Sleep Specialists Share Their 12 Top Tips For Waking Up In The Morning

Still, they say the early bird catches the worm, so if you're trying to figure out how to wake yourself up in the morning to start conquering the day, here are 12 places to start.

"Combat this by setting your alarm for the same time every day. As soon as the alarm goes off, get out of the bed, stretch your body, and begin your ready regimen," says Hafeez. If you're still tempted to hit snooze, stash your alarm on your dresser across the room, or even outside your bedroom, leaving you no choice but to get up and shut it off.

Tempting as it may be to make a beeline for your coffee maker first thing in the morning, Breus recommends reaching for a glass of water instead. Hours of sleep (and therefore hours without consuming any fluid) leave your body dehydrated; drinking a glass (or two) of water helps kick-start your hydration for the day. Leave a bottle by your bed, or set a glass in front of your coffee machine as a gentle reminder to toss one back before your morning cup of joe.

Splashing your face with cold water can do the trick, but Breus says dousing your entire body in cold water will be more effective. "The effects are directly related to the amount of time in cold exposure," Breus tells mbg. "If you throw some water on your face it's very different than taking a cold shower for two to three minutes."

According to Breus, getting outside within 20 minutes of waking up and soaking in at least 15 minutes of sunlight is a great way to wake up and stay awake. It's as simple as going outside in your yard or taking a morning walk around the neighborhood. "[Exposure to sunlight] turns off the melatonin faucet in your head," Breus tells mbg.

Some people are early birds; some people are night owls. "Knowing your chronotype is extremely helpful for scheduling your day's work around your productivity windows so you can accomplish all that you want while you still have the energy to do it well," explains Breus. Identify which category you fall under, and schedule your sleep and wake times accordingly.

One of the first things I do when I wake up is pet my cat, and according to Breus, this is an excellent strategy for waking yourself up in the morning. Not only is it a more interesting way to wake up, but starting the day with an element of fun makes getting out of bed more enticing. "I play with my dogs," Breus tells mbg, adding, "They love it and I like the unconditional love."

There are a few benefits to making your bed every morning. The first is a sense of accomplishment; you've only been awake for a few minutes but have already checked something off your to-do list. The second is fluffing your pillows and fixing your sheets will also weaken your argument for why you should crawl back under the covers. The more primped and primed your bedding, the more likely you are to stay awake and move on from your bedroom.

Looking for a new routine? Yoga teacher and fitness professional Suki Clements created a 15-minute morning workout for mbg readers in hopes that it will help awaken your body, mind, and spirit.

"By walking, we exercise our muscles and cardiovascular system, improve our mental health, reduce stress, and support our overall wellness," functional medicine doctor Isaac Eliaz, M.D., M.S., L.A., a proponent of earthing, wrote on mbg back in 2013. "Simply taking our shoes off seems to multiply those benefits."

Some people perk up to the smell of caffeine. Others need an alternative scent to awaken their sense. That's where aromatherapy comes in. Certain essential oils can also help promote mental clarity. So rather than fire up the coffee maker as soon as you open your eyes, try diffusing oils like lemon, peppermint, and frankincense to wake up the mind.

You might not work up as many endorphins as you would running around the block, but research says music can trigger energizing emotions, so a track like "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves is sure to have you bright-eyed in no time.

RELATED: How To Wake Up Early

A good night's sleep is a reflection of good sleep hygiene, which encompasses a person's sleep environment and bedtime routine. In order to ensure you're getting high-quality sleep and therefore wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day, it's important to be mindful of the following:

Ideally, you want to schedule your bedtime and wake time based on your chronotype. That way, your circadian rhythm will stay regulated, resulting in consistent and sound sleep. Fight it, and you're likely to experience suboptimal sleep, warns Sanam Hafeez, PsyD, an NYC-based neuropsychologist and the director of Comprehend the Mind.

This will ensure you get enough REM sleep, and falling into a regular routine (relaxation techniques and all) can even lead to your body being so accustomed to its schedule that you end up waking up and falling asleep naturally.