Do you struggle to wake up without coffee and stay happy and full of energy through the day? Although coffee does have some beneficial health benefits like antioxidants, the caffeine in coffee causes a vicious cycle that eventually leads to adrenal fatigue.Caffeine stimulates your adrenal glands which wakes you up for a short period of time by causing a stress reaction in your body. Your body can’t tell the difference between the stress reaction caused by drinking a cup of coffee or being chased by a hungry zombie, so it starts to produce stress hormones.

After your liver has metabolized the caffeine, you start feeling sluggish and grumpy so you reach for another cup of coffee, starting the vicious cycle all over again! This vicious coffee cycle is constantly putting your body in a state of stress and your poor adrenal glands end up working overtime. Eventually, your adrenals will become exhausted and enter into a state of adrenal fatigue. Here are some tips on how to wake up without coffee so you never get caught in this cycle.

4 Ways to Wake Up Without Coffee

1. Hydrate

When you wake up in the morning you have gone at least 8 hours without any water, inevitably you are a little dehydrated. Water is required for almost all bodily functions, including energy production. Your body produces ATP (aka energy) when water flows through the cell membrane, this means that if there is a shortage of water there will also be a shortage of energy. I suggest drinking a big glass of water as soon as you wake up in the morning. Alternatively, you can drink soothing herbal tea, water with a squeeze of lemon juice to jump start your digestive system or fresh pressed  juice for a big dose of vitamins and minerals.

2. Get moving

Exercise in the morning is an excellent way to wake you up and get your blood flowing. It doesn’t have to be a 5 km run, it can be something gentle like walking your dog or doing some yoga. Getting outside and in the morning can also be beneficial because the fresh air will wake you up and the early morning sun rays stimulates the pineal gland which produces serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that promotes feelings of well-being which will start your day off with a smile.

3. Eat Breakfast

Food is also required for energy production, if you skip breakfast of course you are going to feel sleepy! If you aren’t hungry immediately when you wake up that is ok, this is an excellent time to hydrate but it is a good idea to eat something within an hour of waking up. By something I don’t mean a doughnut that is going to spike your sugar levels and leave you feeling hungry an hour later! If you want to keep your energy levels high throughout the morning, aim to get 15 to 20 grams of protein in your breakfast.

4. Try Roasted Dandelion Coffee

If you really love the taste of coffee and you are not quite ready to give it up, sipping on some roasted dandelion coffee can ease the transition. The roasting process gives it a rich and full-bodied flavor that is similar to that of coffee. It also has the added benefit of supporting liver detox.

How do you make up without coffee? I would love to see your tips and tricks in the comments section below. I also wanted to let you know that this post has a paid link.