Ahhh, morning, the birds are singing, the air is crisp, and you are knocked out cold in your bed. The pulse of your alarm begins, and you slowly wake up to a face full of slobbery hair, sweaty pajamas, and an anxious bladder. Sound too familiar? Are you sick of rushing to work, only to be exhausted once you get there?
Now I am not someone who is a morning person, like at all. When I was younger, I literally kicked my dog off my bed when she would wake me up in the morning. But, slowly, I’ve realized the benefits of having some extra time in the morning, so I’m not rushing out the door, forgetting my lunch, and skipping breakfast.
So what are some benefits of getting up that extra hour earlier?
You’ll Be Alert
If you’re anything like me, you normally wake up in a panic when your alarm goes off, heart racing, and completely unprepared to face the day before you. But think, if you get up just 30 minutes earlier, you’ll be able to laze in your bed and let your thoughts slowly pick up. Just be careful you don’t fall back to sleep.
That means that you won’t have to wait for your caffeine to jump start you into the day when it kicks in at 10. You’ll be amazed at how much more productive you’ll be at your job.
You Can Actually Eat
You’ve often heard the phrase, “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” I don’t know if that has been scientifically proven, but eating breakfast is essential for your body’s health. Because the last thing you ate might have been that forbidden chocolate bar at 9 pm, you haven’t had any nutrients going through your system for 8 or 9 hours. You need to kick your body’s metabolism into gear and begin filling your body with nutrients for the day. And no, coffee isn’t the same thing as breakfast.
You Won’t Look Like Trash
Do you ever have those days when you just throw caution to the wind with your hair? You end up pulling it up into a messy bun and vow that tomorrow you’ll do better, but now it’s been ten days straight. By having more time, you can straighten your hair, blow it dry, or put more than chapstick and hastily applied eyeliner on your face.
It Will Help Your Sleep Patterns
If you wake up earlier, you’ll go to bed more quickly each night. That means that you might actually start getting the recommended 7-9 hours that all adults need. So hit the hay a little earlier tonight.
You Can Do Chores
If you have laundry, you didn’t get done last night, want to get some things ready for your nightly meal, or any other miscellaneous tasks you don’t want to do after work, morning is your time. It could be great to come home from work ready to relax and enjoy.
Time For Self-Reflection
Morning is a great time to journal, meditate, or pray. It sets your mind on the positive things as you enter into your day, and can help get you in the right mindset. But this is truly for the A + morning people out there, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t do this at first. Just getting up 5 minutes earlier could be where you start.
Exercise
I know that I should like exercising and being fit, I was a college athlete, but I hate doing it. I love how I feel when I’m done, and I do force myself to go to the gym at least four days a week, but I still dread it every day. I go every day after work, but there are several days I can’t go to the gym due to commitments in the evening. If you are someone who is struggling to work out, try making yourself get up in the morning. If you are someone who has kids or a household to run in the evening, the morning might be the only time you can work out. This will definitely wake you up in the am!
These are just a couple of benefits, but they really can go a long way in helping you to have more relaxing evenings. If you consider yourself to be an A + morning person, feel free to share your tips below!
For tips on how to sleep better each night, check out this article.