The Best Way To Wake Up Without Using Caffeine
Since caffeine can worsen anxiety due to its stimulative properties, you may be looking for an alternative to get you through your days. If you've recently decided to cut back or cut out caffeine entirely, know that there are plenty of alternatives to your morning cup of coffee that come without the side effects like jitters, restlessness, and higher blood pressure (via Healthline).
Starting your day with a different warm drink, like hot lemon water, can help you wake up on the right side of the bed. In addition to being an excellent source of vitamin C and improving skin health, it gets your digestive system moving (via Healthline). Starting your internal fire early, this can wake your body up in a clean, healthy way.
Once you've downed your lemon water, get outside and into the sun. Dr. Jeff Rodgers, DMD, D-ABDSM, D-ASBA tells Bustle that, "Sunlight in the morning affects your circadian rhythm, setting your body clock for the day and signaling you that it's time to wake up." This is why, if you wake up still tired, you may have trouble falling back asleep — daylight tells our body that it's time to start our morning. So, take a walk around the block to help your body get the Vitamin D it needs and alert your system that it's time to get moving.
Involve movement in your morning routine
Another way to start your day without caffeine is by incorporating simple stretches and getting your blood moving (via Mindful). Try starting your day with a dynamic mountain by standing up tall with your hands turned inwards at your sides. With an inhale, bring your arms overhead with your palms facing inwards and as you exhale, flip the palms facing outward as you bring your arms back to your sides. Even if you're half asleep, this pose warms up the upper body and gets your blood flowing.
Though it's a less popular technique, taking a cold shower can wake you up better than a regular cup of Joe. With a cold shower, the capillaries constrict to help you feel more alert as your circulation improves (via Healthline). If this seems like pure torture, you can just splash cold water on your face to have a similar effect on your alertness.
Morning can be your new favorite time of the day with these additions. Just take it one day at a time and, before you know it, you'll be running for miles at 5 AM! Or, at least, you'll feel ready to take on the day without caffeine.