Aleteia logoAleteia logoAleteia
Friday 22 November |
Saint of the Day: St. Cecilia
Aleteia logo
Lifestyle
separateurCreated with Sketch.

10 Tips to avoid being grouchy in the morning

GRUMPY WOMAN

Shutterstock

Dolors Massot - published on 09/08/18

Quality sleep and clear goals are among the things that can help!

Getting up on the wrong side of the bed. This common expression kind of says it all. You hear the alarm clock and that single sound shatters your nerves, doesn’t it? It doesn’t matter if it’s a military bugle or Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. There is no “Hymn of Joy” that could redeem it.

It’s an incontestable reality that the world is divided into two groups: people who wake up radiant in the early in the morning and go happily to brush their teeth, and people who drag themselves out of bed, shuffle along mechanically to get ready for the day, barely able to function without their cup of coffee. It can be dawn or it can be disaster: You can stumble over the carpet, slip in the bathroom, find yourself with burnt toast, or get burnt by spilled coffee.

If someone is nearby, there’s a danger of receiving a “good morning” on the lowest note on the register, or in a roar.

WAKE UP
Shutterstock-Akos Nagy

We all have bad moods in the morning sometimes. But is there any biological reason for it or is it all due to our temperament? Can we change it?

To begin, remember that the human body is governed by the circadian rhythm that helps us to be awake and alert during the daylight hours, and fall asleep after dark. We need to balance our body’s manufacture of cortisol and melatonin.

Here are 10 tips to improve your mood in the morning:


WOMAN IN BED
Read more:
2 Easy solutions to a common sleep problem

Get enough sleep.

Aim for 7 to 8 hours, without WhatsApp sounds, radio, or music interrupting us. Did you forget to turn off a screen? Maybe it gave off light and that did not let you rest normally. Protect your circadian rhythm, even if your work schedule is nocturnal.

SLEEPING WOMAN
Shutterstock

Wake up little by little. If you’re like a panda bear, do not try to go full-throttle in one minute. This way, you will avoid clumsiness. With your alarm clock, try a sound that goes from low to high.

Get up early enough to do things well.

If you get up late, you have to rush, and it is easy to break something by accident.

Do what you can in advance at night.

Lay out your clothes, along with your toiletries and towel. Make sure your bag already has everything you will need: documents, keys, notes … Knowing that you have everything prepared will give you a lot of peace.

Woman Choosing Clothing
Shutterstock

Each night, write down the pending tasks for tomorrow.

That way, when you wake up, you will not forget something important.

When you get up, leave on the bedside table something that reminds you of the meaning of your life …

… a picture of your family, an image of Jesus, or Mary or a favorite saint.

Eat well

Avoid heavy dinners late at night. You will fall asleep more easily.

Give a smile and a kiss to your family.

Giving and getting a kiss and a smile is a precious treasure, lifts the mood, and helps the day get off to a much better start.

COUPLE
Wavebreakmedia - Shutterstock

Do not make a mental effort or do intense physical activity just before going to bed at night.

Intense exercise can cause insomnia and you would miss hours of sleep.

Try to go to sleep and get up at the same time every day.

This regularity helps our circadian rhythm and promotes better sleep, giving us more energy during the day.


MAN SLEEPING
Read more:
3 New findings that could change the way you sleep

Tags:
FamilyHealth and Wellness
Enjoying your time on Aleteia?

Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you.

Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more.

2025-Aleteia-Pilgrimage-300×250-1.png
Daily prayer
And today we celebrate...




Top 10
See More
Newsletter
Get Aleteia delivered to your inbox. Subscribe here.