It took me years before I finally realized that my thinking got cloudier and cloudier as the day went on. For some reason, once I get out of bed and start my day, I tend to drape myself in all the psychology, external expectations, and denial of living in this modern world. When I first wake up, however, I tend to see things more clearly and be able to access what I really want to do or think about certain things. I can often see the answers to problems more clearly first thing in the morning too.
Some people find that keeping a notebook by the bed helps them to jot down those early morning ideas. Getting them out of your head and onto paper can be a good way of capturing that clear thinking before you get bogged down in the details of the day. I find that if I have had a particularly lucid dream, it often highlights some of the problems that I’m facing in my life—whether personally, organizationally or work-wise—and there is often something I can take with me when I get out of bed and start off on my routine and responsibilities.
Even if you feel like your mind is blank upon waking, try asking yourself some key questions—try to tap into your gut instinct about some things or let your mind focus on a particular issue or problem. You might just find that your mind is sharp and clear first thing and that something that has been gnawing at you for a while is actually much easier to see from this perspective. I think we are less likely to be influenced by all the outside sources that take over our day when we are fresh, just-wakened, and before stepping into the start of another busy day.
Also: What Does Light do For Your Body?