5 Benefits Of Waking Up Early On Your Health

Climbing out of bed each morning can occasionally be the most difficult task I face each day, namely because I am a complete night owl and let’s face it, morning air is cold. But despite this, I generally rise at 5 am (or maybe two snooze buttons later) and make it an early morning simply because I need to get to work. Recently I’ve been trying to make that 5 am rise and shine work better for me though as to get in a quick 20 minutes on the treadmill before starting my day.

Sounds like torture doesn’t it? Except this habit I’ve picked up of rising earlier has some surprising benefits you should definitely consider taking advantage of. At first I just chalked up to the extra energy and productiveness I was experiencing to the fact I was getting the blood pumping harder each morning, but I figured there was much more to it than that when I took some time off to nurse a twisted ankle. I still turned on my early alarm call so as to not ruin the habit I had picked up, but I was surprised to find me energy level still stayed consistently high through the morning hours. This is when I figured my early mornings have more of an influence on my day than I ever realized. Below I’ve outlined the many benefits you’ll begin to experience by setting that alarm earlier than planned, and taking advantage of it.

* Better Grades

According to studies done within the US and Europe concerning university students, those who rose earlier in the morning scored significantly higher on exams, and consistently kept a higher average GPA than their night owl counterparts. Much of this may be chalked up to the fact that students who rise at a regular, consistent hour each morning are managing their time well and not staying up so late – hence they most likely get more sleep as well. But there is much more to be said about good time management. By creating a sleep habit where you rise and wake at similar times each morning, you are also keeping your body in a circadian rhythm. Think of this as an internal clock that cues your body to do certain things at certain times of the day. This rhythmic pattern supports your overall sleep health, an important component that influences how well your brain functions.

* Positive Outlook

Generally if you are a night owl those morning people generally annoy you to no end. Their perky, chattering, occasionally singing selves need to understand that morning should be a time of quiet- in order for you to fully wake yourself up. But since people who rise earlier often get to bed earlier, they are more likely to have received the seven to nine hours of sleep suggested for an adult’s night’s sleep. Since sleeping the full amount of what is needed to a healthier body and mind, it makes sense that their morning positivity is directly related to their rest.

* Better Problem Solvers

Obviously a rested mind is more prepared for what the day has to throw at it. Because you will be more organized and energized (as explained below), you are also more prepared to take on what life throws at you. Not only will you mood be better equipped to handle any issues that arise, but long term problems are more likely to be solved with more ease due to your brain’s ability to problem solve through the night if you are getting a good night’s rest.

* More Energy

Better rest equals more energy. And early risers generally have better sleep patterns than night owls. Enough said. But not really because this is really interesting stuff: a bunch of things happen when your body finally relaxes in sleep, and all of it is beneficial to your long term physical health as well as mental health. Once you drop into deeper cycles of sleep, your blood pressure drops, breathing slows, muscles are relaxed, body temperatures drop, and the blood supply to your muscles increase. This results in tissue and bone both repair, as well as cellular corrections. Growth hormones are also released that are essential for muscle development.

* More Organized

We’ve all been there: we go to sleep with an idea of what we want to be accomplished the next day, but once we rise- life happens. Simple things like a forgotten lunch, or a slow commute can seen to through off the entire day, and before you know it you are ready to throw in the towel before lunch. Rising earlier and laying out your day in advance creates a series of approachable goals that you can dive right into. Worrying about traffic and your first grader’s untied shoelaces are much more easy to deal with when you aren’t trying to remember a half dozen things while you run out the door.