lift heavier weights and perform more challenging exercises. This doesn't only mean the benefit is you can squat more or deadlift more, but also translates to completing more mundane tasks more easily like bringing the shopping in or climbing the stairs at work.  Strength training improves posture and reduces lower back pain by enhancing the strength and endurance of core muscles. When the muscles supporting the spine and lower back are strengthened through exercises like squats and deadlifts, they provide better support and stability. This, in turn, helps maintain a more upright posture and reduces the strain on the lower back, which alleviates that pain and improves your spine health. 4. Metabolic and chronic diseases: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), strength training has been associated with a 20-30% reduction in the risk of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and arthritis.  This is because it’s been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, so your body is able to regulate your blood sugar levels more effectively. It’s been linked to improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It also improves joint function and overall mobility.  5. Better sleep: Engaging in regular physical activity, including strength training, has been shown in research to improve sleep quality and duration. That research shows that 60% of people who weight train get an average of 7 hours or more of sleep per night. The exertion during workouts, coupled with the positive impact on stress levels, promotes more restful and rejuvenating sleep.   In summary, there are numerous myths surrounding strength training and if you're ever confused about anything you hear about it, you should do some research before disregarding weight training entirely, or simply get in touch on our website for some quick advice. Beyond physical benefits, strength training has many benefits for your overall health, from improving cognitive function to reducing the risk of chronic diseases, strength training enhances overall well-being. Embrace the power of short, focused workouts and discover the joy of achieving strength goals. Strengthen your body, elevate your mood, and foster a healthier, more fulfilling life through the enduring practice of strength training. Read more
Insider Q&A | What Does It Mean to be Strong?