Start gently with your favorite coffee ritual
Instead of immediately filling that extra hour with tasks or screen time, use it for a quiet morning. Make a fresh cup of coffee and savor the moment.
If you have time, use a V60 or slow drip. It takes a little longer, but that “slow coffee” feeling will make your morning peaceful. Prepare everything in the evening so that your kitchen smells like coffee when you wake up.
Tip: Grind your coffee beans yourself. The aroma of freshly ground coffee will wake you up instantly and bring out the best flavor from your beans.
The right coffee for dark mornings
It's darker in the morning, so your body needs to adjust. Choose intense, powerful coffees to wake you up. Think of blends with hints of roasted nuts and dark chocolate, with a spicy aroma; they give you that extra boost.
They also work perfectly for cappuccinos or lattes, because their full flavor holds up well with milk. Want to make it extra cozy? Sprinkle some cinnamon on top; the warm aroma will immediately put you in a winter mood.
Keep an eye on your caffeine rhythm
An extra hour may seem tempting to drink coffee even later, but try to avoid caffeine in the afternoon. It will affect the quality of your sleep, which will make the transition to winter time even more difficult.
Tip: switch to decaf in the afternoon or evening.
Plan a walk in the fresh air
The transition to winter time can temporarily disrupt your biological clock. Support your body by exposing yourself to as much sunlight as possible during the day. As soon as you wake up, open the curtains and let the sunlight in. Even on cloudy days, outdoor light is more important than you might think!
So get out and about as soon as the sun rises. A (short) walk will help you feel more energetic and support a healthy sleep pattern. If you like, take our coffee thermos with you for the road; that way you can combine exercise with a moment of pampering for yourself.
Slow down and enjoy, alone or together
Research shows that people seek less spontaneous social contact during the colder months; we stay indoors more often and meet up less. Yet that contact is important for your mood and energy levels. So invite someone over for coffee. Make it a habit to share a pot of coffee.
The switch to winter time doesn't have to be a hassle. See it as an opportunity to slow down, enjoy yourself, and try new coffee rituals. So, set your clock back an hour, but feel free to turn up the heat on your coffee machine
