Sleep is a commodity. When you’re so busy working, running errands, taking care of your family and keeping up the house, it’s hard to get away from falling into bed at the wee hours of the morning. And, you try to stay there as long as you can because you’re exhausted.
Why You Should Be an Early Riser
In theory, remaining in bed to get as much shut eye as possible sounds like a good thing. When doctors preach that the average person needs seven to eight hours of sleep a night, why wouldn’t you want to listen? While they focus specifically on the amount of sleep you need to be refreshed and rejuvenated, it’s just as important to realize the benefits of turning in a little earlier so that you can get up earlier.
Here are seven reasons you should do your best to make that happen:
Reason #1: It’s Quiet Early in the Morning
If you get up real early, the rest of the world is still asleep. That means you have some quiet time to do as you please without being interrupted.
Maybe you have a project you want to complete that takes concentration. First thing in the morning when the house is quiet is a perfect time to work on it. You won’t be distracted and can focus.
Or, maybe you just haven’t got a lot of alone time lately to just relax. Take some of your early morning hours to do something just for you. Take a bath. Read a book. Meditate. Watch your favorite show that you recorded. Just breathe and get some sanity back into your life.
Reason #2: You’re More Productive
You’re generally mentally sharper at the beginning of the day because your mind is clear. It’s like sleep wipes your slate clean, allowing you to be more effective and efficient. For this reason, it’s best to schedule important meetings or appointments early in the morning. You’ll have a greater ability to deal with and problem-solve any issues that are at hand.
Reason #3: You Get to Enjoy the Beauty of a Sunrise
How many gorgeous nature pictures have you seen that capture the brilliant colors of a sunrise? It doesn’t seem to matter if they’re near mountains, water or open land, they are all beautiful with their many shades of reds and oranges, pinks and blues.
If you wake up before the sun rises, you can experience that beauty yourself. Is there really any better way to start the day than seeing a scene that is postcard-worthy?
Reason #4: You have Time to Eat Breakfast to Fuel Your Body
The reason most people don’t eat breakfast is because they don’t leave enough time in their schedule to do so. They sleep as long as they can and rush around, walking out the door right at the last minute. However, if you get up early enough, you’ll have no problem fitting in this most important meal of the day.
Take the time to eat a breakfast that fuels your body. Aim for something that has some protein and some carbs, like cereal and milk or eggs and toast. You’ll be able to think more clearly because you won’t have to listen to the rumble of your tummy and deal with hunger mood swings.
Reason #5: You don’t Start the Day Behind
When you leave yourself limited time first thing in the morning, one minor glitch in your schedule can set you behind. If your car doesn’t start, you’re stuck in a traffic jam, or you have to run your daughter’s forgotten lunch to her, then you start out your day already behind.
Get up early enough and you won’t have to worry about life’s little hiccups because you’ll have plenty of time to play with. If something comes up, you won’t get stressed and anxious because you have time to take care of it.
Reason #6: You Have More Energy
Even though you may not particularly like to get up at the crack of dawn, you have more pep in your step when you do. When you get out of bed and start accomplishing things right away instead of just lying there and thinking about them, it’s like giving yourself a jolt of caffeine. You feel more energized and alive.
Reason #7: Sleeping in Regularly is Bad for Your Health
According to WebMD’s Sleep Disorder Health Center, if you make it a habit to sleep in, then you’re more susceptible to a whole host of health problems like headaches, back pain, diabetes, obesity, heart disease and depression. Save your health and get out of bed.
How to Make the Switch from Night Owl to Morning Person
If you’re ready to try the early-morning lifestyle, good for you. You’ll enjoy great benefits like the ones listed above. How do you make the transition as painless as possible?
• Do it slowly. If you try to switch your schedule too quickly, you may do yourself more harm than good. Gradually ease into the switch by changing your bedtime a half hour at a time so your body has time to adjust.
• Go to bed earlier. You can’t keep your late night schedule and expect your morning to go smoothly. Try to go to bed at a decent time so that you can get the seven to eight hours of recommended sleep per night.
• Stop snoozing. When your alarm goes off, get out of bed. Set the clock on the opposite side of the room if you have to.
• Set early morning appointments so you have to get up. Give yourself a reason to roll out of bed. Schedule things first thing in the morning so you have no option of sleeping in.
Getting out of bed before the sun comes up has many great benefits. Try it and see for yourself. Who knows? You may even like being a morning person.
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