When the clock strikes seven in the morning, what's your first reaction? Do you lazily stretch, or do you rush to hit the snooze button, thinking about how a new day is beginning? Everyone's moving is different. Some people wake up full of energy, while others feel groggy as if they've just crawled out of a dream. Perhaps you've had the experience where, as the morning sun filters through the curtains and you just open your eyes, your mind immediately fills with the worries of the new day. Or perhaps, as soon as the alarm rings, your heart races and you feel surrounded by an invisible pressure. You may not realize that in those few minutes after you wake up, some mysterious changes are happening in your body, especially the secretion of cortisol, the "stress hormone," which is quietly doing its work
Cortisol, the hormone often associated with "stress," is commonly believed to spike as soon as we wake up, making us feel anxious, irritable, or tired. However, scientific research has shown that the moment we wake up is not directly responsible for the rise in cortisol levels. Instead, cortisol is naturally released to help the body wake up in the morning and cope with the challenges of the day.
This hormone fluctuates in line with our biological clock, peaking and dipping at different times of the day. Especially in the morning cortisol plays an important role in helping us gradually wake from sleep. In some people, the rise in cortisol in the morning is quite gradual, while in others, it may fluctuate more significantly. Have you noticed that people with irregular sleep schedules those who stay up late and wake up early often feel groggy and anxious when they wake up, sometimes carrying that feeling of fatigue and wease throughout the day?
On the other hand, those who go to bed early and wake up early typically feel fresher and more energetic in the morning. In the morning, cortisol secretion helps us regain energy. Preparing us to face new challenges. In a way, it acts like a "morning alama," signalling to the body to get ready for the day's activities. When you wake up, cortisol helps boost your energy, enhances alertness, and helps you transition smoothly into the morning.
The changes in cortisol are not directly triggered by the act of "waking up," but naturally occur as part of the body's physiological preparation in the morning it's a natural biological phenomenon. Some people can wake up "smoothly," feeling refreshed and well-rested from a good night's sleep, while for others, the alarm clock sounds like a siren, causing their heart to race. So, which type of person would you like to be? Most people likely hope to have an energetic start to their day because, after all, who wants to wake up feeling exhausted when they are about to start a new day of work and life? But it's not enough to just wish for it you need to take action.
The stress you feel in the morning is not without reason. Think about the night before. Did you stay up late playing games? Or were you anxious, unable to fall asleep due to serious worries? You should know that you can make the experience of waking up feel fresher and more energizing. And this is precisely the beginning of a healthy life every day.
