Wake up on the right side of the bed
There really is some truth in waking up on the wrong side of the bed.

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So, set your alarm to play calming music when it goes off instead of a loud, intrusive sound that will leave you in a bad mood for the rest of the day. Better still, sleep with your curtains open so that your body clock will be set to rise with the sun. Never sleep with all the windows shut, or you will wake up feeling groggy and oxygen-deprived.

Instead of rolling out of the bed and straight into the shower while you’re half asleep, spend a calm moment in your bed and relax your body and mind by doing the following:

• Lie flat on your back and take a few deep breaths.
• Take note of any parts of your body that are sore or tense.
• Slowly raise your knees to your chest.
• Hug your knees to your chest and breathe deeply.
• Slowly drop both your knees to one side and feel the stretch in your back and hips.
• Now repeat the stretch on the other side.
• When you are ready, slowly roll onto your side and use your hands to push yourself up and out of bed.

To-do lists
If your Mondays are generally chaotic, get up a little earlier and write out all your to-do lists and diarise all your appointments and deadlines. Once your week ahead is down on paper, prioritise everything that you have to do. Knowing exactly what has to be done and when, will stop you feeling so overwhelmed. And there is nothing better than ticking off tasks once you have done them.

Before you go
A lot of stress can be relieved simply by seeing to the little things in life and ensuring that your mornings (often the most stressful part of your day) run smoothly. Make sure that you get to work with your sanity intact.

When you’ve got 5000 things on your mind, it’s easy to forget the little things that can ruin your day by adding extra unnecessary stress.

Mornings are usually a mad rush, but before you leave the house, stop and run through the following mental checklist, or write your own one and stick it next to the front door:

• Have I got my car keys, house keys, watch, wallet and cash?
• Have I got directions to where I’m going?
• Have I switched off the stove and lights and locked all the doors and shut all the windows?
• Are there any library books or DVDs or videos to return?
• Have I got my medication with me?
• Is my cell phone charged or should I take my charger to work?
• What are the kids’ activities for the day, have they got the right sports kit and have I arranged lifts for them?
• Have I packed my lunch and the kids’ lunches?
• Is there petrol in my car?

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