We all know that saying, "the early bird gets the worm." I've always been what you might call a morning person. Even when I try to "sleep in," I'm still rousing by 7:00 a.m.
Sunrise in Nevada. I was driving from Tahoe to SLC last week for a HH Meetup! It was amazing to watch the sun come up in the dessert/mountains.
In college and law school, I opted to wake up early, rather than stay up late studying. I had high marks, and a recent 2008 study by Texas University suggests that was due to my habits. In the study, college students who identified themselves as "morning people" earned a full point higher on their GPAs than "night owls" (3.5 vs 2.5).
Anyway, a few weeks ago my assistant (Lindsey Talene) was visiting me in CA. Normally LT puts the morning blog posts on Facebook since she's not three hours behind the east coast like I am, but now that we were both in CA, I volunteered to be the person getting up at 5:00 a.m. to publish the post.
An amazing thing happened — I was infinitely more productive. It actually amazed me how much more I accomplished. I also had a great sense of satisfaction each day. I felt accomplished and productive, partly because of my increased work output, but also because I'd finally (finally!) had days where I did everything that I wanted to do. At night, I felt cozy and comfortable taking it easy watching TV with my husband or working on a jigsaw puzzle with LT (my favorite pastime). I didn't have anything else to do. I could...relax.
Getting up early also had these other effects: I ate better (I had time to make a healthy breakfast for everyone — no rushing to feed myself, or them, while rushing out the door late). I exercised more (which helped me feel less stressed, and also promoted better rest at night) and I felt genuinely happier because I was greeting my mornings (no "ack. is it morning already?") and I found a certain kind of peace in the early darkness and quiet.
To summarize, 10 reasons to wake up early:
1. Improved Quality of Life. Getting up early gives you time to exercise (before the family is awake or your official work day starts). Regular exercise has far-reaching effects: improved mood and fitness, reduction of stress and anxiety, increased energy throughout the day, and deeper sleep at night so you feel rested and can be more productive the next day. Some studies have also shown morning people tend to be more agreeable and optimistic, as well as satisfied.
2. You'll be more proactive. In 2010, Harvard biologist Christoph Randler discovered early risers were more proactive. They were more likely to agree with statements like "I spend time identifying long-range goals for myself" and "I feel in charge of making things happen." Randler's research also revealed that "morning people" are more likely to anticipate problems and minimize them efficiently (a key trait to being successful in the business world).
3. Planning.We also know that having a plan is the key to accomplishing what you want — it's why the meal plans make it so easy for you to eat healthy; you have a plan! Most early birds use their morning quiet time for organization, goal-setting, and planning out their days and weeks ahead.
4. More time to relax. If you've gotten a jump on the day, you'll have more quality time in the evenings to spend time with family or do what you want to do (i.e., puzzle) and without that nagging feeling like you're slacking off and you should do something else. No need to bring work home! Relax and unwind.
5. Better commute. Skip the crowd at the gym and the traffic on the street by getting up a little earlier.
6. Increased Productivity / Shorter Workdays: Waking up early and having a "quiet hour" at work will maximize your productivity (as I experienced). You'll get much more work done compared to usual. Be amazed by how much you accomplish by noon. Come 5:00 p.m., your work day will be over. P.S.: If you're constantly distracted at work, I can't recommend this enough! Less distractions. More efficiency. (You'll also have more energy thanks to improved sleep).
7. Greet the day.GOOD Morning indeed — not "ack! It's morning. Just 5 more minutes in bed!" Once you get used to waking up early, you look forward to waking up and mornings. I greet each new morning as though it's a gift. I'm here another day getting to do the things I love. Getting to be with the people I love. I have another day to inspire change!
8. Less Stress. Experts say that how you lead your life the first hour after you wake up sets the tone for your day. Trade in rushing and worrying about being late for a zen experience.
9. Breakfast. Getting up early means you'll not only time for breakfast, you'll also eat a healthy one. Often, our initial meal set the tone for how we eat throughout the day. Start the day right! (Can't recommend our meal plans enough!)
10. Better sleep: Sleep experts say that if you go to bed earlier, and wake up earlier, your body will be more in tune with the earth's circadian rhythms, which offer more restorative sleep. Sleep needs also vary depending on your activity level, diet, sunlight exposure, etc., which is why it's better to focus on wake-up time as opposed to bed time. By waking up early at the same time each day, you'll stabilize your circadian rhythm. Try to set and rise with the sun!
Another picture from the drive!
How to Become an Early Bird:
1. Go to Bed.Recently I went to bed at 8:00 p.m. and my husband said, as I was walking towards the bathroom, "what are you doing?" Me: "Going to bed." Him: "But it's only 8:00 p.m.!" Me: "But there's nothing I want to do. Nothing's on TV. I'm done with the work and don't feel like working. Why stay up? I'm going to go to bed and get up early to work when I'm productive." Now, I'm not saying you have to go to bed at 8:00 p.m., but do go to bed earlier tonight. Even if you don't feel tired. Read if you must, just get to the bed. I usually go to bed between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. I like to get at least 7, preferably 8, hours of sleep.
2. Do it Gradually.Don't go setting the alarm for 4:30 a.m. Instead, set the alarm for 15-30 minutes earlier than normal. As the days and weeks progress, chip away at it until you find your ideal time. Most early birds prefer 4:30-5:00 a.m. I'm a 5:00-a.m.-er.
3. Distance yourself from the alarm clock. I keep mine on a dresser across the room so I literally have to get up to shut it off. That'll get you out of bed and avoiding the snooze button.
4. Treat yourself.For most of us, we don't want to get up early — it sounds awful! So the first few days (or weeks), treat yourself in the morning. Don't use it for anything else — not work or chores. Do a little yoga, read a book, read a trashy magazine — whatever your guilty pleasure is (chocolate?). It's your reward for starting a good new habit.
Finally I'll close with a quote:
“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise” – Ben Franklin, famously
Related Articles & Sources:
- Forbes: Top 10 Advantages of Waking Up Early
- Stronglifts: 7 Reasons Why You Should Wake Up Early
- ZenHabits: 10 Benefits of Rising Early, and How to Do it
