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Attention non-morning people: this one’s for you.
1.
Upgrade your pillow with a silk pillowcase to keep your hair smooth and frizz-free — even if you toss and turn all night and hit the snooze button 17 times before quickly dashing into the office. People think you had time for a blowout when you woke up just 45 minutes ago.
Amazon
Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in standard, queen, king, euro, and toddler sizes and 29 colors).
Promising review: “Game changer for curly hair. I wake up in the morning and barely have to do anything at all and my hair looks nice from the night before. Saves me tons of time in the morning.” —Yo Adriene!
2.
Brew a mega-caffeinated coffee that actually tastes amazing to add some perk to your morning (literally). This brand, Banned Coffee, has the caffeine of four (4) cups’ worth of coffee — in just ONE CUP.
Amazon
They recommend not having more than one cup of this coffee!
Get two-pound bag from Amazon for $32.28.
Promising review: “I bought this as a birthday present for myself and brewed a pot about an hour ago. Now, instead of working and writing code like I should be, I am here on Amazon trying to write a review and jittering like I’m about to have a cerebrovascular-accident. The flavor: It’s a terrific, dark, French Roast flavor with a good balance of bitterness. If it didn’t have a kitschy name, it could easily be sold as a gourmet roast. This stuff tastes so good you could find yourself drinking a whole pot of it before you medically realize what you’ve done. Normally, I have an unhealthy tolerance for coffee built caused by years of drinking percolated chow-hall swill. THIS STUFF however, is a kick in the face that will make your teeth itch. If that’s your thing, I couldn’t recommend this more for you. Enjoy.” —Amazon Customer
3.
Hitting the snooze button disrupts your REM sleep and makes you feel groggy all day — use a super loud alarm clock with *no snooze available* so you HAVE to get up and break the snooze button cycle.
Learn more about the effects of hitting the snooze button at the Cleveland Clinic.
This old-fashioned alarm clock is super loud, has non-ticking hands (great for sensitive sleepers), and an optional backlight button so there’s no excess light in your bedroom at night.
Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in five colors).
Promising review: “I just woke up to this alarm clock for the first time and WOW is it effective. It’s so loud that it not only wakes me up, but it scares the daylights out of me so that I jump out of bed too. No falling back asleep with this one around! Besides the extremely effective alarm, it is darn cute. I wanted to cut back on the digital items in my bedroom, and this is an attractive way to do so. It’s built very well, so it doesn’t feel cheap. The second hand is definitely silent and it’s very easy to set. I highly recommend this clock!” —Lauren
4.
Orrrrr ~shake things up~ by using an alarm that vibrates to truly wake you up. It has a ~12-volt~ bed shaker you can put under your mattress or pillow get your morning off to an *alert* start!
And if the shaking doesn’t do it (although it WILL), this Sonic Bomb alarm clock also has a super loud alarm and pulsating light options too! This alarm is a great option for people who are hard of hearing too.
Get it from Amazon for $39.95 (available in six colors).
Promising review: “I am a super heavy sleeper — I’ve had fire alarms go off outside my bedroom door and hurricanes shaking the windows of my home I sleep next to and I will not wake up. I usually have to set multiple alarms — I’m the person who sets them a minute apart to make sure I hear them and wake up to them. But this is amazing. I put the part that vibrates in my pillow case underneath the pillow and it’s perfect. I wake up immediately — and that’s just to the vibration, I don’t even need to have the sound go off. I accidentally set it to vibrate only once and I still woke up immediately. I absolutely love, love, LOVE this product.” —Tess
5.
If sudden wake-ups leave you feeling tired and groggy all day, you can also make mornings less painful by setting an alarm clock that simulates sunrise so you wake up more naturally — even in the winter when you have to wake up in the dark.
Philips
This Philips SmartSleep clock has 20 brightness settings that slowly increase over 30 minutes so you rise ~with the sun~, feeling energized and ready for the day. Once it’s at full brightness, only *then* will the alarm sound go off. AAAAANNNNDDD it has a *reverse* sunset mode that slowly fades away, while you fade out of consciousness yourself.
Get it from Amazon for $108.95.
