Are you facing a situation where you need to pretend you’re wide awake? Whether it’s trying to avoid chatty roommates or dodging a morning meeting, faking a morning wake-up can be a useful skill to have. We’ve compiled 12 steps to help you convincingly fake waking up.

1. Setting the stage: Keep your sleep environment tidy and common, just like when you normally wake up. This will make your fake awakening more believable.

2. Gradual eye-opening: Resist the temptation to suddenly open your eyes wide. Instead, take a few slow deep breaths and gradually open them as if you’re just gaining consciousness.

3. The stretch and yawn: Nothing sells the illusion of just waking up like a classic stretch and yawn. Just don’t overdo it!

4. Morning voice: Your throat is usually dry after a night’s sleep, so remember to use a groggy, slightly raspy voice when speaking with others.

5. Disheveled hair: Ruffle your hair slightly to give it that classic “bedhead” look without going overboard.

6. Adjusting to the light: After opening your eyes, squint slightly as if adjusting to the light in the room before slowly blinking your way to normal vision.

7. Taking time to focus: Pretend to struggle with concentrating on nearby objects or people while your eyes adjust.

8. Slow movements: For the first few moments, move smoothly and cautiously like you’re still shaking off sleepiness.

9. Yawning and rubbing eyes: A few well-timed yawns combined with gently rubbing your eyes can help sell the illusion of drowsiness.

10. Sipping water: Keep a glass of water by your bedside and take small sips after getting up, making it seem like you’re trying to rehydrate after waking.

11. Complaining about tiredness: Casually mention how tired you are to others and how you wish you could go back to sleep. This will help add authenticity to your act.

12. Morning hygiene routine: Proceed with your typical morning routine like washing your face, brushing your teeth, or putting on slippers. This will reinforce the idea that you’ve just woken up.

By following these 12 steps, you can convincingly fake waking up and navigate various situations that call for the appearance of alertness. Remember, practice makes perfect, and before long, you’ll have this convincing act down to a science!