Early to Bed, Early to Rise
Early to bed, early to rise
Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise
-Benjamin Franklin
Photo by James Martin
Between teaching IPY’s new 6:30AM classes and working towards my goal of waking up ach day to get my meditation practice going again, I’ve been waking up before sunrise mch more than usual. I know how the yoga community feels about getting up early (they ove the idea!), but what does the rest of the world think? It turns out that rising early is highly recommended if you are interested in living a healthy, productive, and fulfilling life.5 Reasons to get out of bed early:
- Psychiatrist Tracey Marks, author of Master Your Sleep, states that sleep is more efficient when we go to sleep and wake up early. When we minimize amount of time sleeping while the sun is up, we are able to align our sleep cycle with the earth’s circadian rhythm, which results in more restorative sleep.
- Harvard biologist Christoph Randler has found that early risers are more likely to identify themselves as proactive people and are more likely to anticipate problems and solve them effectively.
- Rising early gives us plenty of time to exercise, whether it be to step onto a yoga mat or go for a jog. Exercise boosts energy and elevates the mood. A bonus to early morning exercise: more time with family in the evening!
We simply have more time in the day to do what we want. - Getting out of bed early brings instant feelings of success which we can carry with us through the day. It always feels good to do something you put your mind to, especially when that something is also good for your health and success!
I can say from experience that, as a former nightowl, waking up early is not always
easy. Like anything, the more you do it, the more natural it feels. Add regular yoga and meditation on top, and the benefits are boundless!
Sources:
The Secret To Being A Power Woman: Wake Up Early
10 Advantages of Waking Up Early