We all have the same 168 hours in a week, so why is it that some people seem more productive than others? How do some of the busiest people find time to workout and stay fit, spend quality time with the people the care about, and maintain a comfy, happy home while working full-time?
For many successful people, one of their major secrets is getting up early. In her book, What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, Laura Vanderkam reveals why most successful people choose to get up early. I’ve never considered myself a morning person and getting up early has always been a challenge for me. However, I have found when I get up a little bit earlier and go to the gym before I start working that I’m more productive during the day, feel better, and am able to focus on other projects because my workout is out of the way.
Early mornings are when you have the most control of your priorities. You are able to do the tasks that are most important to you without interruptions. Vanderkam suggests that you focus on tasks that, over time, will add up to provide the most success. Some examples are going to the gym, learning a new skill, or writing. The successful people Vanderkam interviewed said mornings are the time they have just for themselves.
“Seizing your mornings is the equivalent of that sound financial advice to pay yourself first. If you wait until the end of the month to save what you have left, there will be nothing left over. If you wait until the end of the day to do meaningful but not urgent things like exercise, pray, read, ponder how to advance your career or grow your organization, or truly give your family your best, it probably won’t happen.” ~Laura Vanderkam
Getting up earlier can change your mornings from hectic to nurturing for yourself and your family. With our busy schedules, it can often be difficult to spend quality time with our children and spouses during the day. Putting a focus on quality time in the morning with loved ones can be a great way to start the day. You could enjoy a nice leisurely breakfast together, take a walk, or snuggle.
Starting your day off in a frazzled rush is stressful for everyone involved. Just getting up an extra 30 minutes earlier will bring more peace to your mornings and your life.
Are you a morning person? What are the benefits to you for waking up early? I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories in the comments below. Please share one specific benefit that you’ve experienced.
Vishnu says
2013-10-11 at 11:08 pmMonica – great photo! I am a morning person and do more thinking, mindfulness practices in the morning. ALthough I’m up pretty early, I would like to be up even earlier – there’s something so mysterious and divine about the four o’clock hour 🙂 4 a.m that is.
Monica says
2013-10-12 at 7:09 amHi Vishnu, wow 4:00 a.m. is really early. I would love to be able to get up that early all the time. I used to wake up at 4:00 am quite often and it was a great time of day. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.
Nneka, Working Mystic says
2013-10-16 at 6:19 pmHi Monica, I wouldn’t consider myself a morning person. Yet, I rise between 6 and 7 with no alarm. I wake up with the sun and I love it.
When I was in corporate, I deliberately shifted my wake up time to 5 am so that I could exercise, meditate, and write before going in for the day. I wanted to ensure that I was fueled for the day and that I’d already done everything that was important to me.
The early mornings also gave me time to work on my business. It’s my most creative time. I wanted to use to build my dreams.
Now that I’m working in my business full time, I’m taking the opportunity to rise with the sun. I wake up enthusiastically and have the same start: exercise, meditate, write. It’s a life giving ritual for me.
Monica says
2013-10-16 at 6:25 pmHi Nneka – Thank you so much for visiting my blog and sharing your comment. I love your ritual about getting up early, even when you were in the corporate world. Scheduling time to do what’s important to you is a gift you can give to yourself and mornings are the perfect time to do that. I find it easier to get up early when I am working for myself because I’m excited to get started with the day. I found it to be more difficult when I am working for a corporation. Congratulations on being able to work for yourself full-time and your great morning habits. Namaste 🙂
Ethan says
2013-12-14 at 2:55 pmGreat Article. Many people don’t appreciate the many benefits of waking up early and what they can do with that extra time. I’m not normally a morning person and I had to work at it. The best results I found was turning it into a challenge. I wrote about my results
http://keystooptimalliving.com/6-am-challenge-the-benefits-of-waking-up-early/
Monica says
2013-12-14 at 4:29 pmChallenges are a great way to start new habits, I love using those too. Thank you for sharing your experience!
chakrapani says
2014-12-13 at 12:04 amhello maim
I just started rising early in the morning but my mind is full of bad ideas and I just want to wipe them and feel refreshed
please suggest me I want to get rid of from those ideas which always come in my mind weather I require or not