Knowing more about how sleep can benefit your waking life can help you to make the extra effort to get enough sleep. Getting enough high-quality sleep will make waking up less difficult. Recognizing the importance of sleep may provide you a clear goal to work towards, which will help you establish the rhythm of sleep and waking with greater ease. Read scientific research rather than advertisements for alarm clocks. Focus on getting healthy sleep for a better morning. Make sure you get enough sleep. The suggested sleep duration for healthy adults is between 7-8 hours a night, and getting less sleep can lead to a "sleep deficit," which makes waking up in the morning even more challenging. Use a smartphone or tablet app that tracks your sleep cycle to determine the duration and quality of your sleep. Keep a sleep log to analyze your sleep patterns and ascertain if external factors are disrupting your sleep. Sleep patterns are unique to each person, so you should investigate a number of options that might suit your habits. You may need to try several different types before determining the best choice for your needs. Extremely loud alarm clocks can raise your blood pressure and jolt you more fully awake more quickly, although some experts recommend against this approach. Some alarms require mental exercises, such as solving a puzzle or answering questions, before you can turn off the alarm. Cognitive stimulation forces different regions of your brain to engage, thus combating sleep inertia. These alarms operate within a time frame set either by your average sleep cycle or your own choice, using either sound or dawn simulation, and can help with morning alertness. Research suggests that these alarms are better for your overall health. Dawn alarms use special lamps or light bulbs and are set to your selected wake-time. The lights gradually increase in brightness over a period of several minutes, activating your natural circadian rhythm, just as sunlight does. Smart alarms monitor your sleep and wake you gradually when you're in a lighter stage of sleep. They also track the quality of your sleep over time and can help you determine the healthiest wake-up time for your body and your habits. As a result, you'll feel less "sleep inertia" and more quickly become alert and ready to start your day. Smart alarms can be purchased as standalone clocks, wearable/fitness technology, or smartphone applications, while dawn simulators are usually standalone alarms or applications associated with smarthome technology. Make sure your alarm clock and wake-up plan is effective and manageable for both yourself and your partner or roommate, if applicable. Make sure the volume, if applicable, is enough to wake you up. Verify that all settings are appropriate for your situation and that they work as promised. Getting out of bed at the same time every day will help your body become accustomed to waking up at a particular time. Your circadian rhythm controls your sleep/wake cycle, and a consistent alarm clock setting can help you train your body to be ready to wake up at a particular time. Tell someone you trust about your commitment to better sleep and wake-up habits. Making a change in habits is challenging, so ask your loved ones for support in your efforts. Remind yourself, every day, of the value of good sleep and the inherent rewards of starting your day on time, like a more relaxed morning and being on time to school or work.

Summary: Learn about the value of good quality sleep on your health and state of mind. Evaluate your sleep habits. Choose an effective alarm clock or phone alarm setting. Explore alarms that encourage gradual wakefulness rather than abrupt sleep interruption. Conduct a trial run on a weekend or a day with fewer morning responsibilities. Make a commitment to wake up at the same time every morning.

Wash your face with lukewarm water and a face cleaner suitable for your skin type. Splash your face with cold water and gently pat it dry with a soft towel. The toner will help restore your skin's pH. It will also help tighten the pores. This is especially important if you plan on wearing makeup later. If you have dry or sensitive skin, opt for an alcohol-free toner. Place a tiny amount onto your ring finger, and gently dab the cream under your eyes. Avoid pulling on the skin under your eyes. The ring finger is the weakest finger, making it ideal for the delicate skin under your eyes. Don't worry if you squeezed out too little. A little bit often goes a long way. You can always apply more later, if necessary. If the cream comes in a jar, then scoop out a small amount using a small spoon or scoop. This will prevent your fingers from contaminating the product inside the jar. You can find scoops at most beauty supply stores. Dab the cream onto your face in small dots. Focus on trouble areas, such as the cheeks and forehead. Avoid areas that tend to get very oily, such as the creases to either side of your nostrils. If you have combination skin, focus more on the dry areas and less on the oily areas. Gently massage the cream into your skin using small, upward, circular motions. Never drag downward on your skin. Be sure to leave a inch (1.27 centimeter) margin around your eyes. Most face creams are not suitable for the delicate, sensitive skin around your eyes. Look over your face. If there are any bare patches on your face, apply a little bit more cream. Don't slather the cream on, however; more cream is not necessarily better or more effective. Many people tend to forget this area. The skin on your neck is delicate, and tends to age the fastest. It needs some attention as well. Look over your face carefully. If you notice any clumps or lumps of cream, gently dab those off using a tissue. This is excess cream. During this time, you can do your hair or brush your teeth. You can also start putting on your lower garments, such as underwear, socks, pants, and skirts. This way, you won't risk rubbing off your face cream and getting it on everything else.

Summary: Start with a clean face and hands. Consider applying some toner with a cotton ball or cotton pad. Apply eye cream first, if you are using any. Squeeze out a pea-sized amount of face cream onto the back of your hand. Start applying the cream to your face. Blend the face cream in using your fingers. Apply more cream, if necessary. Consider applying some face cream to your neck. Dab off any excess cream using a tissue. Wait for your skin to absorb the cream before getting dressed or putting on makeup.

Even if you have a covered play area in your yard, never leave your small dog alone outside. Your dog may find a way out of its enclosure and wander out into full view of a bird of prey. Retractable leashes allow your dog to get too far away from you. Purchase a standard leash that is no more than 6 feet (1.8 m) long. And never let your dog off the leash while outside of your yard, even if you've never seen predators near your home. Be on the lookout for trees, both near your home and along your walk route, where birds of prey have nested. These nests may be up in the branches or inside tree cavities. Don't allow your dog off its leash, even in your yard, if a bird of prey has nested nearby. Wait until the eggs have hatched and the birds have left the nest before you let your dog off the leash outside. In the U.S., birds of prey are federally protected, so do not attempt to disturb or remove an active nest. A Raptor Shield is like a dog coat that you sling over your dog's back and clip under its stomach. The canvas material makes it impossible for a bird's talons to latch onto your dog's skin and carry it away. Put this on your dog whenever it's outside, particularly if it will be off leash.
Summary: Supervise your dog whenever it's outside. Keep your dog on a non-retractable leash during walks. Keep your dog away from any trees with nests. Purchase a Raptor Shield for your dog to wear outside.