Wake-up call: start the day on the right foot
5.7.2023
Translation: machine translated
Going a day without caffeine or theine is a real challenge for some people. But there are wellness tips that are just as effective as artificial stimulants for waking up. You think relaxation can't get rid of fatigue? Then follow these tips and you'll see!
Fatigue is a daily occurrence for many of us. Coffee and tea also accompany us on a daily basis in an attempt to remedy it. But there are plenty of other tips for starting the day wide awake. You've probably come across some of them in spas or yoga sessions. Perhaps that's why they're among my favourite methods. I'll introduce them to you in this article.
Massaging your earlobes
The earlobes are known to be a part of the body hosting many acupuncture points. Traditional Chinese medicine has been stimulating these points for centuries. And you too can benefit from them in your morning routine by giving yourself a little massage as soon as you wake up. To do this, gently knead your earlobes between your thumb, index and middle fingers. This stimulates blood circulation and helps you take a step towards waking up. Personally, I also like to work my way up the pinna a little.
Tapping your temples and face
While you're in the area, you can also massage the rest of your face with light finger taps. To do this, slide your fingertips from the top to the bottom of your face, tapping gently as if you were simulating small drops of rain. The tapping is pleasant, promotes blood circulation and gives a fresh complexion. I find tapping on my temples particularly invigorating.
If you need a more specific tutorial, I recommend this video:
Alternating nostril breathing
This is a very effective special breathing technique borrowed from yoga, called "Nadi Shodhana". This method involves alternating breathing between the nostrils. It may sound strange, but it's actually very logical. In fact, by breathing alternately through the left and right nostrils, we are appealing to both hemispheres of the brain. This technique helps to better connect the two hemispheres of the brain, boosting cognitive performance and the ability to concentrate. When I do this breathing exercise intensively for a few minutes, afterwards I feel noticeably more awake and clearer in my head.
How to do it
To do it properly, you need to use the Vishnu Mudra hand position.
This involves folding the index and middle fingers of the right hand towards the palm, then placing the thumb on the right nostril and the ring finger on the left.
Source: Maike Jensen
Source: Maike Jensen
Then you need to maintain a 2:8:4 ratio between inhaling, holding the breath and exhaling. This means inhaling for two seconds through the left nostril, while closing the right with the thumb. Then hold your breath for eight seconds, closing both nostrils. Then open the right nostril and exhale for four seconds. Then keep the right nostril open to inhale through it and start the next cycle. At first, this requires a lot of concentration, but with practice it becomes automatic.
Smelling essential oils
Scent has the power to wake you up. In fact, we often neglect the sense of smell even though it contributes fully to waking up. Smelling essential oils early in the morning can therefore help to get the day off to a good start. Lemon, grapefruit, orange, rosemary and peppermint are well known for their invigorating properties. You can also smell chopped fruit before slipping it into your flask or glass.
Do yoga and meditate
You don't have to do active yoga and work up a sweat. Unless you love it of course. No, all you need is a relaxing morning session to gently exercise your whole body. All on a beautiful mat and you're guaranteed to be in a good mood. JadeYoga's colourful Harmony mats, for example, safely accompany your exercises and asanas, thanks to their good cushioning and non-slip properties:
After your yoga session, you can take the opportunity to follow it up with a short meditation to take your mind off things and prepare you for the day. You can find guided meditation sessions on Spotify and YouTube. This one, for example, should help you start the morning wide awake:
Singing
Singing is one way to wake up and share it with the neighbourhood. Don't worry, you don't have to sing just to enjoy the benefits of singing. And my experience speaks for itself: I may sing terribly out of tune, but it helps me start the day full of energy and in a good mood. Singing increases my oxygen supply and therefore stimulates my circulation. Probably my neighbours' too. Sorry!
Source: giphy.com
Bonus tip: 10-minute footbath
For daredevils or as a last resort, if nothing else works, I recommend the cold footbath! It takes a bit more effort, but it's worth it. Don't worry, there's no need to soak your feet until they turn to ice. Five to ten minutes is already more than enough for a footbath to prove effective: "it stimulates blood circulation, tightens vessels and thus has a hypertensive effect", report biologists and experts on the medical platform Netdoctor.de. You won't need any special tools or long preparation time. All you need is a basin, a towel and some cold water. And it's not necessary, but I recommend adding a little cider vinegar to the water.
Source: Maike Jensen
Vinegar has an antibacterial effect, helps fight unpleasant odours and softens calluses. And you may already have some in your cupboards. If not, you can find some in any supermarket.
Of course, you don't have to include all these tips in your morning routine. Test them out and find your favourite ways to wake up. For me, it's alternate breathing and yoga.
You don't have to include all these tips in your morning routine.
If you haven't fallen asleep reading these tips, you should now be attacking your days on the right foot. So have a great day!
Headline photo: Maike Jensen
Cat lady and coffee lover from up north. Always on the lookout for «News and Trends».