Cortisol awakening response

Cortisol Awakening Response (or CAR) is a change in hormones that helps our bodies get ready for the day. We usually have lower levels of cortisol (a type of hormone) when we’re asleep. When we first wake up, our bodies sense that it is time to start the day and release more cortisol so that we can get going. So when we wake up, our cortisol levels go up and then slowly settle back down to their normal levels. This increase in cortisol helps us feel more awake, alert and energetic.