5 Simple Tips To Become (More Of) A Morning Person

***I received a Quaker^® Protein Instant Oatmeal product sample as a member of BzzAgent. I was in no way required to share the following info with you. All photos and opinions are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2015. The following is not to be taken as medical advice.

Momma Told Me: Ready or not, it's time to get up!

I am not a morning person. In fact, there have been very extended patches in my life where I would refuse to go to bed until the sun was just bout to come up. In my college years I would often sleep clear from sunrise to sundown on the rare days when I did not have work or school. 'They' tell you when you're younger that one day you'll yearn for the time when adults forced you to take extended naps in the middle of the day, and it's true. Such a reckless lifestyle ultimately led to horrible insomnia when I was once again to rejoin the living with a 9-5 job that demanded rosy social skills. While I am much better than I ever was, about rising on time and with a chipper disposition, it is still something I struggle with from time to time. There are a few simple things that can be done to help ease yourself into an early morning routine.

1. Sleep Sound: This may sound obvious but the biggest culprit to waking refreshed is interruptions in sleep patterns. While you may not notice yourself physically waking up during the night, your body likely experiences harsh interruptions to REM waves as it responds to outside stimuli. Similarly, if you do notice yourself a 'light sleeper,' and rise throughout the night to the sound of a car alarm or dog barking, you may benefit from noise conditioning as well. The key to making the most of your sleep, whether 3 hours or a full 7, is ensuring you fall asleep and stay asleep from eyes shut to eyes open. Invest in a white noise machine or noise filter application to help layer ambient noise that will better distract your sleeping mind from the distractions within the world just outside.

2. Think Positive Thoughts: As cliche as it sounds, there really is a right side of the bed to get out on. How you jump start your mental process, first thing in the morning, really does impact how your entire day unfolds from there. We all have chores and tasks we'd rather not awaken to tackle, so leave those thoughts for later. Begin your first few minutes of every day mentally discussing that which you are MOST looking forward to. The more you ruminate on the positives to come, the more endorphins your body will naturally release as you pull yourself from bed and work towards them.

3. Hit The Gym Early: While this is one tip I'm still trying to reshape my day to tackle, studies show that our bodies experience their peak performance sometime around mid-morning. Rising around sunrise and heading straight to the gym or workout room, for as little as 30 minutes, will also release those 'feel good' notions and kick start our systems for optimal performance during the day. If the promise of more energy and a sunnier outlook isn't enough, exercise before breakfast and see your morning calories burned near doubled!

4. Morning Showers Bring....: I tend to want to shower in the morning. Not only is it a sort of treat I look forward to when I first get up (see Tip #2,) but I feel it re-focuses my mind for the day ahead. Unfortunately as women, our hair is often one of the biggest time consumers in the daily beauty routine. Nothing can ruin the promise of a good day quicker than a bad hair day. Ashley Stone, of Beauty Entourage, suggests showering in the evening and placing damp hair in a lose braid. When you rise style your hair with a quick blow dry for instant volume without the fuss. And for those who simply must shower in the morning- consider a quick rinse, sans hair washing, for an immediate pick me up without the styling woes.

5. Pile On the Protein: You already know the saying 'Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,' and it truly does set the tone for how the rest of your morning will proceed. After a night's rest our metabolism and blood sugar are at their lowest. This means what you put into your body first is what will be consumed at the most efficient rate, as your body will quite literally be jump starting based on what nutrition you do or don't decide to feed it. I don't know about you, but I, personally, don't have time to make a gourmet breakfast in the morning. I need something that is quick, colorful, and appetizing, or I will find myself skipping breakfast all together.

Quaker's new Protein Instant Oatmeal is ready in just 3 minutes and offers a hearty bowl of deliciousness in 2 satisfying flavors; Banana Nut Bread and Cranberry Almond. Chocked full of 10g of energy producing protein, these delicious breakfasts can also be enhanced with a few slices of fresh fruit, and 'cooked' with calcium and protein rich milk substitutes such as soy or almond milk. Just one bowl of Quaker^® Protein Instant Oatmeal keeps me fueled well through the afternoon without a single tummy rumble, and that means I keep the morning grumps away!

What's your best tip for rising on the right side of the bed and staying energized throughout the morning?

What Daughter Says: You don't have to want to get up, you just have to get up. Start your day with positive steps to make the process easier.

How To Indulge + Stay On Track: Protein Bakery Giveaway~ 4/28

Momma Told Me: Balance is key.

If you've ever heard the age old riddle of the old man, his raft, the chickens, the dogs, and the cats (trying to make it across the river in harmony), then today's life lesson is not new. The story goes; an old man was trying to cross the river with a troop of livestock, though the raft he had available could only hold 'x' number of occupants. If one group of animals outnumbered the other a fight would surely break out on either shore. He would have to find a logical way to shuttle the groups back and forth without one overtaking the other. While this symbolism is used frequently as a childhood brainteaser, and takes on several variations, the greater metaphor is one that can be applied to many aspects of our day to day lives. Much like the amount of bubble soap in the bath (and all over our condo floor, age 5), a balance must be kept in order to maintain optimal results. From the careful delegation of work vs. play to the ever so sensitive scales of nutrition. You don't have to be on a diet, or even watching your weight, to feel the impact of poor eating choices; something Protein Bakery founder, Stephen Lincoln knows all about.

I should start by saying the clean presentation, and polished marketing behind The Protein Bakery has long made me a curious, yet hesitant, consumer. I have to say the cookie cutter image of a generic 'heartthrob in suit' that the site portrays as Mr Lincoln, with over '20 years of first-hand experience' is concerning to the discerning shopper in me. None the less, the origin story goes to tell that passionate baker and tenacious fitness businessman, Stephen, found himself feeling out of shape and overwhelmed upon the launch of his educational fitness program in the early 90s. It's always intriguing when a founder shares the tale of an 82lb loss and personal health triumph. Thankfully, the brand doesn't try to attribute this impressive life change to their product; but it does serve as the backdrop of inspiration for it's founding.

After shedding the weight, and making a move to NYC in 1997, Mr. Lincoln, continued his pursuit of health and happiness through the direction of a collection of group fitness programs. Their mission statement goes on to contrast the initial praise of exceptional 'balance' to a core brand focus of doing it 'better', through 'food, fitness, and life'. What does it all, really, boil down to? Well, as the name suggests, the brand is essentially about a collection of 20 core and seasonal confections (baked goods) that rely heavily on nutritional protein packed recipes. It's certainly not a new concept among those label obsessed, or health centered. Whether you're looking to stave off cravings for something high in calories, or simply trying to replenish and build muscle mass after an intense workout, protein is often turned to for vital balance. Protein Bakery, however, takes the knowledge of weights and measures and incorporates some of the most delicious brownie, cookie, and blondie recipes into trans fat, preservative, and wheat-flour free treats a multitude of consumers can enjoy.