Being drowsy is not only frustrating and unpleasant, but also dangerous. A large proportion of motor vehicle accidents and job injuries are due to a lack of alertness. Loss of productivity and negative effects on the health of workers is also another reason why a restful sleep is essential to every person. Through a study from the University of California, Berkeley led by first author, Dr. Raphael Vallat, 833 individuals’ behaviors were tracked to determine what results in a good sleep. The three main categories of study were type of breakfast, frequency of physical activity and sleep patterns. Identical and fraternal twins were also included in the study to test the influence of genetics on how alert someone wakes up, though genetics seem to play a minor role in comparison to the impact of  a good breakfast, frequent physical activity and a relatively long period of sleep. Learn what you can do to be more alert when you wake up by reading the Berkeley News article linked here.