Promising review: “I was having problems getting up in the morning on a daily basis and I read somewhere on the Internet that there were ‘light’ alarm clocks. I thought ok, but a lot of people raved about them so I finally purchased one. I am so glad I did. Not only do I feel more refreshed in the morning when I wake up, but I have no urge to hit the snooze button four times (which was my average before this light) or even one time for that matter. The light mimics the sunrise changing from a dim red light that fades to a brighter orange which gives way to a bright soft white light. It slowly wakes you up instead of a typical alarm which startles you awake. You can set how long the ‘sunrise’ will last. The light gets VERY bright at the end. It can easily light up your entire bedroom and it wakes me up every time before the audible alarm kicks in. Bottom line: This light really makes a difference in how you wake up which for most people sets the tone for the rest of their day. Somehow you wake up refreshed and in a good or at least neutral mood. I have never missed walking up on time since I’ve started using this. It’s a winner in my book!” —Stephanie M.
6.
Once you start forgoing the snooze button, you’ll have time to chow down on an energizing breakfast toast to start your day RIGHT. We’re talking combos like berries + basil + cream cheese, mango + lime + mozz, and chickpeas + tomato + fried egg. Y U M!
Photos by Macey Foronda / Graphics by Tashween Ali and Chris Ritter
7.
Jumpstart your day with a feeling of accomplishment by making your bed FIRST THING every day. That’s right!! Every day.
Alice Mongkonglite / Thinkstock / BuzzFeed
This is part of BuzzFeed’s ~Morning Person Challenge~, so if that interests you, check it out!
In a commencement speech at the University of Texas, U.S. Navy Adm. William H. McRaven said if you want to change the world, the first thing you should do is start making your bed. He said: “It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task, and another, and another. And by the end of the day that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed.”
Psst: Want to make making your bed easier? Try a set of bed bands that will keep your fitted sheets neatly tucked under your mattress, so you’ll sleep more comfortably *and* be able to make your bed wayyyy faster in the morning.
Get a set of four from Amazon for $12.99 (available in three colors and two sizes).
Promising review: “I have a pillow-top and pillow-bottom queen-size bed that is a little too small for king sheets and with queen sheets I have battled to keep the sheets from popping off. I have tried everything! I was about to try to customize some king sheets because it was so frustrating. Then I saw this product advertised on Facebook in one of those posts about the amazing products that people love. So I figured it was worth a try. It works. I was shocked. My sheets have not popped off once. I ordered this in February and it is May now — and they have not popped off once! They used to pop off EVERY…SINGLE…NIGHT. To say this is life changing is not an exaggeration. Such a relief to be able to sleep through the night without ending up in rumpled sheets.” —TinkerbellAPixie
8.
Try a quick and simple morning yoga routine to get your blood flowing and your muscles stretched right away — you won’t even *want* to get back into bed after this.
Check out the full routine at Spotebi.
Or if a class is more your thing, book it in the morning to give yourself a reason to get out of bed.
9.
And trick the rest of your yoga class into thinking you’re alert and your form is perfect with a nonslip mat printed with a guide to help you with your alignment.
Amazon
Reviewers note it has juuuuust the right amount of cushion — and it’s recyclable!
Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in four colors).
Promising review: “I looked around sport stores for a yoga mat so that I could physically see and touch them. Most were too thin (not good for leaning on elbows) or too thick (not good for balance poses). The Heathyoga mat is perfect for my yoga needs and not just because of the thickness. If a non-slip surface is important to you, you’ll find the TPE material to be a good choice. The body alignment markings are quite helpful when doing my yoga flow routine since I can see where my feet, knees, or hands should go with a quick glance down. The slip knot strap is also handy for keeping the mat rolled up and for carting around. Love the green color that I chose too!” —Kindle Customer
10.
Create a pump-up playlist for mornings that are more fun, then play it on a portable, waterproof Bluetooth speaker so you can even take it in the shower! Pro tip: if you use the same playlist every day, you can make sure you’re running on schedule by using the music as a timer.
Playback is up to six hours between charges, so you should be good to go for a full week! Just hang it from the included suction cup and then take it with you!
Get it from Amazon for $26.99 (available in six colors).
Promising review: “I love this speaker so much. I did get it just to be able to use it to listen to the radio or music while I was getting ready in my bathroom in the morning but I use it all the time everywhere. It has been really sturdy does great in the shower and the sound quality is great. I have never had any issues just throwing it in my bag to go. The Bluetooth connection is always strong and finds my phone immediately, and it gets pretty loud. I also love the color I got the darker green/indigo color and people compliment me on how good it looks and sounds all the time. I’m not a tech person and this was easy to set up, affordable, and also looks amazing while doing its job of producing great sound. I am definitely going to be giving these as Christmas presents this year.” —maddison
11.
Boost your morning shower with an invigorating Burt’s Bees body wash with citrus essential oils and ginger root extract for a scent that’ll make you say “GOOD MORNING WORLD!”
