“The early bird catches the worm.” Yet many people find it hard to adhere to this saying when it comes to waking up early. If you are a “night owl” by nature, adjusting to an early morning routine may be quite difficult, even though you may always desire to wake up early. It is understandable. The allure of a warm bed and the comfort of sleep often make the thought of getting up early a bit challenging. It also could be that there are work-related or social commitments that limit your amount of sleep.
Regardless, you don’t have to turn your alarm clock to a negotiator: “Fifteen more minutes please”, and you’re back in the dreamland. How can you become a morning lark and not a morning-resistant superhero? Find out in this article. The scientific benefits of waking up early highlighted in this guide may surprise you.
Tips on How to Wake Up Early
Start Gradually
Rome wasn’t built in a day. So, one of the steps to becoming an early riser is starting gradually. If your goal is to wake up by 5am, first take a good time to analyse how waking up at 5am benefits you. Then try adjusting your bedtime by 15 minutes earlier each night until you reach your desired wake-up time. This gradual approach helps your body adjust to the new schedule more smoothly.
Keep the Alarm Clock Away From the Bed
To improve the efficiency of your wake-up process, strategically place the alarm clock away from your bed. Regulate the volume, making it loud enough to be audible but not so loud that it startles you from sleep. When you place it far away, you force yourself to get up and switch it off. This gets things moving and helps dispel the early-morning tiredness that frequently persists.
Get Out of the Bedroom As Soon As You Wake Up
The first moments after waking are vital for establishing the tone of the day. Your body and mind will receive your instant wake-up as a signal to become aware and in motion. This practice helps regulate your circadian rhythm, enhancing overall sleep quality.
Motivate Yourself
The ability to motivate oneself to push past the allure of curling up under the blankets is needed for rising early from bed. You can produce positive incentives by setting objectives or giving yourself a reason to get up early, such as working out, working on personal projects, or taking time for yourself. Also, familiarize yourself with quotes about ‘wake up early’. This can serve as a mental alarm, nudging you to embrace the benefits of an early start.
Reward Yourself
Giving oneself a reward can help you wake up early since it produces encouraging behaviour. You can create a reward for yourself for getting out of bed early like your favourite meal, some downtime, or engaging in a hobby. Over time, the anticipation of the reward can make the early waking routine more interesting, which will in turn help you establish and maintain the habit of rising early.
Stay Away from Blue Lights
Avoiding blue light is a great method to improve your sleep hygiene, especially at night. Electronic devices such as laptops and cell phones generate blue light, which inhibits the generation of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep.
Before going to bed, blue light exposure can throw off circadian cycles, making it more difficult to fall asleep. Use blue light filters on electronics or limit screen time to at least an hour before bed to enhance the quality of your sleep.
Eat a Light Dinner
Eating large or heavy meals close to bedtime can cause indigestion, which can also result in sleep disturbances. Instead, opt for a light dinner, as it facilitates digestion and lessens the chance of discomfort. It also frees the body to concentrate on healing sleep instead of digesting. Incorporating this practice into your routine contributes to better sleep quality, promoting a more relaxed and comfortable sleep experience. Thus, preparing your body ahead for the day.
Benefits of waking up early in the morning
More time for yourself
Among the many advantages of rising early in the morning is the opportunity to spend more time for oneself. By rising early, you can take advantage of a quiet and unoccupied time for private activities like reading, prayer, or hobbies. In addition to promoting overall productivity and a more balanced lifestyle, this set-aside time for meditation and relaxation also helps to establish a pleasant tone for the rest of the day.
More time to exercise
As an early riser, you can benefit from the quiet hours by engaging in exercises that will improve your fitness and general health. Exercise in the morning speeds up metabolism, increases energy, and improves mood, all of which help to create a pleasant start to the day. Additionally, by creating a pattern, this habit makes it simpler to prioritize and stick to a regular exercise schedule. Overall, incorporating exercise into the early morning routine can contribute to improved physical well-being,
Less time in traffic
Because there is usually less traffic in the early morning, movements can be completed more quickly and stress-free. As a result, it cuts down on the total amount of time spent traveling each day. You will steer clear of rush hour traffic, thereby increasing productivity. This also facilitates a seamless transition to work or other activities.
More time to get things done
Early in the morning is a good time to think strategically and make decisions because it’s usually when people are most mentally clear. Early morning quietness is ideal for uninterrupted, concentrated work or personal chores. You can more effectively plan and arrange your day, taking on significant tasks or establishing priorities, since there are fewer outside distractions.
Healthier skin
One of the benefits of waking up early is that it contributes to healthier skin; allowing for a consistent and adequate sleep routine. Quality sleep during the early hours supports the body’s natural regeneration processes, including skin repair and renewal. Adequate rest helps reduce stress, a known factor affecting skin health and promotes a more balanced production of hormones.
Balance your mental health
Waking up early plays a significant role in balancing mental health. The early morning hours offer a peaceful and quiet time, providing an opportunity for self-reflection, and setting positive intentions for the day. This quietness promotes a sense of calm and reduces stress, contributing to improved mental well-being.
Better sleep
Waking up early often leads to a more regular sleep routine, helping regulate your circadian rhythm. This consistency reinforces a healthier sleep pattern, improving the overall quality of your sleep. The early wake-up time encourages synchronization with your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, promoting better restorative sleep.
Fewer dark circles
One way to have less dark circles under your eyes is to wake up early. Dark circles are less noticeable when you get regular, high-quality sleep, which is frequently linked to an early wake-up time. It also lowers stress and enables your body to regenerate and heal itself.
More time for breakfast
You give yourself the benefit of a longer breakfast window when you rise early. This extra time not only allows you to cook and consume a healthy breakfast, but it also encourages a conscious and unhurried eating experience. This can have a beneficial effect on your metabolism and make your morning more fulfilling and health-conscious.
Happier feeling
A happier attitude may result from rising early because early waking has been associated with better mental health. You can engage in self-care activities, make positive objectives, and enjoy a calm start to the day in the quieter and more serene surroundings of the early morning. All these can enhance your general sense of happiness and fulfilment.
Sleep Needs by Age
If you’re continuously depriving yourself of sleep, don’t assume that rising early will be achievable without adverse effects. The amount of sleep required varies with age. Having a proper sleep as per the age requirement for example, can improve the quality of life for the seniors. It’s critical to understand the main guidelines for sleep requirements. You could be unable to get out of bed early if you deviate from your sleep recommendation. Below is a chart on the recommendation of sleep according to age.
| Age | 0–3 months | 4–11 months | 1–2 years | 3–5 years | 6–13 years | 14–17 years | 18–64 years | 65 years+ |
| Amount of sleep | 14-17 hours | 12-16 hours | 11–14 hours | 10–13 hours | 9–11 hours | 8–10 hours | 7–9 hours | 7–8 hours |
Conclusion
In conclusion, the benefits of waking up early are numerous, such as higher productivity, better mental health, healthier skin and the chance to create a regular routine. Although there could be some initial difficulties, the benefits over time make it a beneficial habit for general personal growth.
