8 Good Reasons to Get Up Earlier

Are you naturally an early riser or do you find yourself hitting the snooze button a few times before you actually roll out of bed? If the idea of getting up early makes you cringe, consider the benefits of waking up at the crack of dawn -- or close to it -- to see if you might be better off with a new routine. When your sleep schedule always seems to leave you rushing around in the morning, you could reduce stress and actually enjoy your mornings just by getting up an hour or two before your usual wake-up time. And, it's not as hard as you think to adjust to a new schedule.

Here are eight good reasons why you might be better off getting up earlier:

1. You can eat a good breakfast. Breakfast is still the most important meal of the day and could help you focus better on those stressful days. Getting up earlier will give you some time to put together a healthy meal for yourself and other members of the household.
2. You can watch the sunrise. How many times this year have you actually seen the sun rise? Many people enjoy this moment only when they're on vacation, but getting up early will give you a chance to enjoy it on any clear day. Head outdoors for a few minutes to marvel at the sunrise as a positive start to your day.
3. You can commit to a workout regimen. If working out never seems to make it to the top of the agenda on any given morning, getting up earlier could help you stick with a new workout routine. Working out first thing in the morning can help to burn fat and getting the workout out of the way could set you up for success with your fitness goals.
4. You can enjoy a meditation session. Say goodbye to frantic mornings where you're trying to beat the clock, and ease yourself into the day with some sunrise yoga or a meditation session. Clearing your head with light exercise or meditation can help you relax and ground yourself in the present.
5. You can knock a few items off the to-do list. Whether it's sorting laundry, emptying the dishwasher, clearing clutter in the living room or organizing the pantry, the extra time in the morning will give you a chance to get a head start on your to-do list. Look at the list briefly the night before and get it done first thing in the morning.
6. You can avoid rush hour traffic. Plan to hit the road a fifteen to twenty minutes before your usual time and you might just avoid rush hour traffic entirely. Getting to the office earlier might even shorten your work day.
7. You can process and organize email messages. If you spend a good amount of time clearing out your inbox or responding to emails at the office, get a head start on this to-do item at home and then tackle more important assignments or projects when you're at your office desk. You'll be more productive and may even find you're able to focus better with email processing out of the way.
8. You can greet the neighbors. Getting up early will force you to slow down. You can take your time to get ready, prepare a good meal and even greet the neighbors. Being less stressed in the morning could have a very positive effect on the rest of your day.

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