Science shows healthy ways for waking up

For those who aren’t morning people, starting off the day on the right foot can be very difficult. Freshman Casper Morgan struggles with morning “because of grogginess or how dark it is.”

Eating breakfast is one thing that can help you start the day off strong. Holmes freshman Megan Engdahl said, “I always try to eat something before I go to school. I’m very much a breakfast person, and I tend to focus better if I’ve had food in the morning.” 

Science agrees with Engdahl. Studies have shown that eating breakfast has a positive effect on academic performance. Breakfast can help students to focus, and, in turn, do better in school.

A glass of cold water in the morning also helps to improve brain function and start your day, overall. “A glass of cold water gets me up,” Morgan said. A study from 2019 showed that even minor dehydration had a direct impact on memory and attention span for college students, so drinking water to start your day can help you throughout your entire day.

Sometimes, for those who have trouble waking up in the morning, it’s best to set more than one alarm to smooth the transition between sleeping and waking. “I wake up to multiple alarms,” Holmes freshman Henry Funk said. 

And, of course, it’s always important to go to sleep at a reasonable time to make sure that one won’t be too tired the following morning. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, teenagers should get between eight-12 hours a day; however, admittedly, school start times and other activities that teenagers partake in make it difficult to get a full eight hours every night.