IN BLANKSTARE NEWS: What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? If you said, check your phone – this is for you. A neuroscientist says you should wait at least 20 minutes after waking up before looking at your phone.

“What you put into your mind is super crucial,” says Emily McDonald. “Going on your phone first thing messes with your dopamine. It creates a craving to keep you wanting to pick up your phone. I wake up and listen to or say positive affirmations. I put sleep mode on. Try to not look at your phone for at least 20 to 30 minutes after waking up.”

She also says that because a lot of what we are reading first thing in the morning are stressful things, that it puts us in stress mode – which is no way to start the morning.