Amazon
And it’s sulfate-free, so if you (like me) have sensitive skin, this’ll cleanse *without* irritating!
Get a pack of three bottles from Amazon for $18.99.
Promising review: “The ginger in this is such a comforting smell, and the citrus really wakes me up and keeps me happy. The wash is great on my skin (which is generally quite sensitive) and is not too sudsy.” —Chanjin
12.
And pop an aromatherapy fizzy in the shower; when the steam activates it, you’ll get a whiff of citrusy essential oils, including lemon, orange, and grapefruit.
Etsy
Learn more about essential oils at the Cleveland Clinic. Pro tip: according to reviewers, one fizzy will even last for more than one shower — just don’t put it right under the water.
Get a bag of fizzies from Mountain Madness Soap on Etsy for $16.
Promising review: “The smell on these is seriously so amazing! The best morning pick me up. You also get so many for the price! Seller shipped quickly as well.” —Kimberlee
Mountain Madness Soap is an Idaho-based small business making bath and body products.
13. Dot on a nongreasy eye cream designed to help deflate your under eye bags, hydrate your delicate skin, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, thanks to a blend of aloe, rosehip seed oil, and vitamins C & E.
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
Promising review: “I have been using this daily for about eight months now. I am 60 years old. It reduced the puffiness and bags under my eyes. I am Sicilian and had dark circles. It has brightened up my eye area. I am very surprised as I have paid much more for eye creams that have done so much less. I recently had pre-cancerous cells removed at the bridge of my nose. After healing, I was left with a dark scar. The dermatologist told me that it would heal over time. Since I began to apply this eye cream, the mark has almost disappeared entirely. I shop constantly from Amazon. This is the first time that I have taken the time to write a review. That’s how impressed I am with this product. If you decide to purchase this, you won’t be sorry.” —Lynda M.
14.
And if you tend towards dark circles (me), the Mayo Clinic says applying cold compresses can help constrict the blood vessels. You can keep some under-eye patches in the fridge that will feel ahh-mazing.
Amazon
These Miznon hydrogel ones have a hyalyronic acid–based serum!
Get a pack of 30 pairs from Amazon for $17.50.
Promising review: “Within 3 days I could see a significant difference. No bags or dark circles under my eyes, and l looked refreshed every morning.” —Barbara Fetters
Promising review: “I rarely write reviews on products, and I hesitated to write this one for fear of making this product hard to come by LOL! But when it comes to under eye masks, Mizon tops them all (if I haven’t tried them all, I’ve come awfully close!)!! These absolutely STAY PUT…no slipping down your face and no holding them in place for an eternity to make em stick! And they’re SUPER effective!! I use these every morning and most evenings. Also, I love that these come in a jar, not individually wrapped in a bunch of single use plastic (yuck) and they’re MORE effective than some I tried that set me back $60!! My skin info: I’m a 57-year-old lady with oily, but VERY SENSITIVE skin.” —Jill F.
15.
Color correct those traitorous dark circles with an orange-toned Smashbox X Becca brightening corrector that cancels out blue or purple tones.
Sephora
This one is formulated with vitamin E and light-reflecting illuminators as well.
Get it from Sephora for $33 (available in four shades).
Promising review: “I know the term “Holy Grail” gets thrown around quite a bit, but this has been a game changer for me. I have hereditary dark circles that no amount of eye cream will touch. With the color correction of this product, it corrects it enough that I am able to apply a thin layer of full coverage concealer and make the circles disappear. I can also just wear this corrector if I am going for a “no makeup” makeup look. I am so happy with this, and now wear it every day, even when I’m not wearing a full face. This makes me feel so much more refreshed. I’m so very happy with this, and will continue to buy it forever.” —rachelr
16.
Speaking of which, top your color-corrector with a brightening concealer, like the cult-favorite Nars Radiant Creamy concealer, which has hydrating ingredients and ~light-diffusing technology~ that’ll make you look like you slept in this morning.
Sephora
It has over 8,000 5-star reviews!
Get it from Sephora for $32 (available in 30 shades).
Promising review: “I’ve tried pretty much every high-end under-eye concealer under the sun, and always found myself doing touch-ups and never completely covering my insomnia-induced dark circles. First was Chanel (which was reformulated but still not cutting it), then YSL’s iconic Touche Éclat which is second best, and Diorskin which was an epic failure. Nars kicked butt in coverage, formulation, and application. One small dot per eye covers the entire under-eye area, from corner to corner. Better still? It looks natural, doesn’t crease all day long, and feels more like an extension of my skincare. Brilliant. I’ll never look back, and I challenge you to find any under-eye circles. :)” —WendySully
17.
