How did you sleep last night? How did you feel as your alarm went off?

From the moment we wake up, to the moment we drift off to sleep we receive and react to information from the world around us. So many of us feel overwhelmed with our ‘to do’ list, others’ demands and dealing with life’s surprises.

Instead, wouldn’t it be great if we took a deep breath each morning and felt ready to face our busy lives with energy, excitement and a smile?

Sound too good to be true? Hear us out, we’re here to help you de-stress from the moment you wake up, to the moment you close your eyes…

1. Spring Out Of Bed

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the brain in response to darkness, which tells the body that it is time to go to sleep. When it gets light, the brain stops producing melatonin and starts the wake-up process. However, during the dark winter months the lack of light interferes with this process.

If you feel especially down on dark mornings, consider using a special light lamp alarm clock, such as the Philips Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock. The lamp gradually gets brighter and brighter to mimic natural dawn sunrise, to stop the production of melatonin and allow the body to wake-up slowly before the alarm goes off. Research has shown people feel more positive and find it easier to get out of bed in the darker months after using this kind of device.

2. Start Your Day With A Smile On Your Face

Why not tell your family member a joke, or an amusing story that you’ve read, over the breakfast table? Having a laugh is one of the best remedies for stress and low mood as laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the natural feel-good chemicals that make us happier and more relaxed. Here’s one to get you going:

Q: Did you hear about the thief who stole a calendar?
A: He got twelve months!

3. B Vitamins Breakfast Blend

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but due to our busy lives we very often don’t take the time to nourish our bodies in preparation for the day ahead. If you’re looking for a healthy and energising snack before work, try mixing sense* for busy lives into a smoothie or a bowl of yoghurt.

sense* for busy lives is an expert mixture of vitamins, minerals and botanicals, enriched with expertly chosen superfood powders to help maintain your busy lifestyle. Vitamins B6 and B12 help to support energy release and reduce feelings of tiredness. Superfood powders, such as açai and lucuma, naturally give the powder a wonderful fruity flavour.

4. Keep Your Caffeine Down

T.S. Eliot once said “I have measured out my life with coffee spoons” – sound familiar?

We do love the smell and taste of coffee here at sense* but it can be a good idea to become aware of the the amount of caffeine you are drinking either in coffee, tea, or energy drinks. Caffeine causes a similar rollercoaster effect as sugar does, which can cause the release of stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol.

To keep your mind fresh and energy levels up, try to keep hydrated and pop out for a walk at lunchtime.

5. Avoid the sugary treats

It’s been a long day, you’ve clocked out of work and are ‘hangry’ (this means angry + hungry if you’ve not come across this made up yet insightful word!) On your route home, you come across shops filled with sugary goodies…

Do you struggle to resist stocking up on these treats? We can all be tempted to eat fats, refined carbs and sugary foods when it is cold outside and we are feeling sluggish. This not only creates weight gain, but reaching for these foods will only make us crash after the initial energy rush, creating a vicious cycle of energy highs, hunger and cravings.

6. Get The Job Done

Are you checking emails during non-work hours? Research suggests that this is detrimental to the health and wellbeing of not only you, but your family members as well.

Take the time to write a ‘to do’ list for the next day, before going home. If you have an understanding of what you need to do the following day, this will help you to switch off when you get home.