What Side of the Bed Did you Get up On?

It’s a cliche, so we know what it means: Waking up in a good or bad mood. The phrase originated in the ancient Roman empire. The Romans had a superstition that the left side of the bed was the wrong side, and getting up on the left side of the bed would bring them bad luck for the day.

If only getting the day off to a good start were as easy as just which side of the bed we got up on! Some mornings we just wake up with a better attitude than others. I’m talking “Bring it on!” vs. ” I really do not want to do this today.” It can be that drastic. I’m guessing you have similar differences in your early morning outlook. And, like me, you probably also prefer “Bring it On!” day. So wouldn’t it be great if we could have more of those, and less of the others?

For me, a good day is when I wake up and immediately I’m confident that today will be productive, positive, enjoyable; at work, at home, and maybe even socially (i.e fun!).

On these days I will likely start my morning off by getting up early and tackling some light chores at home: laundry, watering the plants, planning dinner, helping others in my house with lunches or whatever they need to start their days. Next is a workout and shower before getting ready for work. Already I’m feeling great. I’ve accomplished some home chores and did something positive for myself and my health. Yay me!

On the best days I arrive to work a few minutes early and get a fast start reviewing emails, pulling reports, completing paperwork and going over my to-do list for the day. Once 9 oclock hits I make any necessary phone calls to customers or colleagues, problem-solving, assisting customers in my office, being available for my team. Ideally I’m able to solve some problems I’ve been working on, while not taking on any additional issues. On a really good day, I have accomplished most of my daily tasks (and especially the dreaded ones) by the time I go for my late lunch. If I’m lucky, after lunch, it’s no heavy lifting. Checking in with my team, doing some tracking, planning for the next day, responding to any emails that are still pending, and returning calls from messages that came in earlier in the day. When the day is about over I’ll review my personal to-do list to see if I can cross anything off there, or to know what I need to accomplish when my workday is over. This might include making a phone call to schedule an appointment, checking in with my kids to see how their day went, running an errand or two on the way home. If I’m lucky the day will end with some socializing with friends, or a quiet dinner relaxing at home with the family.

And then there are the “Other” days: Drudgery is the word that comes to mind. When even the thought of going to work, being proactive, talking to people (!!) Just ugh. You know what those days go like: Putting off a workout until its too late, finding cat puke on the rug, a family member’s car won’t start, a text comes in from a colleague to say they won’t be in today. And all of that BEFORE heading to that place called work. Aside from just feeling blah, a “bad” wakeup keeps me from being productive, and also from doing things that I know are good for me, or that bring me joy.

So is it random or is there a reason for the morning motivation fluctuations? Sometimes we can put our finger on the cause of our malaise: Maybe we didn’t sleep well, or there’s a presentation to deliver at work; maybe someone in the family is going through a tough time, or maybe it’s just monday. But other days, there doesn’t seem to be a tangible reason for the feeling.

There are some theories. Your brain could be to blame. Maybe it was unable to produce enough happiness hormones overnight to bring an early smile to your face. Or maybe while you slept your brain was reviewing the details of a bad day, causing you to wake up angry. Perhaps your circadian rhythm is disrupted. This is your internal clock that causes you to be sleepy at night and more awake during the day. This natural body clock regulates heart rate and body temperature and can affect energy, alertness, and mood. When properly aligned, it promotes restful and restorative sleep. While light is the biggest influence on circadian rhythms, other cues, like exercise, social activity, and temperature, can also have an impact. Other things that can cause a disruption in circadian rhythm: Jet lag, and changes in your sleep habits, i,e. not going to bed and getting up at the same time each day.

So first, you want to eliminate the potential that your morning blues are something more serious. Most of us suffer from the good days and the bad days. Hopefully the good/mediocre days outnumber the bad days. If the opposite is true, you might want to investigate a little further. If MOST days, you are waking up feeling depressed, fatigued, sad or angry, unable to concentrate, lacking energy, or having difficulty facing simple tasks, talk to your doctor.

But if it’s just Waking up on the Wrong Side of the Bed, what can we do to affect our morning mood, either ahead of the fact, or upon awakening? Here are some suggestions:

• Keep your circadian rhythm operating smoothly: Follow a consistent sleep schedule, get exposure to sun, and get plenty of exercise
• Don’t eat, or use electronics right before bed
• Employ positive vibes upon waking: Today is going to be a great day!
• Have that cup of Joe; studies show coffee can help reduce stress caused by sleep deprivation
• Think about what you have going on that day that you’re looking forward to
• Smile. Studies show that even an artificial smile can improve your mood
• Practice gratitude before going to bed and in the morning
• Meditate
• Listen to your favorite music (instead of watching the news)
• Take Control of your day: Decide what needs to be done to be productive and get it done
• Do something just for you
• Reach out for a quick chat to anyone in your life that always makes you feel good

While expecting a complete turnaround to your morning mood may be unrealistic, employing one or more of these strategies is sure to help.

Now if you’ll excuse me, today is a Good day, and I have many important tasks to accomplish!