Apply your brightening concealer (like the Nars option above!) in a triangle shape (not dots) for the best coverage. And it’ll draw attention to the brightest part of your eyes!
BuzzFeed / Augusta Falletta
18.
Use nude liner on the waterline of your eyes (aka just inside your lower lashes) to make your eyes look bigger AND more awake. Win win!
Sephora
This Tarte Fake Awake Eyeliner glides on smoothly, so you don’t have to tug at your eyelids to put it on.
Get it from Sephora for $22.
Promising review: “Perfect! As others have said, it is not startlingly white, but looks very natural. Looks like you’re well rested, and can hide that look of allergy eyes, crying, etc. It’s so natural it doesn’t look like it’s there, but it makes a big impact. Tip is narrow and product is smooth, so gliding it on is easy. Love this!” —LegalBeagles
19.
If you’re having a hard time finding time for breakfast in the morning, whip up a filling smoothie in a Nutribullet blender that mixes everything together right in a removable travel cup for on-the-go breakfasting with minimal effort. Plus a nice cold smoothie chockfull of fruits and veggies is such a refreshing way to start the day.
Amazon
Travel cup, no blender = one less thing to clean. This set includes the blender base, a 24-ounce cup, to-go lid, and a manual with recipes!
Get it from Amazon for $61.97.
Promising review: “I never knew I needed this, but can’t imagine being without it now! I’ve made a smoothie every day since receiving my NutriBullet and already feel better and have more energy. I’m also surprised at just how powerful it is, and so easy to clean! So easy to eat fresh fruits and vegetables when you can blend it up and drink it down!!! I’m so happy I purchased this!!!!” —Ona Marie
20.
Not sure what smoothie to try? Might I suggest a “wake up” smoothie made with strong coffee, rolled oats, and frozen banana?
Helping you feel full and energized, all in one!
Get the recipe at Live Eat Learn.
The recipe calls for strong, chilled coffee — I’d recommend getting a cold brew pitcher to keep some handy! I L O V E this Takeya cold brew maker myself! It has an airtight seal to keep fridge smells out, a tight mesh filter for grounds-free brew, and a slim profile that easily fits in your fridge. Get it from Amazon for $21.09.
And check out my cold brew maker review for all the deets!
21.
Put together a prioritized plan so you don’t waste precious morning minutes thinking about what you’re going to do from your comfy cozy bed…instead of actually jumping right in and ~doing it~.
Amazon
Get it from Amazon for $6.80.
Promising review: “This notepad is totally worth the investment. I am a teacher and constantly find myself making to-do lists on sticky notes. This pad helps me organize my tasks better and makes me more productive. It helps for me to visually sort what I need to get done, especially ordering it by level of need. I could just make categories on an ordinary sticky note, but as a teacher, time is precious and I have a lot going on — it’s worth it to have it organized for me. Definitely recommend!” —Cecilia Lorraine
22.
Play with a cubic zirconia spinner ring in those boring, should-have-been-an-email meetings to help you stay focused. Idk about you, but that 3 p.m. doze is REAL.
Amazon
This one has easy-glide stainless-steel bearings for a smoooooooooth spin every time. It’s adjustable to fit any ring sizes 5–10, too.
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in silver, rose gold, and yellow gold).
Promising review: “This has got to be one of the cutest, most functional pieces of jewelry I have ever seen! The large round top with all of the colorful stones spins around and round and round….as long as you keep spinning. It is awesome for sitting in a boring meeting and needing something to do to stay awake or occupied. Wear it normally and it is a very pretty ring, but get a tad stressed and it becomes something you can do to help relieve that stress. This is such a wonderful idea. It comes with a pretty little pink velvet drawstring bag to store it in. This would make a great gift for school age girls also. I am loving mine a LOT!” —lawlf
If you’re not into the stones, you can also get a plainer spinner band from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in sizes 4–16 and six colors).
23.
Pop an adjustable laptop stand onto your desk at home or work to convert it into a standing desk — without shelling out the big bucks. When you’re feeling groggy, or your eyes start to close and your head starts to bob, standing for a little bit might help!
Just use the two buttons on the sides to quickly convert to a standing desk. I have this one, and I use it at an old table table I have to turn it into a standing desk — I use it when walking on my Walking Pad under-desk treadmill. It adjusts very easily and has several height choices (from flat to almost 16 inches!).
