3 Merits Of Waking Up Early
What does Marcus Aurelius have to say about an early rise?
“Lose an hour in the morning, and you will be all day hunting for it.” ― Richard Whately
On September 1st I moved into my family’s old house in the countryside. Veisiejai is a small town located in the South of Lithuania with just over 1000 inhabitants. The days are slow, the mornings are calm, and the air is much fresher.
A few days after moving in I started noticing something interesting. Living here, I required less sleep and began to wake up earlier than I was used to. Also, I wanted to go to bed early as well. Then, it dawned on me… Maybe it’s finally time to become an early bird? I’ve been planning to do so for quite some time, so why not now?
The importance of early sunlight
According to Andrew Huberman, if one wants to regulate his circadian rhythm, what he or she has to do first thing in the morning (somewhere between 6 and 8 a.m.) is to get some direct sunlight into his eyes. Most people believe, that if you spend too much time looking at screens at night your circadian rhythm will get out of wack, and that is true, BUT, if just you will get at least 10 to 20 minutes of natural morning brightness at daybreak (even if the day is cloudy), it will overpower the evening blue lights with no problem. Consequently, you will feel sleepy earlier and won’t have to worry about going to bed late, or the lack of sleep that will follow. To wake up early it is advised to go to bed early, and the best way to do so is to catch the first sunrays just after waking up.
What are the merits of waking up early?
1. You get more done
When up and awake somewhere between 6 and 7 a whole new world opens up for you. One that is much quieter and calmer. Needless to say, you won’t just jump into work right away! There’s the toilet business, washing up, and if one is inclined — a cup of coffee, breathing exercises or the morning stretch. Still, when that is all finished and done, it is surprising how much important tasks you can accomplish just within the span of 2 or 3 hours. Most of the time during the day we search for the time to do the things we love or what we have to do. Why not smash those tasks first thing in the morning, just before the sun reaches its peak, and carry on with your day afterwards? I promise, you’ll feel much better. This leads us to the second point…
2. It reduces stress
Knowing that you have a list of tasks on your hands is not fun, especially, if some of them don’t necessarily “have to” be done, but it would be much better if they were. These kind of tasks could be self-improvement oriented, such as reading, exercising, writing, or simply making time for you and you only before the days starts piling other activities that will require your attention. Without having enough time for themselves, many people feel stressed. Why? It is because they do too much for other people without doing enough for themselves personally. Taking care of yourself is vital if one wants to be happy, satisfied, and productive. That is why finding a few hours in the morning to do what you love can make a tremendous difference for your wellbeing. And isn’t wellbeing what we all sought for?
3. The nagging feeling of guilt vanishes
Finally, as waking up early reduces stress, it also may deminish the uncomfortable sensations of shame and guilt. This one might be more personal, but sleeping until noon makes me feel disoriented, confused, and unfocused. When everyone is already up and going and your are still under your sheets, it feels as though the world has moved on and you haven’t. I could have been doing what I love, but instead I chose not to. I missed the first rays of light, the coming and going of the fog, the cool and damp breeze of the morning wind… For some this is not a bother, but for me — it is. Waking up earlier helps me to regulate not just my work, but my mood as well. Maybe it will do so for you too.
To sum up…
As some things are in our control while others aren’t, our wake up times are something that we can definitely manage. Maybe we can’t control when we’ll fall asleep, but we can train ourselves to feel sleepy earlier by going for a short walk just after the sunrise. This will regulate our circadian rhythm and our mood by setting us up for a new routine. If you’ll manage to get up early, you will be surprised at how much work you’ll get done before noon. This will reduce your stress levels and increase your sense of general well-being. Finally, doing the things you love (or have to do) will take away those nagging feelings of guilt and frustration. When you know that you are doing what you have been put on this planet to do — waking up early will not appear as something awful. It will take the guise of harmony instead of chaos and joy instead of pain.
I’ll leave you be with a great quote by Marcus Aurelius, which shifted my whole thinking about my mornings:
“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: “I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?”
So you were born to feel “nice”? Instead of doing things and experiencing them? Don’t you see the plants, the birds, the ants and spiders and bees going about their individual tasks, putting the world in order, as best they can? And you’re not willing to do your job as a human being? Why aren’t you running to do what your nature demands?
You don’t love yourself enough. Or you’d love your nature too, and what it demands of you.”
All the best to you! If you’ve enjoyed this article, be sure to leave a comment expressing your opinion and follow for future content. Peace! ✨
