The Benefits of Rising Early

Most people dread getting out of bed, and it can be one of the most daunting tasks of the day. Believe it or not, people tend to be more productive and have a higher sense of accomplishment and well-being when they wake up early in the morning. This is partly because you get to awaken with the sun, but also because your mind is more fresh, clean, and productive when you have an early kickstart. As I write this it is 6:48am, and I woke up at 5am. I felt ready to go and start my day. Yes, of course you have to get used to it and it isn't going to be the easiest thing to begin with, but as you get used to it, you will notice how awesome it is! What do you stay up until 2am doing anyways? Watching tv shows or stalking your friends on facebook? That's what I thought ;).

For the record, many artists, successful businessmen, and CEO's wake up early to get the day started to have an "edge" over the competition and increase their creative juices.

Benefits of waking up early

Eating healthier: Many people skip breakfast, and it is one of the most important meals of the day! Waking up earlier will insure that you have time for this precious meal and that you are nourished and can get your metabolism kickstarted. You are also less likely to eat junk food later if you eat a healthy well-balanced breakfast.

Preparing food for the day: A lot of people don't have time to prepare meals for the day, or even get done what they truly want to accomplish. Instead of feeling rushed by waking up 10 minutes before work, wake up earlier and prepare all your days meals and complete tasks. This is especially beneficial if you have kids too :). It is best to create a to do list the night before so you know exactly what you will do in the morning.

Less missed workouts: Waking up earlier allows you to do what you need to do in your day. This especially includes working out! You will have more energy and more motivation to boost your day with an awesome workout. Also, it will help in your consistency of exercising since you will have no excuses for not having enough time anymore.

Productivity: Many people who are successful in their business and life endeavors are usually early risers. You get more done in a day if you wake up earlier. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison were two famous spokesmen for rising early. Basically when you rise early you have less distractions since most people aren't awake. You are also more efficient in the morning with less brain fog. Late at night the body is trying to shut down and prepare for sleep. Staying up late is counter intuitive and actually works against your natural circadian rhythm.

Reduced Stress: You don't have to rush any more throughout the day to get done what you need to do. This way when you get home from work later in the day you can truly relax knowing you have had an awesome productive day! You don't have to rush to get up, eat, and run off to work. You have time to enjoy yourself, watch the sunrise, listen to music, workout, shower, and whatever else you choose!

Better Quality Sleep: The body works best when it has a rhythm to it. You may not go to bed at the same time every night depending on how you ate, the amount of sunlight you were exposed to, and your overall activity level, but at least having a set waking schedule will help you to have some balance in your life. Being consistent is the key. Sporadic waking and sleeping patterns can shock and disrupt the body.

Sunrise: There is something special about watching the sunrise and seeing the world awaken from the darkness. It is a wonderful time for meditation, when the yin and the yang are in perfect balance.  It is also beneficial to stare at the sun as it rises. This practice is known as sungazing and can help increase your energy levels, spiritually awaken your divine powers, and reduce your use of food. It is taking pure light energy from the source. It may sound too good to be true, but it is actually an ancient practice that is perfectly safe within an hour after the sun has risen. This is when the UV index is 0, and it can cure bad vision. Look forward to a blog about this wonderful free nutritional energy source that we can all benefit from :)

What time do you like to wake up? Answer in the comments section below :) 

This post is written by Michael.
Adapted from: 
Waking Up