Many of us could benefit from waking up earlier each morning. But did you know just how many health benefits there are to getting up early? If you want to become an early riser, read on to discover 10 amazing benefits of rising early – these are sure to give you the motivation you need to change your alarm tomorrow morning!
1. Time to prepare yourself for the day ahead
If you live with other people, getting up before they do will give you some valuable time to yourself. Think about it – time to enjoy your morning cuppa without kids bothering you to make them breakfast or having to fight a roommate over who gets to use the bathroom first!
Getting up before the other members of your household will give you time to wake up in peace and quiet. You’ll be amazed how much you’ll enjoy the silence as you flick through the newspaper or just sit and enjoy your coffee.
2. Beat the morning rush hour
The morning commute can be stressful, so why not leave the house early to beat the traffic? Not only will you arrive at work feeling less stressed, but you’ll also save time and money if you’re not idling in the car all morning.
You might even find your mental and physical health improves as a result of less time spent sitting in traffic. For example, you could notice a reduction in feelings of depression, anger, and stress, and you’ll even be less likely to suffer from breathing problems that all those car fumes can cause.
3. Clearer, healthier skin
We all know that not getting enough sleep can lead to dark puffy circles under the eyes. But did you know it can also wreak havoc on your skin in general?
It has been found that those who don’t sleep well are more likely to see more wrinkles on their face and are also more prone to conditions such as acne. And, if you get ready for bed earlier, you’ll have more time to practice a good skincare routine, both in the evening and in the morning when you wake up.
4. More time to get things done
Do you like to get some chores done before leaving for work in the morning? Getting out of bed earlier will leave you more time to do just that! Of course, you don’t have to get everything done before 7 am, but getting up an hour or so earlier will leave you more time to get those little jobs done so you don’t have to worry about them when you get home after a long day at work.
5. Make time for exercise
It’s not just jobs around the house that you can do in the morning. If you find you don’t have time to hit the gym after work, why not try getting up earlier for a quick workout instead?
You’ll probably find you have loads more energy in the morning when you’re not tired from working all day, and it’s a great way to set yourself up for the day ahead.
Exercising can help you feel less stressed and anxious, so a quick jog around the block or a gym session in the morning could be the way to prepare for an important day at work.
6. Opportunity to eat a healthy breakfast
Do you often find you have to skip breakfast because you run out of time in the morning? Getting up earlier is the perfect way to solve that problem.
Rather than grabbing something convenient and usually not very healthy, giving yourself more time in the morning means you can prepare something healthy and substantial that will keep you satisfied until lunchtime.
This way, you’ll have more energy to face a busy day and won’t face that mid-morning sugar crash you suffer after grabbing a muffin on your way to the office.
7. Better sleep
It might sound counterintuitive, but getting up earlier in the morning could actually mean you get a better night’s sleep. This is because if you wake up earlier, you’re more likely to go to bed earlier rather than staying up too late and not getting enough sleep.
Getting enough good-quality sleep has a whole range of benefits on your health and wellbeing. If you sleep long enough, you might notice you can concentrate better throughout the day, feel happier and less irritable, and are less likely to be affected by weight issues. A good night’s sleep should also help you feel more energized and ready to take on the day.
8. Improved concentration
You probably know the feeling – you wake up to a long to-do list and a pile of work, but you just can’t get your brain to wake up. Well, that feeling has a name – sleep inertia – and it affects most of us at some point.
So, if you wake up earlier, you’ll give yourself more time to shake off the morning grogginess and make sure you’re fully awake and ready to focus before you have to face the day.
9. Watch the sunrise
It might sound a little corny, but waking up early means you’ll get to enjoy watching the sunrise every morning. So instead of rushing around getting ready or checking work emails and social media, why not take a few minutes out to watch this incredible feat of nature?
Watching the colour of the sky slowly change is sure to set you up nicely for the day. Combine this with your morning exercise routine and you’re sure to feel amazing afterwards!
10. Make those early meetings
Do you ever find yourself arriving at work stressed from waiting in traffic and perhaps even running a little late as a result? Getting up earlier will allow you to leave the house in plenty of time, so you can sit and have a cuppa before you start working.
Even if you have an important meeting first thing, you won’t have to rush around and arrive feeling flustered. Avoiding rushing will leave you feeling more calm and collected and less stressed out for the rest of the day.
