The Top Benefits of a Morning Routine and Waking Up Early in the Morning

The top benefits to waking up early in the morning are ones that when I first read them, I thought, “Oh, that sounds nice, but is it that big of a deal?” Now, after working on my morning routine I can feel the difference from when I do my morning work and when I don’t.

Now, before I get into all the benefits, I know what some are you are thinking, “Faith, I’m not a morning person.” I hear you. If you’ve ever woken a bear before, you’ve woken me up from sleep. I love it. I know the importance of good sleep and I know that when I don’t get my hours I’m not the greatest person to be around.

Yet, can I challenge you?

Have you ever changed your talk from, “I’m not a morning person” to “I am a morning person.” ? Have you ever given yourself a TRUE chance or did you just assume you wouldn’t like it so therefore you didn’t. Now, if you did give yourself a true chance and you didn’t like it.

Guess what?

THAT’S.OKAY!

Yes, it really is okay. One of the biggest things about creating habits for our mental health journey is by doing the ones that serve us. It’s not just doing the ones that we feel we have to do. Also, a little morning routine tip, don’t go to bed at your usual time of 10PM and wake up at your new time of 5AM when you normally sleep in until 7AM. You’ve already set yourself up to be tired and not want to wake up. Adjust your sleep schedule.

Alright, now that we are going to give ourselves a true chance at seeing if these benefits will help us lets take a look at what they are. Here are the benefits according to scientific research.

Benefits of a Morning Routine

 

Better Stress Levels

I’m not sure about you, but when I push the snooze button way too many times I find myself running late, frantic, and rushed out the door. I find myself snippy and often times forgetting to grab something or another that I may have needed for school. It starts my whole day rushed and stressed. Many times, how we start the day is the tone we set for the day.

Take a look next time you find yourself rushed in the morning. Are you stressed throughout the day? Short-tempered with coworkers or your family? Do you feel your heart racing just a little faster than it normally does? Take inventory. If you find yourself feeling these things, maybe it’s time to look at your morning.

When we awake earlier, often times called the calm before the storm, we can take that time to relax and leisurely get ready for the day. Personally, as a mama of two under three I find it’s easier for me to get ready for the day when I’m up before my babies. This is just my experience though, yours may be different.

Better Sleep Habits

Creating a routine can actually improve your sleep habits. A major concern when I speak with someone about their sleep is they talk about never being able to fall asleep. They stay up worrying about the never-ending to-do list and making sure they don’t forget anything. This can be greatly reduced when we create a routine to make sure we remember those things.

For example, maybe you are stressed about having the appropriate supplies for work. You’re worried you’ll forget and end up having to drive back home to come get them. There are a few different ways we can remember, but one way is by having a time in the morning to go through what you’re bringing to work. If the night before you wrote down what you needed and then had the extra five minutes to make sure you grabbed it, wouldn’t that help you? 

Now, maybe not. Maybe so. The best way to find out is to try it and see what happens. 

Remember, if you’re starting to wake up early, adjust your bedtime. Don’t expect to go to bed at 11PM and wake up fully refreshed at 5AM when your body hasn’t adjusted to it. 

Better Health

This benefit is what made me realize I need to wake up earlier. Now, maybe you are the person who has a bunch of energy after work and loves to go workout. You eat healthy, even if you’re totally rushed. 

Me? I’m not that person. Not even a little bit.

I’m the person who gets home from work, immediately changes into her comfy clothes and either sits on the couch or goes immediately into playing outside with my babies. I don’t workout. If I don’t have a plan in place for eating healthy in the morning, I skip it. As my mom the nurse would say, “That’s not okay.”

When you wake up earlier and create a morning routine, you have that time to get in a good workout, get those endorphins running for the day, and have plenty of time to eat a healthy breakfast or make a delicious smoothie.

Good Example for Others

I believe this benefit can stretch farther than just a morning routine. I believe that when we have habits in place that lean us towards healthy, we are setting a great example for all of those around us. We are showing them that we can make life happen, not life happens to us. It’s a mindset that has a ripple effect into all areas of our lives.

Please Take Heart

Do what is best for you in your season of life.

Sister, please take heart. I pray that if you give this a true chance and you don’t find it benefits you, please don’t continue to do it. Maybe see what a nighttime routine will do for you or something in the midday. If you’re a mama with littles, maybe you do this during nap time, not during those precious few moments of sleep.

These benefits are meant to lean you towards healthy, not away from it.

I pray you give this morning routine a chance, a true chance, and try it for longer than a few days. Take inventory of how you’re feeling. Do you feel more refreshed and renewed or do you still feel rushed? Also, just because your friend wakes up three hours before she goes to work, doesn’t mean you need to. What if you woke up an extra five minutes before? What would that do for you? Could you spend it in prayer or actually be able to make a great cup of coffee, instead of stopping to pick one up?

Whatever you decide to do, do for you and no one else.

If you’re wanting help in creating healthy habits, make sure you check out the Connect page. You can join our free Facebook community where we discuss habits that will help us on our mental health journey.

Although I’ve lived with mental illness my whole life, I am not a medical professional. You can find a therapist anywhere in the United States here.