Morning Sunshine!

You’ve often heard the saying, “the early bird gets the worm.”

And you’ve wondered what you too could accomplish if you woke up early—maybe an 8 a.m. workout, or even two extra study hours before your test?
Many accomplished people attribute their success to early morning wake-up calls, often before 6 a.m.

With their hectic lifestyles, many college students struggle to wake up even at 10 a.m., but before you hit snooze tomorrow morning consider the benefits of waking up earlier.
People are most efficient between the hours of 6 and 8 a.m. according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. 

These are the most productive hours of the day for your body because your brain’s stress hormone, cortisol, is at its highest level.

The body releases cortisol in response to stress, so the hormone is used to reduce anxiety and increase overall energy, according to Virginia Hopkins Health Watch: “The Science of Alternative Medicine.”

While cortisol levels are highest in the morning, they decrease throughout the course of the day (hence the 3 p.m. slump).

Aside from your energy level at its peak, this window of time doesn’t contain many distractions (no one is writing on your Facebook wall at 5 a.m.)  So wake up early, take advantage of these hours, and seize the day.

Although rolling out of bed this early may be an adjustment to your sleep pattern, especially if you’re a night owl, here are five tips to help you jumpstart your day:

Don’t work out late at night

Exercises releases endorphins and sets off your metabolism, both of which increase your body’s energy levels.

A late night workout will have you tossing and turning until you fall asleep. If you’re going to wake up early, you’re going to need to get to bed early too!

Wake up at the same time every day

If you set your alarm for 6 a.m. every day, just like picking up a habit your body’s internal circadian rhythm, the body’s inner clockwork, will tune in to the pattern. Before you know it, you’ll be waking up at this time without even setting an alarm!

Have some H2O

A glass of water in the morning will refresh you and will also give you oxygen (immediate energy!).  Before your daily Starbucks run, drink a glass of water as you get ready for your day.

Give yourself a reason to wake up

If you have an early morning commitment, you’ll avoid hitting snooze. Sign up for a morning spin  class or plan a partner project for 7 a.m. rather than 7 p.m.
Not only are you most efficient during the day, but also you’re less likely to bail out.

Listen to music

Whether it’s Pandora or your favorite playlist, music will get you groovin’ early and with a smile on your face. Suddenly, getting dressed for the day sounds more like a fun event than a duty.

So give this a try at least for a week. You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplished by noon and how much more room you’ll have for your weekend social calendar.