Do you always wake up feeling sluggish? Researchers from the University of California think they’ve found a fix for that. After analyzing hundreds of people, they’ve come up with a three-step formula to turn groggy mornings into refreshed ones. According to the study, all it takes is a combo of strenuous exercise, seven to nine hours of sleep and a high-carb, low-sugar breakfast.
Study authors note that if you’re not the type who rolls out of bed feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, you may blame your genetics for being slow to wake up and that there’s nothing you can do about it. But study author Professor Matthew Walker says, “Our findings offer a different and more optimistic message.”
While the research shows intense exercise helps sleepyheads, scientists aren’t exactly sure why, but they note that it does wear you out and is a known mood booster. Researchers also found a high correlation between mood and levels of alertness, with those who are happier on average also being more alert. Walker also says that a lie-in - staying in bed after waking up - can also help fight off that groggy feeling. He explains, “How you wake up each day is very much under your own control, based on how you structure your life and sleep.”
Source: NY Post