General wellnessSleep

9 ways to wake up without coffee

Boost your morning mood with these easy, expert-approved tips.

Jan, 2026
LearnMorning health9 ways to wake up without coffee
Slide 1
Skip these things before bed
Brush your teeth
Fuel up the right way
Exercise
Change your tunes
Try mint
Rearrange your nightstand
Get some sunshine
Smile

1 of 10

Slide 1

There’s nothing worse than the sound of an alarm clock—unless you count actually having to roll out of bed.

If you have a hard time waking up, or you’re always grumpy when you do, a healthy morning routine can boost your morning mood and leave you productive for the rest of the day. Here are nine secrets for rising and shining.

Written byOlivia DeLong.
Medically reviewed byMegan Burke, MD.November, 2024
Sources: Iao S + 18
  1. Iao S, Jansen E, et al. (2022). Associations between bedtime eating or drinking, sleep duration and wake after sleep onset: Findings from the American time use survey. British Journal of Nutrition. 2022. 127(12).
  2. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Dry mouth. Accessed on November 7, 2022.
  3. Choi HN, Cho YS, et al. The effect of mechanical tongue cleaning on oral malodor and tongue coating. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;19(1):108.
  4. Gwin JA, Leidy HJ. Breakfast consumption augments appetite, eating behavior, and exploratory markers of sleep quality compared with skipping breakfast in healthy young adults. Curr Dev Nutr. 2018 Aug 28;2(11):nzy074.
  5. Ruddick-Collins LC, Morgan PJ, et al. Timing of daily calorie loading affects appetite and hunger responses without changes in energy metabolism in healthy subjects with obesity. Cell Metab. 2022 Oct 4;34(10):1472-1485.e6.
  6. Ren Z, Cao J, et al. Association between breakfast consumption and depressive symptoms among Chinese college students: a cross-sectional and prospective cohort study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Feb 29;17(5):1571.
  7. Mayo Clinic. Exercise and stress: Get moving to manage stress. August 3, 2022.
  8. South Dakota State University Extension. Benefits of Stretching. Updated June 30, 2022.
  9. Thoma MV, Mewes R, et al. Preliminary evidence: the stress-reducing effect of listening to water sounds depends on somatic complaints: A randomized trial. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Feb;97(8):e9851.
  10. Zhang A, Zou T, et al. The immune system can hear noise. Front Immunol. 2021 Feb 18;11:619189.
  11. Stewart J, Garrido S, et al.. Music Use for Mood Regulation: Self-Awareness and Conscious Listening Choices in Young People With Tendencies to Depression. Front Psychol. 2019 May 24;10:1199.
  12. Kwon S, Ahn J, Jeon H. Can Aromatherapy Make People Feel Better Throughout Exercise? Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jun 24;17(12):4559.
  13. NIH: National Institute for Complementary and Integrative Health. Peppermint Oil. Last updated October 2020.
  14. Cavanagh SR, Glode RJ, Opitz PC. Lost or fond? Effects of nostalgia on sad mood recovery vary by attachment insecurity. Front Psychol. 2015 Jun 10;6:773.
  15. Burns AC, Saxena R, et al. Time spent in outdoor light is associated with mood, sleep, and circadian rhythm-related outcomes: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study in over 400,000 UK Biobank participants. Journal of Affective Disorders. December 2021. Volume 295, pp. 347-352.
  16. Coles NA, March DS, et al. A multi-lab test of the facial feedback hypothesis by the Many Smiles Collaboration. Nature Human Behavior. 2022. 6, pages 1731–1742.
  17. Coles NA, Larsen JT, Lench HC. A meta-analysis of the facial feedback literature: Effects of facial feedback on emotional experience are small and variable. Psychol Bull. 2019 Jun;145(6):610-651.
  18. Wang J, Mann F, et al. Associations between loneliness and perceived social support and outcomes of mental health problems: a systematic review. BMC Psychiatry. 2018. 18(156).
  19. Szkody E, Stearns M, et al. Stress-Buffering Role of Social Support during COVID-19. Family Process. November 2020. 60(3):1002-1015.

Recommended for you

6 top coffee alternatives to wake you up
Video
Want to kick caffeine? Here’s how to wake up without coffee
Video
6 morning habits to boost your energy
Video
What 9 therapists do to improve their moods and why
Slideshow
5 ways to beat the afternoon slump
Slideshow
AskMDHow can I be more consistent?
AskMd LogoAskMd Logo
Privacy policyConsumer health data privacyTerms of use
Cookie policyYour privacy choices

© 2026 Sharecare, Inc.