Does waking up early make you stressed just thinking about it? And you’re probably thinking, how on earth could I do that when I can’t fall asleep till 11 pm or later.
So, there are a few things I need to clear up here. This is not for everyone.
BUT, some of you desperately need to hear this and I promise making this one change in your schedule will change your attitude and life.
Here’s what I’m covering in this article in case you want to jump around.
Who Benefits from Waking Up Early?
Who is this for? Everyone who does not have an infant at home, especially those of you with school-age or younger children.
Who is this not for? This is not for the parent who is up every 2 hours or more with a newborn or infant. I have been there; it is VERY hard. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but I am saying I didn’t do that because sleep is essential for this to work and for your body to function.
About 5 years ago, a friend gave me a book where this gal talked about waking up early to have time to prepare and set up her mind and body for the day to come.
It had not occurred to me before that, which is why I’m writing this post!
I had 3 kids at the time and woke up when they woke me up. There is a season for that, and then there is a season to switch it up.
When you are consistently sleeping mostly uninterrupted, it’s a good time to try this.
Here’s how waking up early can change your life.
You Will Get Better Quality Sleep
Yes, you read that right. Better quality sleep. But how?
To wake up earlier, you need to go to bed earlier. If you have trouble at first, just wake up early anyway. A few nights of less-than-optimal sleep will be okay.
After one or two nights of that you will be exhausted by 9 pm, I promise. There are very few nights I can keep my eyes open past 9:30 pm!
I will add that when you eat does matter for some people. Aim to be finished eating 2-3 hours before bedtime. This will ensure that your body is ready to rest and reset rather than digest the late-night dinner or snack you had.
If you are interested in food and diets but don’t know where to begin, learning more about clean eating and how to start a healthy diet are both great starting points.
Consistency is Key
This is important. You can’t wake up at 5 am one morning and then 8 am the next. Your body will not know what is going on and you’ll likely be a trainwreck.
Aim for waking up within the same hour to an hour and a half at most.
For example, I wake up at 5 am 3-5 days a week and 6 am the other days. Life happens and I am not insane.
I have 4 kids and lots of commitments and sometimes I like a good late date night, so I sleep in. This is far and few between though and I try to keep my schedule like this: bedtime 9-10pm and wake 5-6 am.
This ensures I get a solid 8 hours of sleep most nights, which seems to be best for me. Some people do well at 7 hours and others at 9, you’ll have to figure out what works for you.
Don’t Forget to Prioritize Sleep
Waking up at 5 am should not lead to you getting drastically less sleep consistently.
I’ve seen things where people try to prove they can function on 4 hours of sleep or some crazy low number of hours. This is not healthy and will lead to health problems if you do it consistently. Your body needs sleep.
If you are curious about why the body needs sleep and what happens when you sleep, check out the Top 10 Benefits of Getting More Sleep.
Waking Up Early Will Make You More Productive
Waking up at 5 am can significantly boost your productivity as you’ll likely have 1-3 extra hours in your day where you are much more likely to be productive than at night. There are so many things you could use this time for.
1. Quiet Time:
Early mornings are often quieter, allowing for uninterrupted focus. This can lead to more effective work on tasks or just time where you can think and write or read without interruption.
2. Establishing a Routine:
Starting your day early helps establish a consistent routine. A structured morning routine can set a positive tone for the day, making it easier to manage tasks and thus get more done.
I have started depending on my morning time to get set for my day and figure out what I will be doing. As a mom who works part-time and manages all the family things, I need time to mentally prepare for the day so I stay focused and don’t get sidetracked.
3. Better Mental Clarity:
After a good night’s sleep, your mind is typically clearer in the morning. This mental freshness can enhance creativity and problem-solving abilities.
I don’t know about you, but I have zero brainpower at night. I am a complete waste. In the morning I am like a new person and am at my sharpest. Waking up early allows me to
4. Time for Planning:
Early risers often use this time to plan their day effectively. Mapping out priorities can lead to a more organized and intentional approach to tasks.
And you can also remind yourself to slow down. If you are in a busy stage of life like I am, you probably need a reminder to stop doing so much so fast!
5. Time for Exercise:
Waking up early provides extra time for exercise, which can boost energy levels and improve mood.
Physical activity in the morning can also enhance focus throughout the day. Since most of us spend upwards of 90% of our waking hours sitting, moving your body is a good way to start the day.
If I don’t work out in the morning, it just doesn’t happen. However, I try to get my 10,000 steps throughout the day regardless of the workout I may or may not do, that way I am still moving my body.
6. Reduced Stress:
With more time in the morning, there’s less rushing to get things done.
This can reduce stress and create a more relaxed mindset to approach the day’s challenges. If you are always rushing out the door while packing your lunch or your kids lunches, waking up earlier will give you that extra 10 minutes to do it ahead of time.
7. Journal/Prayer:
The quiet morning hours can be perfect for prayer and journal time. This can increase emotional awareness and resilience throughout the day.
Incorporating an early wake-up time can lead to positive shifts in both mindset and productivity, helping you make the most of your day!
Proactive Rather Than Reactive
Waking up early helps you to be ready to start your day. If you are currently being woken up by screaming or crying children, or any children, you probably know that it can be stressful at times.
While children are an absolute blessing and I love mine more than life itself, there are seasons for everything. Waking up to them needing me was a season and at some point, I had to switch gears and get up before they did.
Having even an extra 20 minutes before they wake up allows me to have a cup of coffee and gather my thoughts for the day. It enables me to be more present and patient with them when they wake up wanting something or needing to talk to me.
Trust me, if you haven’t tried this just give it a go for a few days and you will see what I’m talking about!!!
Easier Time Falling Asleep
Bet you didn’t think this one would be in here?! Well, maybe you did. When you get up so early you will be more tired earlier.
We all operate on some type of cadence where our bodies feel tired and awake. If you haven’t noticed this pay attention now.
As I mentioned earlier, the key to this is consistency. Drastically different sleep and wake times every day places a lot of unnecessary stress on the body.
If you have trouble falling asleep even though you’ve been up early, keep trying and perhaps try some other techniques to help your body know that it is time for rest. This article on Ways to Fall Asleep Quickly is great.
Summary and Action Steps
Just start. Stop coming up with excuses and give it a good 2-3 days in a row of waking up at 5 am or even 5:30 am.
Aim for consistency in bedtime and wake time from day to day.
Make sure you get roughly 8 hours of sleep, which probably means you’re in bed for 8 1/2 hours.
Share how it helped you!! Tell others, you never know who needs to hear it and could have their life changed.
