Getting up early is definitely one of the routines successful people have in common. Many of them strongly stand for it, claiming it’s being an early bird that allows them to stay ahead of the competition.
The fact is, waking up at dawn is a powerful weapon everyone has access to, yet many refuse to take advantage of it. I’m sure these 7 benefits of being a morning person will convince you not to let the sun catch you in bed.
1. You increase your productivity.
First and foremost, the productivity aspect seems to be the key reason successful people pursue being early birds. To be clear, you don’t need to rush right from the beginning. Basically, it’s a personal choice. Whereas Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, starts sending company emails around 4:30 a.m., Leo Babauta, founder of Zenhabits, fills his morning with preparing food, planning the day’s priorities and reading.
The truth is, starting very early gives you that mental boost—while the rest of the world still sleeps, you are already thriving: you’ll check off the majority from your to-do list by the lunch.
2. You develop self-discipline.
Waking up with the sunrise definitely requires self-discipline and willpower so you don’t end up hitting the snooze button. However, a gradual progress builds incredible discipline over time. Imagine waking up one minute earlier than yesterday until you reach your desired hour. Bit by bit, you will build your way to being a morning person. Furthermore, a new habit will take root, increasing your ability to form new positive habits and stick to them for good.
3. You feel more energized.
Granted that you didn’t pull an all-nighter, you’ll feel more energy during the day when you get up early. But it’s not only just the fact of waking up that makes you energetic; more important are the routines you implement.
Exercising, meditating or practicing yoga are popular among people who dedicate their early mornings to physical activities. Releasing endorphins gives a great boost to feel better for the rest of the day.
However, you can devote it to complex thinking such as writing, coming up with ideas for your business or adjusting a strategy for your project. All taking place during a distraction-free time, which creates space to fully use your morning energy.
4. You feel a sense of satisfaction.
Imagine it’s time for a lunch and you already accomplished your whole to-do list for today. You can then enjoy the rest of your day doing some light and fun activities like reading, spending your time with family and friends or taking a walk in the nature. While the rest of the world still struggles to complete all the assignments, you proudly checked them all off.
This great sense of satisfaction boosts your motivation to thrive the next day. Also, it’s easier to start with the most demanding tasks and then go to effortless activities than vice versa. According to Brian Tracy, the author of “Eat That Frog!” you should always begin with things you procrastinate the most on, so the rest flows easily.
5. You thrive in a distraction-free environment.
When it’s 4 or 5 a.m., you can be sure most of the people are still sleeping and dreaming. There’s nothing big taking place, the world prepares to start a new day, but it’s still in the lazy stage.
Therefore, there are less potential obstacles you need to overcome in order to fully focus on your goals. Fewer controversions and fewer people to break the peace give you a time dedicated fully to yourself.
The morning silence is a special part of the day. While dreamers keep dreaming about their ideal lifestyle, successful people wake up earlier to make their dreams become reality.
6. You have more family time.
Participating in a rat race can make you neglect your family. On the deathbed, this surely will be one of the most regretted things, so take action against it before it’s too late.
In the afternoon, your family members probably head home after a day at work or school. By starting your day earlier, you create more space for spending extra time with them once they arrive. You completed your duties in the morning, so now you can just have fun with your friends and family without feeling guilty.
A moment shared with your loved ones is one of the best things in the world, and waking up earlier to make it happen is definitely worth it.
7. You stay ahead of the world.
Your organism will adapt to the new schedule so waking up with the sunrise will become a habit you no longer think about. As it happens, you’ll squeeze as much from your morning as possible.
Over time, you’ll test different morning rituals to finally find the one that suit your needs the most. During the process, you learn more about your weaknesses and strengths which are invaluable lessons when it comes to self-improvement.
What’s more, you will implement a daily routine that will make you stick out from the crowd and achieve extraordinary results with ease.
How to make it happen?
Waking up early doesn’t have to be hard. Here are some great tips that make it less of a struggle.
Firstly, progress gradually, you won’t become an overnight master. A good strategy to begin with is to wake up 1–2 minutes earlier every day until you achieve the desired result. Secondly, sleep enough so you are actually well-rested. Another useful thing to do is to put your alarm clock in the distance so you need to stand up to turn it off.
Last but not least, come back to read about these incredible benefits when you face a moment of zero motivation. It will surely boost your willpower to become a morning person!
Featured photo credit: Eneas De Troya via flickr.com
