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Your alarm goes off promptly at 7 a.m. You need to get out the door by 8, so you can finish the morning commute and get to work on time. However, you hit the snooze button a few times and end up having to rush out the door without a shower, wearing a wrinkly outfit and downing a protein bar for breakfast. You arrive at work frazzled and disheveled — not exactly a motivating start to the day.
If you’re a devoted night owl, the idea of getting up even earlier in the morning may sound like something pulled straight from a horror movie. However, the benefits of waking up at 5 a.m truly make the effort worth it.
The best perk to waking up earlier in the morning is skipping the mad dash to get everyone ready and out the door in the morning. Even if you live alone, those extra hours can dramatically impact the rest of your day.
Getting up at 5 a.m. gives you time to get in the right mindset. Instead of rushing bleary-eyed through your morning, you can be more mindful. Create some morning rituals you love and start your day with intention. Think about what you want to accomplish and write down a few goals or to-dos. You’ll be ready to conquer the day rather than the other way around.
You’ve probably seen several celebrity and influencer morning routines circling the internet. If not, where’ve you been? These routines are intended for early risers to make the most of their morning. When you start waking up earlier, you can fit much more in before the rest of the world — or your noisy kids — gets up.
Take advantage of the benefits of waking up at 5 a.m. and sprinkle some self-care into your morning rituals. Sip on a cup of coffee that’s actually warm, read a chapter of a good book, do some yoga or take a long, quiet shower. Carve these extra hours out for you and make something special out of them.
Waking up early consistently necessitates going to bed at a decent time every night. This practice of getting up and going to sleep at the same time will help you get more restful sleep and reset your body’s circadian rhythm. Your body will get tired when it’s supposed to, and after a while, it will begin waking you up around the right time as well.
You may notice you’re not able to drift off as easily the first few nights you go to bed earlier, but you’ll adjust fairly quickly. However, it’ll likely take your system much longer to start waking you up at the right time without an alarm.
When you aren’t as rushed in the morning, you can take time to make yourself a satisfying meal. Skipping breakfast will leave your tank empty, begging for some fuel to make it through your morning. You’ll also be more likely to succumb to unhealthy snacks all day.
Instead of a protein bar or bowl of cereal for breakfast, opt for something more nutritious, like a bowl of oatmeal. Try balancing your meal with carbs, protein and some healthy fats. This combo of powerhouse nutrients will help keep you feeling full longer.
Getting up in the wee hours of the morning creates ample time to squeeze in some movement. You’re far less likely to work out at the end of your day — there are a million and one excuses at that point. Committing to a habit of getting active first thing in the morning will set you up for long-term success with that goal.
You’d be surprised what you can fit in — a long walk, an at-home workout or some yoga. If you want to head to the gym, you’ll have better access to the equipment and hit less traffic on your way there and back since fewer people are out that early.
While these perks are great, you won’t experience most of them if you only get up early once in a while. You must make it a habit.
Prioritize getting to bed at a reasonable time in the evening, so you have 7-9 hours of sleep. Then you’ll be more equipped to get up on time regularly. The benefits of consistently waking up at 5 a.m. are worth the few weeks of discomfort as you adjust to the new routine.
