Why do I feel sluggish in the morning?

The first hour after waking runs on its own chemistry — a genuine transition state the brain moves through, not a light switch. Some sluggishness is built in; the rest is engineering: the light you give the clock, the timing of the first coffee, and what breaks the overnight fast. And a small share of sluggish mornings are messengers. This guided journey covers the window, the levers, and the line.