In early 2016 I started working for a company in Windsor when I lived in Oxford. It meant that I needed to get up at six in the morning, Prior to this, I was working for a company who were located in Oxford. I used to get around at 8, leave the house at about 8.30 in the morning and be at work for 9. I’d finish at 5, wander home through town, then have a relaxing evening cooking and catching up on admin. Working in Windsor meant that I needed to get up a little earlier and after several months, I’ve found myself starting my day at six on a more regular basis. Despite the need of an occasional early night, I’ve actually found the early starts to be a great boost to my productivity, inspiring me to write this article on the benefits of rising early. These are my main benefits of rising early;
1. Greater energy
It might sound counter intuitive, but waking up at six every day actually gives me more energy. I get out of bed immediately, instead of snoozing my alarm, grab a shower and a coffee, and am generally ready to leave the house in 20 minutes, feeling pretty refreshed and ready to face the day.
2. Increased productivity
The world is quiet at six in the morning. Rather than facing conversations and phone calls, I can reflect on my day ahead, plan my call list, catch up on emails and take care of the odds and ends which might get overlooked later in the day.
3. Peace of mind
The extra time I gain from rising early enables me to take life at my pace, instead of rushing around playing catch up. I find I’m more relaxed and alert, as I’ve already prepared what I need for the day ahead.
Of course, not everyone is a natural early riser. Some people reading this article are probably cringing at the thought of getting up at such a time, but I’ve genuinely found that the benefits far outweigh the ‘cons’ of getting up early. If you’re thinking of giving early starts a try, but aren’t sure how, here are a few helpful tips to help you get started;
1. Got to bed earlier
If you want to get up earlier, it’s no good staying up to midnight playing video games and watching TV. Your body needs rest and if you want to get up earlier, you’ll have to go to sleep earlier too. Go to bed, even if you’re not tired, turn off the lights and any gadgets, and you’ll soon find yourself adjusting to your new sleep regime.
2. Don’t jump in at the deep end
If you’re used to casually rolling out of bed at 8am, don’t shock your system by trying to wake up at 5am tomorrow. Take it steady, and set your alarm just 15 minutes earlier each week to allow your body time to adjust to the new rhythm.
3. Establish a routine
Develop a morning routine. Instead of lounging in bed reading Twitter, get up, splash some cold water on your face and grab a cup of coffee. Having a little routine will teach your body to expect certain stimuli, reducing the ‘shock’ of waking up and actually making waking up seem as easy as breathing.
4. Eat a healthy breakfast
Now that you’ve got the time, it would be a shame not to have a healthy breakfast. Have a bit of fruit, cereal and a pint of water to give your body energy and hydration to kick-start your day.
Cultivating a habit of rising early isn’t easy, but it can help to boost productivity, reduce stress and manage your day better. Once discipline and commitment make rising early a regular feature of your life, you’ll quickly reap the benefits and wonder how you ever lived without them.