Waking up early is one of the good habits that many from the older generation propagate. Our elders and grandparents often quote phrases such as “Early to bed and early to rise make one healthy, wealthy and wise” and “The early bird catches the worm”. Many successful men and women all across the world have vouched for the effectiveness of waking up early and the positive impact it has had on their lives.
However, the habit of rising up early has been quickly dwindling from our lives. Especially in these times, when schools are shut and parents working from home, the daily schedule has gone haywire resulting in late nights and delayed morning schedules.
Although most people consider themselves lucky to be able to grab a few extra winks in the morning and wake up late, over a long period of time, this can hamper one’s health in many ways such as-
- Increased stress
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Weight gain
- Low energy levels
- Waking up often
Now let us look at some of the benefits of rising early –
Lowered stress-
When one naturally wakes up early, one will find enough time to enjoy the peace and quiet that comes with early mornings. One can hear the chirping of the birds and feel the cool morning air in place of the traffic sounds and polluted air. Connecting with nature early in the morning can be great for mental as well as physical health. It goes a long way in leading a stress-free and satisfying life.
Point to note- Do not use the early hours to catch up on social media or to check WhatsApp messages. Instead, use the extra time for reflection, meditation, being out in nature, gardening, or indulging in exercise.
No morning rush-
Waking up early gives one enough time to prepare for the day, whether it means completing assignments or projects, studying, indulging in physical play, in the case of children, or creating a to-do list, grocery list, preparing food, cleaning up or performing other chores for elders. One doesn’t race against time to complete these tasks. Feeling in control of one’s life plays a huge part in developing and maintaining our self-esteem.
Point to note- As far as possible avoid waking up to the sound of the alarm as it defeats the purpose of lowering stress and anxiety. One can try keeping the blinds and curtains open so that the sunrays slowly creep into the bedroom enabling you to wake up gradually and with ease.
Better brain function-
There are certain neurotransmitters in our brains such as Dopamine and Serotonin that regulate our moods, concentration, memory (both long term and short term), and several other brain functions. Getting enough ‘deep’ sleep is the best way to ensure that these neurotransmitters are well-balanced and perform their functions well.
Point to note- One might think that one can sleep late and wake up late to get the required hours of sleep. However, the quality of sleep matters more than quantity. You may get 8 hours of sleep, but if you wake up several times and don’t get enough ‘Deep or REM’ sleep then it doesn’t serve the purpose. That is why, it is important to sleep at the right time and wake up at the right time.
Finally, waking up early is a habit that can be easily cultivated and that becomes second nature when done over a period of time. Therefore, St. Mary’s High School, the best SSC school in Kalyan, highly recommends that you try it out today!