How do you jump-start your brain in the morning?
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
United States
July 29, 2007 9:21pm CST
Today I got so tired out from moving furniture into our new family room, that I had to take a nap. But, after my nap, it seemed that my brain did not want to wake up! After two hours of watching TV and playing games with my kid, my brain still wasn't ready for work. Whenever I take a nap (or wake up in the morning), this happens to me. And, it's very inconvenient, because I have work to do online. If I don't work online, I don't get paid. And, if I don't get paid, I can't pay my bills. No one is going to pay me, if I'm just hanging out taking a break.
So, I could really use some tips on getting a jump-start in the morning creatively and mentally. How do you get your brain into gear in the morning time or after a nap, when you need to get some mental work done? Any tips or suggestions would be much appreciated.
4 people like this
14 responses
@DanaMark (807)
• United States
30 Jul 07
When taking a nap, I've heard that a "power nap" is best. That means a nap of not over 30 minutes. I set the alarm on my watch to wake me up in 30 minutes. Otherwise you get into a deep state of sleep and it is hard to wake up from. That might be what you are experiencing.
My jump-start in the morning is my shower. That wakes me up and is very relaxing at the same time. I like a long, hot shower. I find that is also a very creative time for me. After I've washed, I just stand relaxing in the water and my brain goes to work giving me all sort of new ideas. When I was a pastor years go, that would be a great time to come up with my sermon ideas.
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
3 Aug 07
It's interesting that you would say that, because I have found my best ideas come to me at every other time than when I am in front of the computer. My best ideas come to me while I am cleaning the house or cooking. Imagine that!
1 person likes this
@DanaMark (807)
• United States
4 Aug 07
I think our best ideas come when we are not "trying" to come up with ideas. Our brains, like our bodies, work best when they are relaxed. A golf shot goes best when I hit a relaxed shot. The same happens in tennis. Our brains probably have all kinds of great ideas. We just keep them blocked in by trying to think. If we could just free our brains up completely so they could do their real thinking, who knows what we might be capable of. Maybe those with photographic memories or who are geniuses are no different than we are. They just have a relaxed brain. I think I'll try that today. I'm a genius, I just can't access my brain. lol.
@rueandash1 (365)
• Australia
30 Jul 07
if you work from home i believe you need to write up a shedule stick to it and this allows balance in personal and work life. have breakfast make it your first thing when u get up this will give you the energy, also allow some exercise time even if this means just going for a walk with your children.
1 person likes this
@bam001 (940)
• United States
31 Jul 07
I know how you feel...I try to do some "freelancing" online each day to supplement my income. I have the same problem with naps and waking up in the morning. Usually, in the morning, a shower using one of Bath and Body's energizing shower gels helps, as does a glass of coke (for caffeine).
After a nap, I just about give up! I have been trying not to take a nap.
@golfproo (1839)
• Canada
30 Jul 07
Hi,
I have a routine I follow in the morning to get myself started. If I do not follow this routine then I will often find myself in a "fog". Basically I have two extra large coffee and do a little email and online work. After a bit of this I jump on my treadmill, go for a run and then I go and take a shower. After all this is done I am awake and rarin to go!
cheers,
@Atanness (31)
• Philippines
31 Jul 07
As i have studied you need to get your circulation up first, pretty much similar to heating your car rather than using it immediately. So first of all you need to have some small activities such as stretching, a short walk and maybe you could jog a little bit. And then feed your brain by eating, the food you eat will turn into glucose which is the REAL brain food. Afterwhich you can now start all those mental works and at the same time avoid the headache.
And since it was said that glucose is the real brain food, whenever you have a mental blackout but still need to think about something, try eating a candy or a chocolate bar, those foods are already in their glucose form and just needs to absorbed by the brain as food to be utelized.
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
30 Jul 07
I have had it suggested to me that I will wake up more alert and with more energy if I will eat a small protein snack before bed.
Another thought is to get some bright light, preferably natural light. At least fifteen minutes, or more. Drink some water. Get your body moving, do some stretches. Mind you, I am going to need to try to practice this myself, as my day job kicks back in soon. Luck to you, and WAKE UP!!!
@unisis (1673)
• Indonesia
30 Jul 07
I think the best thing to do after I wake up is praying for a minute just to clear my brain and when I come out of praying I usually have fresh ideas then going to take a bath so our body will be become fresh and drink about a pot of coffee or a glass of tea and feelings fresh about the day to come .
@dutchess67 (917)
• United States
30 Jul 07
For me, the best way that I can kick start my brain is a couple of healthy cups of coffee and a shower. The combination of the two just seems to clear the cobwebs for me. I know it's not always convenient to have a shower, but it's better than stumbling around feeling like you're only half there. Sometimes, it needs to be a colder on, to get the circulation going. When I'm feeling like I've got spider webs in my head I definately will turn off the hot water towards the end of my shower and get a blast of cold water. It wakes me right up!
@AmbiePam (92743)
• United States
30 Jul 07
I do a couple of different things. Sometimes I just go straight to the caffeine with a coke. I don't drink a lot of coke, but for cases like that when I need to be alert, I will have one. The other is drinking a icy bottle of water with cereal. And by cereal, I mean the ones with less than 5g of sugar, more than 5 g of fiber, and more than 5g of protein. I put a bottle of water in the freezer, and after that I have a small amount of the cereal. The protein and the water combined are good to get me into complete wakefulness.
@carissa765 (1097)
• United States
30 Jul 07
I think the best thing for me to do after I wake up and drink about a pot of coffee, I meditate for a minute just to clear my brain and when I come out of meditation I usually have fresh ideas and feelings about the day to come.
Try it if you just need ideas, if you need to wake up, try lots and lots of coffee it always works for me.
Course after all that coffee I have to take too many breaks from the computer to pee because coffee does that, think it is all the caffine. So maybe for you if you do not want too many breaks that is not a good idea.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
30 Jul 07
Your discussions are really funny. I was going to suggest a spark plug and a car engine might help LOL
Coffee seems to wake me up and or sometimes an energy drink. But then again I feel it in the afternoon so not sure if that is a good thing to do or not.
Coffee and a hearty breakfast gets my brain ticking!!
