Getting up in the morning is hard because your bed is so comfy, and you know you have an endless to-do list just waiting for you. It’s hard to change your circadian rhythm from being a night owl to a morning person, but it’s possible! Check out these ten things morning people do that make them different, and see what habits you can work into your own life. You might be a morning person before you know it!
1. They are happier.
Morning people are happier because they are more adjusted to the typical schedule. Night owls are possibly crankier because they stay up later, then still have to get up early to work a 9–5 job. Morning people, on the other hand, are ready to face the day by the time their office job has to start. Another possible cause for their sunnier dispositions is literally the sun—exposure to natural light has been shown to make people happier and improve moods.
2. They are more productive in the morning.
Morning people get up and go. They make coffee, they shower, they pack lunches and watch the news. They get their day started. Morning people often have more energy early in the day, and find it’s better to schedule their challenging tasks for this time.
3. They don’t hit snooze.
Morning people don’t hit the snooze button. They don’t even need the snooze button. Morning people are ready to get up as soon as their alarm goes off. I’ve even known morning people who are awake before their alarms go off!
4. They have a lower risk of depression.
Studies have shown that people who are more inclined to stay up late are more likely to have mood disorders. This could be because morning people spend more time in society during the day, whereas night owls go out when the world is less populated—if they go out at all.
5. They feel less rushed.
Morning people wake up with time to have breakfast and get ready for work at a more leisurely pace than those who hit snooze until the last minute. They have time to welcome the day with a cup of coffee and a smile, rather than already feeling frazzled about the time crunch.
6. They are more prepared for their day.
Morning people have more time to get ready for their day because they have time before they need to fulfill obligations. They can fix breakfast and pack lunches. And, because they’re good with time management, morning people often prepare all of this stuff the night before. It might sound childish to lay out your clothes the night before work, but it helps save a lot of time in the morning!
7. They have better grades.
A study done at Texas University shows that students who are morning people had GPAs at least one point higher than their night owl classmates. This might be because they get more sleep and are less likely to skip class, and since they’re not up and out late at night, they’re into less trouble-causing activities. But never fear, just because you’re out of school doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from being a morning person—you can outperform your night owl coworkers!
8. They’re more alert and organized.
Morning people wake up early because they go to bed earlier and get enough rest. Night owls try to cram too much in to the available hours, which wears them out and keeps them from getting all the sleep they need. As a result, their organization suffers. Morning people are alert for more of their waking hours, and this gives them more time and energy to be productive and organized.
9. They’re nicer.
This goes along with the risk of depression in that morning people have better moods and dispositions. They are out in society more, and socialize with a wider variety of people than do night owls. Morning people more than likely feel like they were more productive during the day than their evening counterparts, so they feel proud of themselves and are able to convey that positivism in their interactions with others.
10. They’re more likely to stick to a schedule.
Morning people wake up at the same time every day, which sets them on a good path to stick to a schedule throughout the day. They’re more likely to set time limits for projects at work and stick to them and accomplish deadlines.
Featured photo credit: Joeri Poesen via flickr.com
