6 reasons why waking up early means a healthier, happier you

People often give a hardy chuckle when they find out how early I wake up in the morning. I’ve always been somewhat of an early riser, but with yoga and meditation, that time got even earlier. And there’s good reason for it. When I wake up at my allotted 4:30 am I get a whole lot more done and I can stop working earlier in the evening.

If you’re one of those people that wakes up just before you have to head out the door to work and stays up long into the night, why not consider beginning to slide your schedule in the other direction?

Here are some good reasons to adjust your schedule:

1. The Day is Full of Potential.

One of my yoga teachers called that time between 4:30 and 6:30 in the morning "yoga time." You can call it what you want; but for me, it’s a time of the day that’s full of potential and it makes me happy to be a part of it. The birds begin chirping and the sounds of nature grow louder. And you get to watch the sunrise. The natural world is waking up, so why shouldn’t you?

2. Morning Meditation.

The early, early morning is the best part of the day for meditation. There are no distractions and nothing has arisen yet that day to take you away from your meditation. No pets, spouses, or children are awake yet. It’s pure quietude. I like to do my morning yoga practice from 4:30 am to 5:15 am followed by 30 minutes of meditation. I clear my mind and focus on the day ahead.

3. Exercise.

If you get exercise out of the way then you’re done and you don’t have to worry about it again. Yoga is my chosen exercise, but it doesn’t necessarily matter what you do, but rather, deciding to do it. We all know that exercise in the morning gets your metabolism going, but it also releases endorphins and makes you feel fantastic as you ease into your morning routine.

4. Productivity = Less Stress.

If you get your work done early in the morning, you’re less stressed throughout the day. I get more work done in the early morning than any other part of the day. That’s likely the biggest reason that I wake up early--because I have to in order to be effective. I start in the early morning with the most important work and leave the easier stuff for later on in the day.

5. No Rushing = Compassion.

Rushing in the morning in our house also means fussing. When you’re rushing to get out the door and you’re late, you’re less compassionate toward family members. If you’re up early, there’s plenty of time to feed family members and pets, straighten up the house, and pack lunches.

6. A Healthy Breakfast.

I wake up starved in the morning so I can’t imagine not eating breakfast, but plenty of people don’t. Rolled oats are the ideal breakfast choice with seasonal fruit, raw nuts, raw honey, and coconut milk. Oats help get your digestive system moving forward and they also keep you fuller longer. Start your day off with loads of nutrients so you don't reach for junk food by mid-morning.

Taken from: blogs.discovery.com (article, By Sara Novak), Google (images).