A lot of people feel like early risers have some sort of innate advantage over the rest of us; that we must be destined to be more successful or happier because we’re getting up before most people are even thinking about doing anything productive.
I used to believe that, too, but after a few months of waking up at 4 am every day, I’ve come to realize that’s not true at all. In fact, waking up early has brought me so many benefits that it’s hard to believe I was ever able to function without them in my life.
Wake up early to increase productivity
Your mind is clearest in the morning, and you get more done because your schedule is less crowded. Plus, you have more time to connect with family and friends before you start a hectic day at work.
The best part about waking up early is that it’s easier than you think! Try these five tricks to get out of bed early so that you can reap all of these benefits.
It’s really that simple. I’ve gotten up every morning at 5 am for over two years now, and it’s changed my life in many ways. One of them is: there’s little doubt in my mind that I’m more productive than.
If I was sleeping late — even working a few extra hours at night will not make up for waking up early, from an objective standpoint. Let me explain why…
Even if you’re a morning person, getting up early can be challenging. However, as productivity expert Laura Vanderkam points out in her book What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, there are lots of reasons why waking up early can have a positive impact on your life.
From improving your productivity at work to increasing your health and energy levels, waking up early can change your life for the better.
One of my favorite morning routines is waking up early. While it can be hard at first, once you get into a routine it’s not that bad. You might be surprised how much you can actually get done by starting your day earlier!
When I wake up early I have time to read, plan out my week and do exercise all before work. Getting things out of the way during these crucial hours means I don’t waste time throughout my day doing them.
Another benefit is that it makes me more productive when I am in front of my computer later on in my day as well. It really pays off and has completely changed how I start my days now compared to when I was just going along with what everyone else was doing.
Get more done during the day
If you’re a morning person, getting up early can help you get more done during your day. If getting up early just isn’t for you, then at least try to move it as far forward in your schedule as possible.
Not only will that help you get more done during your day and avoid feelings of stress, but it’ll also give you an earlier start on the weekends (which is never a bad thing).
You’ll be amazed by how much more productive your days are when they start an hour or two before everyone else’s. And if mornings aren’t really your thing — at all — you might want to check out some research on how bedtime habits affect performance and relationships, too.
Many successful people swear to wake up early. Not only does it give you more time to get things done, but it also helps set a positive tone for your day and allows you to hit the ground running from day one. Who knows — it might even change your life.
A lot of people are familiar with Thomas Edison’s famous quote, Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. This means that many highly successful people dedicate a significant amount of time to being productive.
One simple way to boost your productivity is to wake up early — especially if you’re naturally inclined to sleep in. A lot can get done before anyone else is awake, and you can spend your evenings doing things that are more pleasurable, like cooking dinner or spending time with friends.
To increase overall happiness,
Everyone has a 24-hour day. For some people, that means sleeping from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and for others, it means waking up at 5 a.m. Regardless of your schedule, if you want to find more time in your day, there’s only one way to do it: Wake up earlier and go to bed earlier!
Experts recommend getting between seven and nine hours of sleep each night (and you know what else they say? Those seven to nine hours should all be within one block), but if that seems like an impossible feat, start by going to bed 15 minutes earlier tonight — not tomorrow morning, tonight — and set an alarm for that same time tomorrow night; just don’t hit snooze!
A study published in Social Indicators Research found that people who wake up early are more likely to be happier. That’s because those who don’t sleep much get bored and lack self-control.
A lack of self-control can often lead to low productivity, weight gain, and depression — all things that can ruin your life quality! In fact, those who wake up early are not only more productive overall, but they also make smarter food choices.
There’s a strong correlation between getting more sleep and feeling happier overall. In fact, according to a 2016 study, more than half of people who are satisfied with their lives said that one of their biggest reasons for feeling so fulfilled was getting enough rest each night.
So, if you aren’t happy with your current situation, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate how much shut-eye you get each night. (According to experts, at least seven hours is necessary for optimal health.)
And don’t just set your alarm for an arbitrary amount before work; instead, pick a specific wake-up time that lets you hit snooze once or twice before your brain will be forced out of bed.
Improve relationships with others
waking up early can also lead to better relationships. Not only does it give you time to spend with friends and family, but it’s proven that those who wake up early tend to be more sociable and empathetic. One study found that they had stronger feelings of empathy than those who sleep later in the day.
This can be attributed to a difference in circadian rhythms — which are our internal body clocks — between morning people and night owls. In addition, even if you’re not an early riser yourself, there are plenty of health benefits associated with being active during daylight hours rather than late at night.
Although it can be tough to get out of bed when your alarm goes off, waking up early has several great side effects. Since you’re not exhausted in the morning, you’ll have more energy throughout your day and feel alert enough to carry on a conversation with people — plus.
Research shows that people who wake up early are perceived as more responsible than those who sleep in. If you want to become better at communicating with others and improving relationships, consider making waking up early a daily habit.
Is there someone in your life you wish you had a better relationship with? It could be your boss, coworker, partner, or even a family member. Chances are that some aspects of that relationship could use some attention. If so, here are four simple tips for improving your relationships with others.
Lower stress levels and anxiety
One of the most surprising benefits of waking up early is that it can help lower stress levels and anxiety. If you’re constantly rushed in your daily life, sleeping in can seem like a release valve.
However, getting up early gives you space to breathe and plan out your day ahead; studies have found that people who wake up early are less stressed and more relaxed than those who sleep in.
Additionally, waking up allows you to quiet your mind before it starts racing with all sorts of thoughts. Studies show that mindfulness is an effective method for lowering anxiety and helping us respond better to stressful situations when they arise.
