Early bird, or night owl? Which one truly delivers a better lifestyle? Most of my friends think I'm crazy because I willingly rise at 6 or 7 in the morning. However, early risers experience great little moments night owls miss out on. I am a morning person and thoroughly enjoy the early moments of each day for these 10 different reasons.
1. Sunrises
Sure, you can see sunsets at night, but only early birds can watch the sun rise. The sun's rising and setting seems similar, yet the colors starkly contrast during these moments. Sunrises illuminate the night's darkness with muted, pastel colors. They generally transition from black to indigo, then cast soft orange glow over the land as the sun peeks over the horizon. Sunsets, on the other hand, shine vivid red, pink, and orange hues that blanket the earth and sky as the sun hides behind the clouds or mountains.
2. Waking up to coffee
There's nothing better than climbing out of bed, walking into the kitchen smelling freshly brewed coffee or robust espresso and enjoying the way it nourishes your weary soul as you slowly sip on the warm goodness. It is best enjoyed with a breakfast treat like biscotti. Late risers miss out on this morning ritual because they're too busy doing other things and don't have time so simply sit and sip morning brews. Even the plainest cup of java soothes souls. I always start my day with coffee and then proceed with other activities.
3. Fresh scents
Everything smells fresh in the morning, especially during spring months when rain showers on trees and draws their fragrances out. I revel in the moments when I walk to class the morning after a rain shower and smell the wonderful aromas from leaves, flowers, and trees. Night owls simply do not receive the same experience because plain odors replace these wonderful scents.
4. Increased productivity
Night owls frequently comment that their day starts late, especially if they rise around 12 p.m. However, morning people can start as early as 5 a.m. Even though they fall asleep earlier, they still feel productive because they accomplished many things throughout the day. In addition, some people who aren't early birds still work efficiently in the mornings because they think clearly in the morning hours instead of the evening.
5. Everything is quiet
I love walking around campus in the mornings because everything is still. Besides the occasional maintenance cart driving by, everything else is silent. Only birds chirping and rustling trees penetrate the calm atmosphere. The morning's stillness comforts and soothes even the most anxious souls and allows someone to relieve stress before they begin a busy day. That's why morning hikes leave people feeling so great — they can escape the city commotion and become nostalgic as they navigate through nature. My parents and I hiked the Blue Sky Preserve in Poway, CA, below, one morning this summer. This trail takes hikers through the preserve, up the mountain, and around Lake Poway. We probably would have not enjoyed it as much if hikers crowded the trail, but we were some of the few walking around the lake that hot day. I also loved the moments we stopped, looked out over the canyon as we inched towards the mountaintop, and basked in the stillness of God's creation.
6. Breakfast
Morning people enjoy breakfast more than night owls because they actually have adequate time to eat. If night owls wake up around 10, lunch quickly arrives, so they must sacrifice their noontime meal or skip breakfast and grab brunch. Furthermore, they may grab a quick snack like a granola bar to-go and devalue the importance of breakfast. Morning people can enjoy their breakfast and still eat lunch later in the day without filling their stomachs with too much food. In addition, they gain those extra proteins and carbs necessary for energy throughout the day, which is why early birds generally remain happy throughout the day. Late risers must accommodate for lack of fuel and may find it difficult to wake up. The saying "breakfast is the most important meal of the day," really isn't just an age-old adage after all.
7. Journaling and devo time
Every person prefers a different devotional and journal time, but many make this a morning activity because it jumpstarts their day, frees them from anxiety, and allows them to spend time with the Lord before their to-do list plagues them. This important time differs at night after people become tired from a full workday and do not appreciate this therapeutic time as much. Night people may even forego their journal time for extra sleep. Therefore, it is important to journal first thing in the morning.
8. Punctuality becomes second nature
Think about the people you work with — which individuals usually arrive on time? They're probably the morning people. Why? This group generally arrives on time because they're already moving by 7 a.m. and received adequate time to wake up. Night owls often stay up late, snooze the alarm several times, and show up a few minutes late because they rush out the door.
9. Working out
Why run in 90 degree SoCal heat when the 60 degree morning air easily cools sweaty bodies? Exercise remains more beneficial in the mornings because it can jump start metabolism. In addition, it wakes people up and refreshes them. It can also add an extra dose of self-esteem if someone accomplishes their goals, such as improving their run time or swimming extra yards. Anyone who watched Legally Blonde knows exercise produces endorphins. This positive momentum can and chipper mood transfer into the office and allow someone to feel great about their job and their contributions to their company. If this does not convince you to change your workout time, check out these other morning exercise benefits.
10. Time with animal friends
I sat outside and journaled one morning last week, but a little creature caught my eye during my solitude. However, I was not upset with this interruption and actually enjoyed watching him jump to different trees around the yard. Animals do some cool and intriguing things, but they generally appear earlier in the day and hide when people disturb the day's peace. I've even seen cats stroll around campus during my morning runs, but my friends don't usually see these pets roam in the afternoon or evening. Early risers with pets can additionally take their companions around the neighborhood before they delve into their own activities. There's nothing better than slipping on some running shoes, grabbing a leash, and taking good ol' Charlie the yellow lab on a walk around the neighborhood before you spend time with any other human.
