Many people consider themselves as "night owls" and claim that they thrive best with a nocturnal lifestyle, staying up until the wee hours of the morning and sleeping in during the day.
But several studies say otherwise.
The Benefits Of Being An Early Riser
Waking up early is said to be one of the best-kept secrets of highly successful people.
According to research, morning people have healthier, happier moods and are generally more satisfied with their life compared to late risers.
"One reason why 'early risers' may be happier is because their biological clocks are more in line with societal expectations about when someone should wake up and go to sleep," Renee Biss, one of the authors of the study, explained.
Larks, or early risers, also have less problems dealing with the downsides of sleep inertia, which is the decline in motor dexterity once a person wakes up and which usually lasts for as long as two hours. Larks are therefore more alert and productive than night owls who have social jetlags or an out-of-sync lifestyle and often feel tired and sluggish.
How To Wake Up Early, According To Science
Waking up early is no easy task. Fortunately, there are research-approved ways out there that can help anyone get into this healthy habit and reap its many astounding benefits eventually.
Reduce Blue Light
A messed-up circadian rhythm or body clock is the biggest obstacle an aspiring lark needs to address before anything else. Restore the natural body clock by cutting back on blue light exposure at least an hour before bedtime. This means dim lights and no gadgets in the bedroom.
Usher In Some Sunshine
Keep curtains open before hitting the hay to flood the room with ample natural light when the sun shines in the morning. This will trigger the body's innate alarm clock minus the annoying sound and the tempting snooze button.
Go Camping
Experts suggest that doing outdoor activities, which allow for abundant exposure to sunshine for a substantial amount of time (for example, going on a seven-day camping trip) is an effective strategy to break away from years of a night owl lifestyle and regain control of the body's biological clock.
Eat Breakfast
It isn't called the most important meal of the day for nothing. Although breakfast was criticized in the past, scientists have taken a 180-degree turn in the recent years, commending the winning qualities of breakfast. A delicious breakfast of champions can pump up energy levels, help the body regulate blood glucose, and improve a person's overall performance.
