Time to rise and shine! You’ve perfected your bedtime routine but have you given any thought to what you should do after you wake up?

Everyone has different schedules and their own definitions of what it means for them to “wake up”. Some people work overnight shifts, so they sleep during the day, whereas some people work during the day and get their sleep at night. Therefore, understand that stretching can be done whenever you “wake up” for the day, or even when you wake up from a short resting period like a nap.

Gets The Blood Flowing & Your Mind Stimulated

During sleep, your brain and muscles are at rest. In order to fully function, you need to get blood flowing throughout your body and into your brain and stretching will help increase blood flow. Stretching first thing after waking up will encourage the body to perform better in everyday activities, including physical exercise. Plus, after lying down for a long period of time can take away any stiffness because it is elongating the muscles.

Improves Posture

By stretching right after you wake up, you are actually helping your muscles relax. Tense muscles are what lead to poor posture. By keeping up with regular stretching, you are relaxing and lengthening your muscles which keep your back in better shape and improves your overall body posture.

Prevents Back Pain & Other Injuries

In general, stretching is used to help protect your muscles from injury. After waking up, many of us tend to feel pain or discomfort that wasn’t there when we went to sleep and stretching can help relieve that pain. Back and neck pain tends to be the most common complaint. Stretching in the morning will relieve pain by reducing the tension on your spine or any other body stiffness you are experiencing.

Increases Overall Flexibility

Depending on what your daily routine consists of, be it sitting at a desk or getting in and out of a car all day, you may be negatively affecting your flexibility without realizing it. Stretching when you wake up from a long night’s sleep (similar to stretching after a long day at work) will reverse the wear and tear on your muscles, aiding in overall mobility and flexibility.

Provides Energy Throughout The Day

This might be the best benefit of stretching after waking up – you gain more energy and motivation! Movement stimulates the brain through increased blood flow, helping you wake up and better concentrate so you can go on to function efficiently throughout the day.