For some of us more than others, waking up in the morning is a special kind of torture. Your alarm blares its anthem into your head; the sunlight blasts in at you through the window; you try in vain ...

While a solid eight hours of uninterrupted rest is the dream, Dr. Ruchir Patel, a triple-board-certified sleep physician, clarifies that waking up briefly is a standard part of the human sleep cycle.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Ahh.... morning. The start of a new day, a fresh script, new opportunities. The idyllic clichés abound: sunlight and a soft breeze spilling gently through gauzy ...