“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” While we all know the age-old wisdom of the benefits of being a morning person, a lot of us tend to ignore them and adopt the schedule of a night owl. Our bodies are made for working in the morning and taking rest at night. Early risers have a jump start over everyone else, which makes them physically and mentally healthy, consequently leading to their success in all spheres of life. Late night work schedule is not only detrimental to our bodies, it also hampers our mental and emotional state. The health benefits of waking up early have a rejuvenating effect on our bodies.
Here’s how being a morning person affects our daily lives:
Physical health
- Sunlight helps in the synchronization of our internal body clock which regulates metabolism and controls weight gain.
- Being a morning person lowers the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Morning is the ultimate time to go for a walk, practice yoga or meditate. Exercising in the early hours of the day has an optimal positive effect on our bodies and it is easier to maintain a consistent workout plan.
Psychological health
- Decreased sun exposure in late risers can lead to a drop in serotonin levels (chemicals that affect our mood), which can cause depression & other mental health issues.
- By rising and sleeping at a regulated time, our body develops a circadian rhythm which influences our sleep-wake cycle, which in turn affects how our mind functions during different periods of the day.
Work Productivity
- Morning is the best time to plan the day ahead, which leads to better time management throughout the day.
- Being a morning person increases our efficiency, as the early extra hours save us from rushing through every task later in the day.
- Our work output during daytime gets enhanced after sufficient rest at night.
Success Rate
- According to studies conducted on University students within US and Europe, students who rise early tend to be proactive go-getters and are less likely to procrastinate, thereby, achieve better grades and job opportunities.
- Early risers avoid failure in life as they are less prone to bad habits like drinking, smoking or drug use since they miss out on conventional nightlife past times.
- Indra Nooyi (PepsiCo CEO), Michelle Obama (Former US First Lady),Tim Cooks (Apple CEO), Bob Iger (Disney CEO), Richard Branson (Founder and Chairman of the Virgin Group) and many other successful people around the world swear by their early rising habits which gets them pumped up to seize the day.
By changing our daily routine to become a morning person, we take a major step towards a healthy lifestyle. Early risers are more active, more optimistic and have an all-round sense of development. Late risers harm their mind-body synchronization leading to major health issues in the long run. With a simple change in our routine, we can balance our work and personal life to achieve an organized lifestyle.
So, stop hitting the snooze button!
Wake up early and conquer the world!