Studies have shown the benefits of waking up early reach far and wide. In fact, humans are most productive between the hours of 5 a.m. – 12 p.m. It is no wonder the world’s spiritual leaders wake up as early as 3 a.m. each morning.
I am not trying to convince you to switch religions, nor to start your day at 3 a.m., but rather to try waking up an hour or two earlier each morning to see what it can do for you. Waking up early allows you to establish an awesome morning routine that sets you up for a productive day and makes getting up in the morning fun.
I think of my morning as my “me time” when I can get in tune with how I am feeling that day, say my positive affirmations, meditate, go for a run, make a smoothie, shower, and sometimes do some more self-care stuff like a face mask or yoga.
Waking up without feeling rushed in the morning makes a world of difference in your mood and motivation levels. Even if I am a bit sleepy when I wake up first thing in the morning, the excitement of getting to do things that make me feel happy and energized help me get out of bed.
As college students, many of us have roommates. Even when you get along with them, having time for yourself is important. Being the first one awake is a great way to make time for yourself without having to ask your roommate for alone time. Just make sure you are quiet and respectful so that you do not wake them up.
Ever since I have started waking up at around 6:30 a.m. each morning, I have noticed significant increases in my energy levels. More notably, is that the few times I have allowed myself to sleep in as late as 9 a.m., I feel slow, groggy, and less productive for the rest of the day.
If waking up at 6:30 sounds daunting, start by setting your alarm 15 minutes earlier than when it usually goes off and incorporate one self-care activity into your morning with that time that you have always wanted to do. As you get used to waking up at this time, continue setting your alarm further back until you reach your desired wake up time. Do not get discouraged, some mornings it is easier to stick to than others. Just try to stick with it. Repetition is the key.
If you are interested in learning more about waking early, the benefits, and how to do it, check out next week’s article “Planning an Exciting Morning Routine.”