Why Wake up Early?
by ForestBear
Waking up early can make a big difference to ones lifestyle. Here is some of the benefits of being an early riser.
Get a head start
by waking up early
I used to be a night person, so switching to becoming an early riser has been a bit of a process, but surely one of the best things ever.
Naturally if staying-and getting up late works fine for you, then keep doing what makes you happy, this is meant as a basic guide to improve wellbeing, not the opposite :-)
Feeling better physically and mentally are just some of the benefits of getting up early, so here I will list some of the positives it has given me.
List of Benefits
of waking up early
Get a head start. I used to always be in a rush in the mornings, everything would be exactly like clock work, with no time to spare. So if the toast was burnt, there would be no time to putting another one in.
And even on the days where I didn't need to be somewhere at a certain time, I would still be stressed and upset, feeling that the entire day was gone before I was even out of bed.
So get up early and get a head start. You'll feel so much more motivated, and have time to properly plan the day, and fit in a walk or other exercise.
Breakfast. By getting up early, there will actually be time for breakfast. Not just a quick bagel, but a nice healthy fresh breakfast or maybe even a freshly squeezed Juice.
Exercise. Exercising in the morning is a great way to start the day. If fitness is not a morning thing for you, get some other of your goals done, so you have time to exercise later that day.
Be productive. Mornings have the least amount of distractions and are for many people the most productive part of the day. So focus on getting as much done as possible, so time is freed up, and you can focus on the things you truly enjoy. Basically take advantage of the extra hours you have gained.
Peace & Quiet. Everything is quiet and calm in the mornings. No traffic noise, barking dogs or TVs. Enjoy the peacefulness of the early mornings.
Sunrise. I love how the light slowly gets brighter and the sky gets painted in beautiful colors. There is something special about this time; to be able to greet the day.
Do things opposite. Do things opposite the most people. Leave early and avoid rush hour traffic. You'll get there much faster, have time to plan and you'll avoid stress of being late for appoints etc.
Get up early
and have time for a healthy breakfast
Feel mentally and physically better
Depending on your work arrangements (unless you work from home), you may also be able to start and finish early, so the afternoon is free to do other things. By doing this the day feels so much longer.
If your hours are fixed, you'll still enjoy the benefit of the free time you have when you come home, as everything has already been done before you left for work in the morning.
Getting a head start has made me feel physically and mentally so much better, as I have more time to exercise, eat healthy and generally focus on the things which fulfill me.
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for a gentle start to the day
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Becoming an early riser
How to get up early
Becoming an early riser isn't an easy task, so don't expect to comfortably make the switch in a couple of days :-)
Start out by going to bed earlier. Instead of watching tv or surfing the net go to bed. You may not initially be tired, but go to bed anyway and read a book.
Set the alarm clock 15 mins earlier than usual, and do this for a few days. Then increase it to 30 mins, and over time increase it to the exact time you want to get up (e.g. 5am which I currently do).
If you have been up since early morning you'll naturally be tired in the evening, and things will slowly start to match up.
Alarm clock: Don't allow yourself to press snooze, so place the alarm clock as far away from the bed as possible. Get out of the bed room straight away, so you don't get tempted to hop back into bed.
Have a plan: Have a good reason to get up and start the day doing something enjoyable. Always have a plan/goal so you know what to do the next day. This will work as a great incentive to get up, and take advantage of the extra hours.
I'm sure there are lots of other benefits of waking up early, but these were just a few things which currently makes me happy. Enjoy the sunrise
Wellness clocks for early risers
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Comments
Good tips here for changing from a night owl to an early bird. I love staying up late but have changed my routine because of my job. I like being an early riser, too!
I always get up early, if I sleep past 7am on the weekend I'm sleeping in late. Great page a delight to read :)
I've tried to be an early morning person but I get my second wind at night and stay up.
Generally I feel grumpy when I do manage to wake up early,like today. grrr
I've always been an earlier riser. I also stay up late. As long as I get 7 to 8 hours sleep I'm fine. When I was raising my children, I loved getting up early before everyone else. I'd read, knit or watch This Old House on TV.
Fantastic! Our society, with its dependence on technology, is becoming a late night culture. We are losing sleep and along with it our health and mental acuity. I love getting up early before my family so I can have my coffee in peace, pray, and be productive (but quietly, of course).
I'm definitely a morning person. Which made working for a US company very tricky when based in the UK.
wonderful article! I love getting up early IF I dont have to go anywhere...otherwise I may as well be 17 again...:)
Thank you for your comments, I appreciate it.
Graceonline, true, maybe I should have said "less" traffic :-) It's difficult to have the road to yourself if you live in a big city.
I totally agree...always better to get a head start on the day.
This is something I have struggled with since retirement. I worked 4 to midnight for years and then the midnight shift for the last 9 years. I've been retired for almost 20 years and I still can't go to bed early. It's just a nice thought for me.