12 Weird Ways To Wake Yourself Up Without Coffee

Most of us rely on the forgiveness of the snooze button and a cup of coffee to wake us up in the morning. We stick to the things that work, so you can't blame us for being creatures of habit. But what if I told you there were other ways to wake up that have nothing to do with your alarm clock or that cup of trusted caffeinated goodness? What if I told you that there are ways to wake up, ready yourself for the day, and boost your energy all before even reaching for that cup of joe?

Well, guess what? There are lots of ways to help your body rally in the morning. Techniques that are both healthy and mentally stimulating, to boot! And if you delay your first cup of coffee until the late morning, once you've already put a few hours of work in, chances are you won't need a second cup. So these practices are actually saving your teeth and your stomach lining from the potential damage that coffee can cause. Without further delay, here are 12 weird ways you can wake yourself up in the morning that have nothing to do with caffeine:

Take An Ice Shower

That's right — get out of bed, stand under the shower head and turn it right to cold. This will wake you the eff up, right away.

Give Yourself A Hand Massage

Your hands are filled with pressure points that get you going, especially between your thumb and pointer finger. Squeeze that tender area and stretch out your hands, and it will help you wake up in a zen state.

Pop A Mint

Before you even get out of bed to brush your teeth, pop a super strong mint to wake up your mouth and startle your senses. It's hard to fall back asleep when your mouth is icy.

Hang Off The Bed

Let your head gently hang off the side of the bed a little bit. This will let the blood rush to your scalp (it promotes hair growth, too!) and get your blood moving.

Order Breakfast

This is lazy and lux to the max, but if you're seriously having trouble getting up, give yourself something to look forward to. Order a breakfast smoothie or a fruit platter. You'll definitely be happy to hop out of bed to buzz in a delivery guy.

Blast Pop Music

Go retro and set your alarm to be a radio jam. Maybe some old school Britney or even Bohemian Rhapsody — the longest alarm song there ever was?

Put On Essential Oils

Keep some citrus essential oils by your bed. Rub some onto your temples or simply give them a sniff when you wake up. They're super energizing and will get you wide awake and in a pleasant mood.

Eat An Apple

Apples are packed with natural sugars and the skins are difficult for your body to digest. Meaning that eating an apple causes a lot of work and excitement for your body, so the chances of you falling back asleep while your body tries to break it down are slim.

Solve A Problem

Keep some sudoku or a cross word puzzle on your bedside table. Make a habit of doing it first thing in the morning. It will get your brain going fast.

Hit The Lights

Your body will stop producing melatonin when it's exposed to light. You don't need that sleep hormone when you're trying to wake up. Find the light ASAP.

Chug Water

We get seriously dehydrated while we sleep and that makes us feel low energy, among many other miserable things. Water also gets your system ~moving~, if you know what I mean. Chug a glass of water right when you wake up and you'll be running to the potty in no time!

Open A Window

When we're too warm, we feel lethargic. When we wake up in the morning, we're usually pretty toasty from our covers and don't feel much like moving. When your alarm clock goes off, push open a window or turn on a fan, the cool air will help you feel more inspired to get up.

Images: Giphy, Screen Gems