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Loading...Why You Should Become an Early Bird
- Mel, selected from DivineCaroline
- March 28, 2010
- 3:01 pm
- 636 comments
By Allison Ford, DivineCaroline
I may not have been an early bird since birth, but after years of training myself to jump-start my day, my body naturally wants to get a move on as soon as it’s light outside. In fact, I’m now almost incapable of sleeping past 8 a.m.
Some people may consider that a tragic flaw, but I enjoy getting up early. I like not being rushed as I prepare for work, and I enjoy the morning hour when I’m alone in the office. For some people, waking up early isn’t the easiest lifestyle to sustain, but for those who can stick it out, it offers a bevy of benefits.
1. More “Me” Time
While my fiance is hitting the snooze button repeatedly, I’m taking a leisurely shower, tidying up around the house, and catching up on last night’s Daily Show. When you wake up early, without phone calls, emails, or pestering family members, the time is yours to spend as you please, whether you meditate, exercise, read, or simply watch that television show your spouse hates. Many parents of young children find that the early-morning hours provide their only chance to enjoy a cup of coffee or relax alone before the day begins.
2. Regular Workouts
People’s motivation to exercise is high first thing in the morning. Many report that they are more likely to stick to a morning workout routine than to an afternoon or evening one, since distractions have a way of derailing later plans to get to the gym. Also, although it hasn’t been proven, some exercise physiologists believe that exercising in the morning on an empty stomach forces the body to burn stored fat, instead of other calories.
A study published in the November 2006 issue of the journal SLEEP found that exercising in the morning led to better sleep at night. The researchers theorized that the morning activity helped to properly align the body’s circadian rhythms. Test subjects who postponed exercise until the evening actually had a more difficult time falling asleep.
Read more: Health, Children, Eating for Health, General Health, Guidance, Mental Wellness
Mel, selected from DivineCaroline
At DivineCaroline.com, women come together to learn from experts in the fields, of health, sustainability, and culture; to reflect on shared experiences; and to express themselves by writing and publishing stories about anything that matters to them. Here, real women publish like real pros. Together, with our staff writers, they’re discussing all facets of women’s lives from relationships and careers, to travel and healthy living. So come discover, read, learn, laugh and connect at DivineCaroline.com.
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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
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They are beautiful Q!
I enjoyed your video. Thanks.
Interesting article!
636 comments
+ add your ownThank you.
Thanks for the info
Have to be an early bird, every morning!!!!!
I am an early bird by nature, but usually work timetables are what actually decides when will you get any sleep, and it is certainly not healthy to get up before 6 if you have no chance to go to bed before 3...
I keep thinking that I'm going to get up early and head to the gym, but so far that hasn't happened.
I DID recently hear that exercising on an empty morning stomach can help with losing fat weight. This article just reminded me of that, so maybe that will be some incentive, since I need to lose about 50 lbs.
Good article with useful information, thanks.
Thank-you for the interesting article. Being a Registered Nurse I could relate to many reasons of why one should be an early bird. Carole K. stated substantial reasons as to why it isn't always better to be an early bird. Like Carole, I too have a tendency towards being a night owl. Being a RN you can work a variety of shifts. When I first graduated from Nursing school I worked 3 - 11:30pm. Working second shift was my decision for various reasons, one of them being that I didn't have to be an early bird. I could sleep during the hours that my body clock/circadian rhythm got it's best sleep & was awake when I could function more productively. Over the years I worked different shifts & my hours were always earlier than the previous one. Eventually my shift was 7:00am - 3:30pm with rotation to 3:00 - 11:30pm when needed. I was finally on a shift where I was in sync w/ the rest of the world & could get things done, run errands, etc. as did everyone else. When I had to stop working in 2006 I still arose earlier but my wake up time got to be later & later as did my bedtime. In 2008 I was diagnosed, by two Sleep Specialists, w/ a Sleep Disorder & a Circadian rhythm shift. Please note that Insomnia & a Sleep Disorder are not the same. I completely shifted in May, 2009. Talk about being out of synch! My days & nights are opposite from everyone else's, thus it's very difficult to get things done that involved other people. People who work in professions that
The end of my comment is...People who work in professions that help others often have the worst schedules. So while they are awake chances are they are also tired. It's what your body gets used to. And they are spread thin, especially those in health care. I'm not saying that you will be cared for poorly as nurses & doctors adapt to varied shifts. I am saying personally & professionally, that those who provide/care for others may be a bit more tired than everyone else. I thank-you for reading this.
Thank-you for the interesting article. Being a Registered Nurse I could relate to many reasons of why one should be an early bird. Carole K. stated substantial reasons as to why it isn't always better to be an early bird. Like Carole, I too have a tendency towards being a night owl. Being a RN you can work a variety of shifts. When I first graduated from Nursing school I worked 3 - 11:30pm. Working second shift was my decision for various reasons, one of them being that I didn't have to be an early bird. I could sleep during the hours that my body clock/circadian rhythm got it's best sleep & was awake when I could function more productively. Over the years I worked different shifts & my hours were always earlier than the previous one. Eventually my shift was 7:00am - 3:30pm with rotation to 3:00 - 11:30pm when needed. I was finally on a shift where I was in sync w/ the rest of the world & could get things done, run errands, etc. as did everyone else. When I had to stop working in 2006 I still arose earlier but my wake up time got to be later & later as did my bedtime. In 2008 I was diagnosed, by two Sleep Specialists, w/ a Sleep Disorder & a Circadian rhythm shift. Please note that Insomnia & a Sleep Disorder are not the same. I completely shifted in May, 2009. Talk about being out of synch! My days & nights are opposite from everyone else's, thus it's very difficult to get things done that involved other people. People who work in professions that
Thank-you for the interesting article. Being a Registered Nurse I could relate to many reasons of why one should be an early bird. Carole K. stated substantial reasons as to why it isn't always better to be an early bird. Like Carole, I too have a tendency towards being a night owl. Being a RN you can work a variety of shifts. When I first graduated from Nursing school I worked 3 - 11:30pm. Working second shift was my decision for various reasons, one of them being that I didn't have to be an early bird. I could sleep during the hours that my body clock/circadian rhythm got it's best sleep & was awake when I could function more productively. Over the years I worked different shifts & my hours were always earlier than the previous one. Eventually my shift was 7:00am - 3:30pm with rotation to 3:00 - 11:30pm when needed. I was finally on a shift where I was in sync w/ the rest of the world & could get things done, run errands, etc. as did everyone else. When I had to stop working in 2006 I still arose earlier but my wake up time got to be later & later as did my bedtime. In 2008 I was diagnosed, by two Sleep Specialists, w/ a Sleep Disorder & a Circadian rhythm shift. Please note that Insomnia & a Sleep Disorder are not the same. I completely shifted in May, 2009. Talk about being out of synch! My days & nights are opposite from everyone else's, thus it's very difficult to get things done that involved other people. People who work in professions that
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