One unexpected benefit to waking up early is lower stress levels and anxiety. A growing body of research demonstrates that sleep plays a significant role in regulating stress, with those who are deprived of sleep being more likely to experience higher levels of stress and anxiety, notes Holistic Life Coach Diana Edelman.
By waking up early, you can avoid much of life’s stressors before they even arise, as well as have time to decompress after a stressful day at work.
If you wake up a little earlier each day, your life will soon be filled with peaceful moments that allow for more creativity, relaxation, and focus. When you’re not taking a shower or making your morning cup of coffee, use those minutes to fill out your thoughts and do some writing.
Your reduced stress levels will actually help others around you; studies have found that people who are less stressed are better able to respond to negative situations with positive emotions.
The result is a calmer environment for everyone in your family. Even if it’s just fifteen minutes at first, give it a try — and you’ll quickly start seeing how waking up early can change your life.
Improve sleep quality
sleeping in a cool, dark room can help improve sleep quality. Most experts agree that white noise — such as a fan or a ticking clock — helps improve sleep, while light sources like smartphones and computers can disrupt it.
These changes to your bedroom environment alone may be enough to help you get better sleep quality. If not, several experts recommend changes to your bedtime routine and even adding an exercise routine into your day — like walking or jogging before bed.
As an added bonus, being more physically active generally helps people lose weight or keep off what they have already lost; fitness is crucial for other reasons too.
If you’re looking to lose weight, start exercising, or cut back on alcohol, you may want to consider improving your sleep quality. A sound night’s sleep is a great way to re-energize and get more out of your day.
Sleeping 7–8 hours per night will help you wake up refreshed and ready for any day that comes your way. And remember — if it takes a while for you to fall asleep at night, don’t sweat it — it happens!
While waking up earlier may help you stick to a fitness routine or keep you on track with your goals, it’s not without its challenges. For one thing, waking up early means changing some habits. You may find yourself eating breakfast while it’s still dark outside, and being ready for work before most people have even started their day.
The benefits may take some time to kick in, but after a few weeks of steady wakefulness, you’ll start to notice positive changes in your sleep quality — and overall life satisfaction.
Start now by making small changes that will make your body crave going to bed early; eventually, you’ll be setting your alarm for 5 am with no problem at all!
Less time spent worrying about tasks undone
Too many people don’t accomplish what they want because they end up spending more time worrying about things than actually doing them. Waking up early will change your life because you’ll have fewer tasks left undone at the day’s end and therefore less to think about in bed.
You won’t be worrying about emails you need to respond to, emails you should have sent yesterday, or making sure all your files are in order for a meeting you had with someone earlier that day — you’ll already have taken care of it all before heading out.
It’s a great feeling and one that will help keep you on track with future tasks. While you’re still waking up, your partner or roommate is already at work. You have fewer distractions, so you spend less time worrying about tasks undone and more time on tasks finished.
As you knock out items on your to-do list early in the day, feel free to reward yourself with some guilt-free rest time. It’s a big benefit to having plenty of time in your day. You’ll find it easier to cross things off your list because you don’t feel as rushed or overwhelmed.
And there will be plenty of unexpected benefits as well, like having more time for exercise, taking a walk before work, or simply enjoying more time at home.
Use it wisely, and waking up early will change your life. (Note: by definition, your life cannot be changed by a simple habit — if you need to write will change part of your life, consider rephrasing)
Build better habits (personal, business, financial, etc.)
When it comes to habit formation, there are countless scientific studies showing that it can be much easier than we realize. As someone who’s tried almost every habit-building hack in existence — from timeboxing to habit loops — it’s clear to me that successful habit building is based on one simple thing: consistent effort over a long period of time.
That said, here are three habits you can start today that will likely have a positive effect on your life: Wake up early every morning is another opportunity to start fresh and avoid making poor decisions.
I don’t care how unproductive you think you are in the morning, if you consistently wake up at 5 AM (or earlier), I guarantee your quality of work will improve dramatically!
If you’re reading Smashing Magazine, it’s likely that you are interested in design. To get better at your craft and grow as a designer, it is important to improve other parts of your life.
This means spending time reading about design and writing about design, but also taking care of yourself outside of work by exercising regularly and making time for friends and family.
Whether you consider yourself a lark or an owl, chances are there are parts of your life that would be better if you got out of bed earlier. From work to hobbies to health, there are numerous ways that waking up early can improve your life.
Try setting aside time in advance for those tasks and goals for which you know early mornings will lend themselves best. When it comes time to establish new habits, aim to do so in a routine way (in other words, don’t try changing everything about your morning all at once).
Start by getting into a consistent routine and stick with it for at least six weeks before making any changes. As with anything else, consistency is key!
Gain more time for yourself in general,
We’re a 24/7 society that values being busy. There’s a sense of prestige in being able to say you don’t have enough time to sleep, so everyone stays up late or sacrifices sleep for other activities. But over time, that can take a serious toll on your health.
Sleep deprivation is linked to weight gain and obesity, as well as diabetes and heart disease. And scientists believe it might actually damage cells at a genetic level — which could lead to early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Getting enough rest is not only essential for general health, but it can also help you achieve your professional goals faster by creating an effective work-life balance.
When you’re up earlier, you can get more done in a shorter period of time. By adding an extra hour or two to your day (without doing any extra work), you’ll free up time to exercise, read, do whatever else you want, and spend time with friends and family.
When you wake up early, it forces you to start working right away. If you’re anything like me, when I start working immediately after getting out of bed, I get more done faster than if I take a leisurely breakfast and then roll into work later in the morning.
It’s not as though waking up early magically makes me work harder or smarter — it’s just that my mind is still fresh from sleep, and I find myself much more alert (and motivated).
Then when my brain is fighting off grogginess first thing in the morning. By becoming an early riser, you give yourself a natural boost in productivity!
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