How to wake up without caffeine

As the saviour of our morning rituals, many of us turn to coffee and other caffeine-fuelled drinks to push us through commutes to work and early meetings. While caffeine acts as a stimulant on the central nervous system to make us feel awake and alert, it can also cause headaches, heartburn and anxiety. So if you need to cut down on your morning cup, consider these tips for waking up without caffeine.

1. Exercise first thing

Incorporating exercise into your morning routine gets blood pumping around your body and helps to energise your muscles. Taking a brisk walk or a gentle jog before starting your day’s duties will give you some fresh air and wake you up naturally.

2. Shake up your breakfast


If you feel those mid-morning energy slumps, it’s time to revaluate your breakfast. Opt for slow release complex carbohydrates, such as porridge, along with some fruit to provide you with natural sugar. Alternatively, whip up a quick omelette, as the protein from the eggs will keep you feeling fuller for longer.

3. Chill out in the shower


A cold shower does wonders for stimulating your immune system and producing those all-important endorphins. Also, when you lower your temperature, your body works harder to heat you back up again, which burns a few calories too.

4. Drink cold water


If you aren't feeling bold enough for a cold shower, try drinking a glass of chilled water instead. Like the shower, it will energise your system by upping the blood flow to your brain as well as stimulating adrenaline production.

5. Make an soundtrack


New research has found that music has incredible power to influence mood and physiology. Personalised playlists and generative music can tackle wellness concerns related to sleep, anxiety, relaxation and pain. So make your own playlist of favourite, upbeat songs and use it as your alarm. You might just find it puts you in a good mood for the rest of the day, too.