As a parent & working professional, some days become really tiring & exhausting. Some mornings you wake up & feel like you could sleep for years. In such situations, caffeine is the best friend when you make it throughout the day with little sleep. The question arises is the best strategy to carry out your day when you had deficient sleep? Let us discuss this in detail!

Coffee has been out ready to go drink for decades. It has kept many exhausted parents on their toes. However, what if you have alternatives to coffee that can wake you up & boost your energy naturally? Before you fight with your spouse for that energy booster  caffeine, let us share what we have found as an alternative to caffeine.

Even though you had deficient sleep, you can still start your day properly. An easy way can be changing your alarm tone to something less obnoxious than a fog horn. You can try to wake up to a light therapy alarm. You do not need to spend a lot of money on this. There are a lot of mobile apps you can download on your phone. This alarm stimulates rising sun & helps you waking up slowly

A simple way to inject a little bit of energy in your day is to exercise. When you get your body moving & blood pumping, you will be surprised how your body responds to workout irrespective of how little sleep you had night before. Early morning gym workout session would not be a priority given that you slept a little the night before. However, for morning exercise, you do not have to leave your house. You can set yourself on living room carpet & deadlift your toddler, making your exercise into a fun family event. When we say exercise, it does not mean that you need to do cardio or weight training, you can do yoga or meditation as well. 

Still if you are not able to drag yourself out of bed to perform some functional stuff, yoga or pushups, consider having a heart healthy breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. By having a nutrition filled breakfast, you will give your body enough energy to keep going until bedtime.

How about an inspirational playlist?

One thing that never fails to put your energy & motivation into order is the right playlist. Playlist of your favorite songs that boosts your mood. Make sure you listen to them as you get ready for the day. Consider this as a quick energy boost for your ears. The best part is the list can be played any time of the day-be it during your morning jogging or during your mid day slump. 

Just because you are deprived of restful & adequate sleep, does not mean that you have to start from zero in the morning to a superman by lunchtime. Before you even think of a desk nap, consider the following:

1. Make sure you take a break every 30 minutes. You can get up to fetch a glass or water of coffee. Sitting for long at one stretch is not going to help your concentration levels 
2. Stretching is the best way to make your body a little more awake. Some simple stretching exercise can help you get more oxygen in your lungs & circulating throughout your body
3. Put on an energy booster playlist. If you are lucky enough to work in an environment that allows you to put your earplugs while you work, put on that favorite playlist & let the music be an energy stimulator.
4. Make sure that you go for a lunch break. While sitting in your cubicle & delivering your work will give you peace of mind, your concentration would take a hit a s afternoon hours kick in. During lunch, take a walk around your office park or visit that nearest coffee shop. You can also take your lunch to the park & get that necessary natural Vitamin-D.
5. Keep a selection of healthy snacks in your drawer/bag for times when you need a boost. Seeds, nuts & fruits are your best friend during afternoon post lunch slump. These are great sources of Vitamins & Minerals such as Vitamin B, Vitamin C & Potassium.

Later afternoon slump is when you are so close to hometime that you have reached a mental block. Well it has been a long day & we have a solution for the same.

Before you think of having that cup of coffee, consider having that delicious snack we mentioned above or fill up a water bottle. We forget to drink a lot of water. If you are dehydrated, you will feel dizzy. Having a couple of glasses of water can make you active. Take another walk. The fresh air and sunlight will help you feel more alert

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