How to be successful: 8 Benefits of waking up early

Rise & Shine: 8 Benefits of waking up early every morning

Angela Goh

08 Apr 2016

1/8
Rest better
According to sleep experts, going to bed earlier and waking up earlier helps to set your body’s internal clock, ensuring you get the most restorative sleep you can. So while you may think that a long weekend sleep in is helping you conserve energy, you’re actually doing more harm than good.
2/8
Enhance productivity
Some of the most successful people in the world swear by one simple rule: the earlier you get up, the more you can get done. With less distractions in the early hours of the day, and more energy to burn in the afternoon, you’ll find yourself far more proactive than after a long sleep in.
3/8
Relaxing start to the day
So many of us start our day by jumping out of bed (likely after hitting snooze a few too many times), rushing to get ready, and scrambling to get to work on time. By waking up even just 15 minutes early, you can get a head start on the day and make your morning ritual a bit more relaxing.
4/8
Getting in some exercise
Not only does waking up early give you more time in the day to exercise, it helps ensure that you won’t have any excuses to get in the way of your workout. Exercise has also been shown to energise your body and get it ready to take on the day.
5/8
Maintain a healthy diet
Late snoozers tend to skip breakfast, putting the body into starvation mode and making us crave and overeat unhealthy foods. Waking up early ensures that we don’t skip the most important meal of the day, and maintain a healthy diet throughout.
6/8
Easier commutes
Nobody likes being at work any earlier than they have to, but what’s worse - an early start, or being packed into a train like a tin of sardines? Wake up early and get to the station before rush hour, and your journey will be much more relaxing. Better yet, get your daily dose of exercise by cycling or walking to work.
7/8
Be more optimistic
If you feel like a mental boost of positivity is in order, set your alarm an hour early. Studies have shown that early risers tend to exhibit character traits like optimism, satisfaction, and conscientiousness. Conversely, night owls are more likely to exhibit traits of depression and pessimism.
8/8
Plan your day
Have a busy day ahead, but just don’t know where to start? There’s no better time to review, plan and achieve your day’s goals than the first hours of the morning. By waking up early, you’ll give yourself ample time to work out exactly what you need to do and get everything in order, ready for the day ahead.

Early to bed, early to rise – don’t you want to be healthy, wealthy and wise?

Becoming a morning person can take some practice. It is just hard for some of us to shake off the morning fatigue and force ourselves to get up earlier than absolutely necessary. But such a habit can actually stress your body and mind out more than you think. There is no joy in having to skip breakfast and rush through your makeup routine before heading to the station to board a packed train to work every morning. You can avoid these negative situations by giving yourself more time.

There are reasons why some of the most successful people in the world are early risers. English editor-in-chief of American Vogue, Anna Wintour, gets up before 6 every morning, and PepsiCo CEO, Indra Nooyi, rarely sleeps past 5.

Addicted to pushing the snooze button every morning? Here are some pretty convincing reasons to want to get up earlier – head up to the gallery to check them out.

Angela Goh

Photos: Getty Images

Is it dangerous to wake a sleepwalker?

The Sleep Report: I sleep but I wake up feeling tired

Detangling Brushes: Are they worth the hype?