Benefits of Waking Up Early

February 18, 2020

Now now, there is no need to wake up at some ungodly hour in order to be the CEO of the next Apple or Tesla, but perfecting the morning schedule that suits you can help with productivity, diet, mental and physical health.

For starters (pun intended), when you wake up early, or a bit earlier than everyone else you will experience less distractions. With your kids, partner, pets, and colleagues still asleep, you can focus on your To Do List wholly. Tick those smaller around-the-house things or research-needed emails off your list without distraction. With no one else around you can focus on your mental health as well. Use an early rise to meditate. Meditation can help center you, calm you, and re-focus you for the day ahead.

It’s obvious that the benefits to an early riser are vast, but they begin with the night before. A restful sleep will not only have you waking up with healthier looking skin, but you will find you are more motivated, productive, and positive throughout the day. Waking up early after a good night’s rest gives you more time for that much needed skin TLC regimen. With the time to indulge in a morning routine that includes a focus on your skin you will find yourself feeling and looking younger. This morning routine should also include time for your diet. People who eat breakfast have more energy throughout the day and are less likely to crash due to hunger or low blood sugar. You won’t be rushed out the door and forced to make an unhealthy breakfast choice (or skip it altogether), instead you have time to prepare a smoothie, granola and yogurt, or eggs without feeling rushed. Eating slowly is also better for your metabolism.

Add a workout to your morning routine and your body and mind will thank you. This morning workout will provide you with endorphins and energy all day long. By doing so, you will no longer be prone to skipping the gym or workout class later as we are all wont to do after a long day of work. Working out releases stress as well. A reduced stress level will have you starting your day on an optimistic note, leading to better workplace communication, a clearer mind for decision making, and an energy others want to be around.

The benefits of waking up early are fairly common sense, but doing so is not, it is a learned skill. Getting up early is not easy to do irregularly, so establish a routine. This may mean going to bed earlier than you usually do, cutting out caffeine after noon, and definitely ceasing screen time an hour or more before bed. This will help your body’s internal clock adapt and will translate into a better quality of sleep.

A few tips on how to maintain an early rise:
1. Maintain a consistent wake up time - this includes weekends. It is okay to indulge in an extra hour or so of sleep on your days off, but don’t go overboard. When the week starts again your body will find it hard to readjust if you were asleep until 12pm on Sunday.

2. Place your alarm clock far away from your bed so that you have to physically get up to turn it off.

3. Begin your day with something to look forward to. This can be as simple as your coffee, a fresh towel, or a dinner with friends planned for that evening. Being excited about something within your day will make it easier to get out of bed and start it. 

4. P out your morning routine and make it a touch easier on yourself. Create a schedule, write it down and refer to it until it becomes a habit.

5. Do not hit snooze! The time you spend in bed between alarms is neither restorative nor relaxing. In actuality, the longer you snooze, the groggier you will feel when you actually do get out of bed. 

Waking up earlier will make you want to go to bed earlier as well, which is fine! Trust me, you’re not missing anything by not seeing a moving at 9pm on a Tuesday; however, you will miss out on all the things you could have gotten done on Wednesday morning.

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