Winter wake-up calls

Now that winter is here for the northern hemisphere outside the tropics, I believe that the reluctance to get out of bed in the morning has increased exponentially. It is much easier to snuggle deep into the covers when the alarm goes off and constantly risk oversleeping when you know that you should get up. To shake off feelings of winter blues, you can consider some tips for making waking up routine less painful.

1) Have a morning sip of water to stimulate your body and help you stay awake.

2) Drink something warm before sleep so by the time your alarm goes off, you will probably have to use the bathroom and won't be able to go back to sleep comfortably.

3) Do not allow yourself to reason with yourself because you can convince yourself of a hundred different reasons to stay in bed when you're still tired, even if it isn't really the best course of action.

4) Have something to look forward to. It's much easier to get out of bed when you focus on something you actually want to do instead of the drudgery of what you must do. Try setting aside a few minutes in the morning for a ritual that will help you look forward to waking up. Maybe it's coffee in bed, the time to flip through a design magazine, or a shower with a special soap. Or, if there's nothing ritualistic that strikes your fancy, try to think of a getting-up reward the night before. Maybe you want to read another chapter in that book you can't put down, or perhaps you want to treat yourself to a fancier-than-usual cha xi. Whatever it may be, try to give yourself something that will help you start the day right.

Shu pu'er warming my stomach in minutes!