Proponents of the early start believe it offers a magical key to achieving personal and professional success. The idea is simple: by getting up at 5am, you have extra time to exercise, eat healthily, and tackle your goals before the rest of the world wakes up. Despite some scepticism about the magical thinking behind this, many have been motivated to give it a try
CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared in The Gentleman’s Journal
The pandemic shifted many people’s relationships with time. With fewer evening commitments, staying up late seemed unnecessary, and early rising became more feasible.
Despite feeling eye-rubbingly lethargic when we get up, the early morning is the time of day when we actually have the highest reserves of energy, thanks to building them up during sleep. By waking up early, you can use that energy more efficiently.
Most of us tend to save our spare time for the evenings after work. But, by structuring our days this way, once this free time rolls around our energy reserves have been sapped by working a full day – and we therefore use it sluggishly watching TV or mindlessly scrolling through Instagram rather than doing something more productive.
Waking up at 5am will give you a good few hours before you need to get ready for work to use on your own projects. Exercise, sign up for a course, or start planning your next entrepreneurial venture. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve in a short space of time.
The peace and quiet
Not many people are up at 5am, so you’ll find it easier to get some uninterrupted, quiet time all to yourself. Use this peaceful time to gather your thoughts for the day ahead and enjoy the moments most people don’t get to see – like watching the sunrise.
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get lots done though – this is still your free time after all. Just by getting out of bed and appreciating this time to yourself, you’ll feel like you’ve accomplished something leading to a more organised, steady start than those jumping out of bed half an hour before they have to leave the house.
Never be late again
It’s never nice to start your day feeling rushed. If you have to skip breakfast, take a five-minute shower, and don’t have time to read the newspaper, you’ll be stepping out on the back foot.
Wake up at 5am, however, and you’ll suddenly have time to get up to date on current affairs, thoroughly wash and groom yourself, and make a hearty – not to mention healthy – breakfast. And, with your pace significantly more leisurely, you’ll also never be late to work.
Feel happier and healthier
Researchers from the University of Toronto found that those who rise earlier are both healthier and happier than those who sleep in. Published in the journal Emotion, the study revealed that by waking up earlier, our biological clocks are set to a more beneficial schedule, and early risers have a higher satisfaction overall with their lives.
A caveat here though: rising early does necessitate going to bed early, and it’s a lifestyle adjustment. Those who succeed with waking up early every morning do it every morning – so you’ll have to say goodbye to those late Friday evenings in the pub and long Sunday lie-ins. Trust us, it’s worth it.
Join the ranks of the successful
Need a little more convincing that the pre-dawn alarm is for you? History is full of incredibly successful people who swear by it. Margaret Thatcher and Napoleon were both fans, while modern moguls including Richard Branson, Tim Cook, and Jack Dorsey are all known to be early risers. And if it works for them…
The early rising trend might not be for everyone, but it offers valuable insights into time management and personal productivity. It’s not just about the exact time you wake up, but how you use the precious morning minutes that truly counts. Embracing an early start might lead to a more organised, energised, and fulfilling day. Give it a try, and you might find yourself joining the 5am Club with a smile.
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