With the amount of things the typical college student (well, everyone really) has on their plate, it's no wonder the word "stress" is almost as common as the word "hello." What's even more of a wonder, however, is how it all still gets done despite the sheer amount there is to do! It seems like there isn't enough time in a day to get it all done... or is there? What if I said that you could add extra months to your life to get everything done just by waking up a few hours earlier than you usually do? Now, before you call me crazy, hear me out!
1. More time!
Warning! Math ahead!
I know, I know! Starting out an article with math… bad idea… but bear with me! (Plus, I've already done the math for you anyway so all you have to do is follow along. You can do it, I promise!)
So, let's say that you go from waking up at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. to waking up at 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. (or earlier if you're feeling spring, but for this model we'll stick with something reasonable). By doing this you've just added two more hours to every day. If my math is correct… seriously, double check me… that's another 14 hours every week. Which would put you at around 56 hours a month and 672 hours a year. That's equivalent to 28 days; by getting up two hours earlier every day you can essentially add a whole extra month to your year.
Now, why does this matter?
Imagine all the things that you can do with this time. You could use it to learn a language or instrument, take up a relaxing activity like yoga, write that book you've been sitting on, get some extra work done or even just use some free time for yourself to relax and enjoy life. How does that sound?
2. Overall it's much better for you.
Really! I promise I'm not lying to you. When that alarm rings in the morning it may seem like the worst thing ever but, according to sleepfoundation.org, waking up early actually helps to establish a solid sleep cycle that fits with your body's needs.
For adults age 18 and up, the recommended amount of sleep is between seven and nine hours a night; eight hours is the prime amount. The average time that most people go to sleep is around 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. So if you're getting the recommended amount of sleep then that puts you around a 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. wake up time depending on what works best for you.
The health benefits that this sleep schedule has are the next two advantages to being an early riser.
3. A regular sleep schedule allows for a regular (and healthier) eating schedule.
Everyone has heard the saying "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," and, according to studies by authoritynutriton.com, this couldn't be more true! These studies have shown that those who don't eat breakfast are actually more likely to be obese than those who do eat breakfast. Having an extra two hours every morning gives you no reason to not eat breakfast!
Once you've eaten breakfast it puts you on the right track to a healthy eating cycle. The recommended cycle is:
Breakfast- between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Lunch- between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.
Snack- between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Dinner- between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Snack- between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.
4. Waking up early is beneficial to your overall mental health and productivity.
Having quiet time to yourself in the morning to work on your own projects and interests or on your work for the day will not only help you get that work done in a more efficient and higher quality manner but will also help you feel more motivated to continue to work like that throughout the rest of your day. Working in the morning is better for your productivity because your mind is clear and there are typically less distractions.
However, if working in the morning isn't your thing then you could always utilize the time to exercise, meditate or do yoga or just sit and relax! Having this free time to yourself everyday will start you off in a stress-free and relaxed mood for the day. Not being rushed to get things done in the morning will do wonders for your overall happiness! Trust me, I've tried it!
Now, the real questions is, are you up to the task?
