The Why
Every successful change starts with a compelling "why." How about five of them?
Reason #1: It’s All About You
It’s never good to be entirely selfish, unless of course it’s good for you and doesn’t disrupt the lives of those you love.
Imagine having 2 or 3 hours every single day entirely to yourself without the disruption of work, the kids, or life in general. What have you always wanted to do but haven’t had the time for? What skills, hobbies, or self-indulgences can you not justify during “normal” hours of operation? What if you could squeeze 14-21 more hours out of the week all for your own enjoyment?
It can be done if you learn good sleep habits and wake up quietly without disrupting your live-in companions.
Reason #2: You Require Time Solely For Your Own Benefit
“Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.” – Katie Reed
The better you feel, the more you can give back to those around you. We live in a culture that seemingly juxtaposes this reality by asking more from us while independently shaming those that benefit for self-purpose.
But why must everything be so narrowly sighted? Can’t we balance a self-benefit while still giving to others?
The answer is yes, we can, and we need a balance of both. As our families and careers grow, we lose some of the independence that once shaped us. The morning hours allow you to take your early independence back and focus on a happy, healthy you.
Reason #3: Early Risers Achieve More Success
We hear stories all the time of successful people waking up early and sticking to a strict morning routine. The late Kobe Bryant was famous for 4:30 AM wake-ups. Every now and then we will see publications touting the contrary, but the lion's share of publicity remains in favor of the early risers.
But is there any truth to all this?
Research would suggest a resounding “yes."
A recent publication on Inc.com looked at two studies from the scientific community. According to Harvard Biologist Christoph Randler, “there is a strong correlation between morning people and proactivity.” His research showed markedly more proactivity amongst the early rising crew in comparison to those that slept in later, longer, or used weekends to “catch up."
Reason #4 for an early rise: early risers are happier
Another study by the University of Toronto reported that morning people were happier.
Researchers Renee Bliss and Lynn Hasher studied sleep patterns and conducted surveys of 700 adults of various ages. Participants that got up early and had morning routines reported being happier than those that didn’t.
Those with strict morning routines tend to feel more prepared for the day, thus setting themselves up for better outcomes.
Reason #5 for an early rise: early risers stay out of trouble
Are you prone to making bad decisions?
Your sleep may have something to do with that.
Studies show that poor sleep dramatically reduces cognitive ability. In addition, those of you that have ever indulged in the late-night bar scene can attest, to some degree, that the adage “nothing good happens after midnight” is, in part, true.
While most don’t fall victim to staying out at all hours of the night, some of us, myself included, seem more prone to its allure. With repetition, this so-called "routine" wreaks havoc on your productivity.
However, once you fall in love with a morning routine this becomes almost a non-issue. What I have found is that over time your mornings become so special that you don’t want to risk messing with your routine.
I went from never wanting to miss a party to never wanting to miss my 5 AM alarm. Talk about a 180-degree shift.
I'll see you in a couple days with Part 3. In the meantime, give yourself a great reason to avoid hitting the snooze--join us for one of our early classes!