Call me a Bird, Because I Get the Worm
Trigger Warning: Night Owls, the hours talked about in this post may cause shock and/or concern.
For almost a year now, I’ve had this sticky note on my bedroom mirror that is my one affirmation (not sure if it’s really an affirmation, but it motivates me and that's all that matters.) This note reads;
“All the best work is done when the rest of the world is asleep”
Now it’s been a while so I can’t remember if I found it on some Pinterest binge, or if I made it up. I can’t find it on Google, so to boost my ego a bit, let’s say I created it.
But no matter the author, it’s something that I’ve pushed on myself. I’ve always been more of a morning person. I was always the first to wake up at a sleepover- which can be quite boring if you were in middle school at a big slumber party before smartphones were a thing- and generally liked to get up and get my day started early.
I used to consider 8 or 9 AM to be waking up early. If only past Adia could see present Adia, she’d be shook. Summer of 2020, I started waking up around 6 AM, in 2021, 5 AM , and most recently I’ve been on a 4:30 kick so I could actually be out of bed and getting ready before 5. Now THIS is what being a morning person truly is all about.
There’s something about being awake and alert before most of the world that is both peaceful and invigorating. On one hand, I can bask in the peace and quiet of pre-dawn and start my day without any rush, but on the other hand I want to blast some music and get active while all the windows on my street remain dark.
It’s in these early hours I get the most done. Class work, gym, work on my post-graduation job hunt, etc. And that’s made me wonder why most people don’t do this.
I mean, damn. There are so many benefits to waking up early. All the time you can get before obligations get in the way is valuable because it’s pure uninterrupted time.
I’m going to make (another) list of a few benefits to early rising:
Time to bang out a daily To-Do list of goals before the buzz of social media and message alerts.
“If you woke up just one hour earlier every day for a year, you create extra time equating to over half a month.”- Simon Ong
You won’t be rushed in the morning. This means you can establish a better breakfast routine than coffee and a cold bagel as you run out the door!
More time for physical and mental health. You can go to the gym or spend your extra time meditating.
Overall, you’ll be happier. (That is, if you get the right amount of sleep. When you wake up early, you also have to go to sleep early!) Getting to work at 9AM and already having done so much with your day is a sure way to feel more productive and proud of yourself.
I really encourage anyone reading this to try getting up an hour or two before their usual alarms go off. It doesn’t have to be at 4:30 but even 5:30 or 6 could work wonders on your productivity and wellbeing.
Early to bed, and early to rise makes a WOman healthy, wealthy, and wise!
