Turns out the secret to success might be rising with the sun.
Research suggests early risers are more successful, make more money, and are more productive than night owls.
In fact, one study published by biology professor Christoph Randler found morning people to be more proactive than evening types.
Why this is true is hard to say. It could be because your mind is more rested when you first wake up, making you more motivated and less distracted. It could be that early birds have a similar motivated personality and disposition for chasing success.
What we do know, is whether you wake with the sun is largely genetic.
What It Means To Be A Morning Person
Being a morning person means you wake up with ease and are more alert for the first half of the day. Whether you are a morning person or not hinges on your body’s circadian rhythm.
When it comes to circadian rhythms, people typically fall into one of four categories called chronotypes. Your chronotype is a genetically prescribed biological rhythm that regulates your sleep and wake times and other daily functions that rely on the ebb and flow of hormones, enzymes, and circulatory activity for their timing. Your chronotype determines the optimal times for you to work, be creative, socialize, eat, drink – pretty much every activity that fills your day.
You might be a morning person if:
● You tend to wake up before your alarm
● You are not groggy in the first hour of being awake
● You feel most productive in the morning
● You get out of bed with ease each day
● You feel tired in the evening
● You feel like you’ve wasted your whole day if you sleep past 10
How To Become A Morning Person
Although genetics play a role in whether you hop out of bed or beg for 10 more minutes of sleep, there are habits you can adopt to become an early riser.
1. Set A Bedtime For Yourself
Yes, just like when you were a kid. Our bodies are designed to sleep and wake at the same time each day. Staying up way past your bedtime for even one night can cause your sleep to suffer for the rest of the week. Keep you sleep schedule consistent.
If you suffer from disturbed sleep on a regular basis, whether you go to bed at 9:30 p.m. or 1 a.m., take a look at your sleep hygiene from a holistic point of view. Are you sleeping on a mattress causing you pain? Are there light and noise disturbances keeping you awake? Assess your environment and make sure it is conducive for a good night’s sleep.
2. Adjust Your Bedtime Gradually
Speaking of bed times, if you can’t fathom getting in bed earlier than midnight, you won’t magically fall asleep at 8:30 p.m. the first night you try to adjust your sleep schedule. Rather, move your bedtime up 15 minutes each night until you reach your desired bed time.
3. Make A Wind Down Routine And Stick To It
Did you know our brains are hardwired to respond to light? Before the invention of light bulbs, the sun signaled to our bodies when it was time for bed and when to wake up. This day in age, we are responsible for communicating to our brains when it is time to wind down. Otherwise, our technology and artificial light will keep us up half the night and our brain would never even know it was supposed to be sleeping!
About an hour before going to sleep, dim the lights, stash the screens and, begin signaling to your brain it’s time for bed. Remember, habits are formed out of routine. That means keep it consistent, even on the weekends.
4. Nix The Naps
Power naps are harmless most of the time. However, long naps during the day definitely make it harder to fall asleep at night. Unless you’re extremely exhausted, try to avoid taking naps after 3 pm in favor of a longer and deeper nighttime rest.
5. Skip The Late-Afternoon Caffeine Fix
Caffeine can stay in your system for a very, very long time. In fact, it takes the average person five or six hours just to work half of the stimulant through their system. So, if you drink 100 milligrams of caffeine at 5 p.m., 50 milligrams could remain in your body at 10 p.m. (for reference there is 95 mg of caffeine in the average 8 oz cup of coffee). And though half the caffeine is gone, it could make it hard for you to fall and stay asleep. Avoid caffeine after 3 p.m. if you’re after an early bedtime.
I hope you enjoyed this article about how to become more successful by being a morning person.
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