5 Tips for Dealing With Darker Mornings and Evenings

Unless you’re blessed with the luxury of remote working from a cosy corner next to a nice bright window, getting your daily dose of natural daylight, you might be busy working inside a building all day. Waking up in the dark, working indoors and going home in the dark might make you feel like a bit of a vampire. Daylight can seem like a distant memory.

So, we’ve put together five useful tips and tricks to help make you feel like less of a zombie. And even better, as a resident of TheStudios, there’s plenty of helpful facilities right at your fingertips!

Always Feeling Tired?

As our brains are programmed to associate darkness with sleep, it can be tough to get motivated to do anything before or after our working day. The lack of sunlight catalyses the production of melatonin – the hormone released by your brain which causes tiredness. Conversely, as soon as we wake up, we have a natural spike in our cortisol levels – a stress hormone that regulates alertness. Here are our tips and tricks to help you stop feeling so tired in the autumn and winter.

1. First Thing: Hydrate

Unless you’ve got superpowers, you’re not getting hydration while you sleep. For people who like to catch as many Zs as possible, that could be eight hours plus without a drop of H₂O. We need lots of water for proper brain function, so have a big glass of water on your bedside table and drink it when you wake up. Water in the morning can help flush out your stomach, and instantly rehydrates your body, which helps you to feel awake.

2. Bright Lights

Tell your body it’s time to wake up! Turn on the lights and give yourself a chance to wake up. You can even get special SAD (seasonal affective disorder) lamps which mimic the rising of the sun. Allocate a few minutes in the morning as time for yourself. Do a little bit of stretching, or a ten-minute yoga video, or sit in bed with your coffee with the lights on. You could even try morning meditation. Think about what you feel grateful for, and what you want to accomplish for the day.

3. Get Your Blood Pumping!

It can be hard to find the motivation to drag yourself out of bed for a pre-work gym session. However, the benefits are incredible, and you’ll be thanking yourself later in the day. Getting your heart rate up nice and early can do wonders for your alertness, concentration and general wellbeing.

As a resident at TheStudios, you don’t even have to leave the building! Our on-site gym is open from 6am, so you can start your day off with an energising workout in the comfort of your own building.

4. Keep Good Diet Habits

Banish those energy dips by maintaining a good diet during the day. This will keep you feeling awake and alert. Try and avoid greasy and overly sugary foods during the day – they can cause a spike in your sugar levels which can dip dramatically, causing brain fog and fatigue. Focus instead on whole grains, proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables, which provide sustained energy through the day. Don’t forget to hydrate regularly throughout the day too.

5. Keep It Regular

Regulating your routine is crucial for maintaining stable energy levels throughout the day. Try to fall asleep and wake up at consistent times each day, even at weekends. A regular sleep schedule helps synchronise your body’s internal clock, improving the quality of your rest. Consistency also enhances the depth of sleep, ensuring you wake up refreshed and energised. This helps your body anticipate sleep and wake times, making your energy levels more manageable during waking hours.

Socialise to Energise

What better way to combat sleepiness by taking up a new hobby and meeting other people? At TheStudios we want to try and make our communal areas comfortable and engaging spaces for like-minded people to get to know each other. Starting a club or regular gathering is a great way to meet new people, discover a new talent and engage your brain in a good chat. And remember, the bar will be open from 6pm too, if you fancy a little glass of something refreshing.