Best Summer Ever: Day 34
Give Your Body What It Wants This Morning
No, not a bathtub full of coffee: exposure to some really bright light.
Soak up some morning rays, even if it's just 15 minutes' worth while you're running errands or heading off to work. Your body clock will thank you for it. You'll be more alert all day and you'll sleep better tonight. (Or as well as any parent gets to sleep.)
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BACK TO SCHOOL TIP: If your preteen or teen hasn't seen morning sunshine for a while, encourage your teen to start easing back into school-year sleep-wake routines within the next week or two. To make the transition from summer routines to school-year routines, your preteen or teen should move his summertime morning wake up time back by 15 to 30 minutes each day until he's getting up at the time he'll need to get up each morning for school. He can help the process along by spending some time outdoors each morning (ideally 15 to 30 minutes, if he can swing it). Exposure to bright light in the morning (ideally natural light in the form of sunlight) is one of the most powerful ways to reset the circadian rhythm (body clock).
Photo Credit: Ann Douglas, 2009.
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