Get it from Amazon for $109.99+ (available in black and white).
Promising review: “Like many people, working at home started to hurt sitting all day. So I ordered this contraption thinking it would help keep me from being sedentary and its amazing! Simple, sturdy, large enough to hold my 17 in lap top, pile of USB wires, mouse pad and a drink! It’s super easy glide up and down, no assembly, works perfectly!” —Amazon Customer
24.
If you didn’t get a full night’s rest, take smart naps — like a ~coffee nap~ to feel more rested and refreshed.
Wiseau-Films
What’s a coffee nap? Drinking a caffeinated beverage (like a small coffee or shot or two of espresso) *immediately* before a 15/20-minute nap — you’ll wake up when the caffeine kicks in, leaving you more refreshed than just coffee or nap alone. Learn more at our guide to how to take the best nap.
25.
Take a power nap wherever you are with a handy infinity pillow you can use as a neck rest while traveling or for snoozing right on your desk.
Amazon
Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available in 10 colors).
Promising review: “Listen to me. Buy it. Buy one for everyone you know. It is a miracle pillow that feels like home. I bought it for a long flight from Texas to London and ended up using it where we were staying, on the flight home, and it’s literally on my bed as we speak. Sometimes it comes into my home office with me, sometimes to the living room… Here’s what I love about it: The fabric is luxurious and feels like my most expensive Egyptian cotton sheets, it twists and turns and cuddles right back with you. The U- or C-shaped neck pillows push your neck forward, this one does what you want it to do.” —Amy Wood
26.
Refresh yourself throughout the day with a Mario Badescu facial mist — if the cooling burst of hydration doesn’t wake you (and your skin) up, the soothing green tea, cucumber, and peppermint scent might.
AND it’s good for your skin!
Get it from Amazon for $4.50.
Promising review: “So refreshing! I use it as a toner and also as a refresher throughout the day. I spray over top of my makeup during the day, and it re-hydrates my skin during the dry season. Smells delightful! The two sizes are perfect to have one at home and one at work.” —Jennifer Riley
Promising review: “I feel awake and refreshed when I use it on occasion. At home when I’m doing chores I would spray it a few times on my face to make me feel recharged.” —Stephanie Siegel
27.
Make sure you’re staying hydrated by keep track of your water intake. Using a gallon-size water bottle you don’t have to keep refilling might help! It has markers on the side so you can stay on track through the day.
Amazon
According to the NHS, you may feel more tired when you’re mildly dehydrated.
This water bottle comes with two different tops: one with a straw and one you can drink or pour out of (if you’d rather drink out of a glass!)
Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in six colors). If you’re not into one this big, check out their full selection of motivational water bottles!
Promising review: “I bring this bottle to work! It’s perfect! I personally do not like the big water bottles with little cheerful messages in tacky font to mark times (I think they’re a little cheesy), so this one was perfect to just list the times! I got the red color and it’s a nice cheerful red. Easy to carry and easy to sip!” —Chantelle M Lozano
28.
For a quick caffeine boost, snack happy on Awake chocolates, adorable (and tasty) bars to reenergize your afternoon — each chunk has the same amount of caffeine as quarter a cup of coffee!
Amazon
Get a pack of 12 bars from Amazon for $19.99 (available in four flavors).
Promising review: “These bars actually work. If you don’t feel like drinking a cup of coffee or tea, this is an alternate way to get a boost in energy. Buying them as a pack saves you money and a trip to campus. The best part about these bars is that they are really good. If you are a chocolate fan, I would definitely recommend these bars.” —Britt
29.
And the best way to feel more awake? Sleep *better*! Check out our guide to things for anyone who’s still awake at 3 a.m. for recommendations on products that’ll actually help you get to sleep.
Amazon
Like these PJs made of a moisture-wicking material that’ll feel cool against your skin… and help you not wake up in a pool of sweat. And if you’re looking for other styles, this brand makes tons in the same moisture-wicking bamboo fabric — you can shop them all on their Amazon storefront!
Get them from Amazon for $17.59+ (available in women’s sizes S–4X and 13 colors).
Promising review: “After suffering with menopause night sweats waking up several times a night in a pool of sweat, these PJs were recommended to me. The PJs fit loosely. The material instantly cooled my body. At night it pulled the sweat from my body allowing me to have a good rest. I don’t know where the fluid went but my sheets were not wet. I will be buying several more pairs.” —jcwg
And more of this:
AMC
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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Bong Kazmierczak