Is Waking Up Early Overrated?

A highlight of the week :

Win the morning win the day..!! bloody yayy.!!

Waking up early is often hailed as the key to success, offering the serenity of quiet mornings, soothing sunlight, and the freshness from low adenosine levels in the brain. These factors can help you feel energized and ready to tackle the day.

However, not everyone is a natural early bird.

The good news is, that you can still enjoy the same benefits without rising at dawn, simply by adopting a thoughtful and structured routine.

I have been a chronic proponent of waking up early to catch some peace and productivity, but I always wonder if it is possible to get the same benefits if you are not an early riser.

upon some pondering, I came across a few ideas that are not dependent on the time of waking up, but on how you optimize your morning according to your convenience and preferences.

here they are:

Assess Your Routine: Track your sleep and energy patterns for a week to understand your natural rhythms.

some people open their eyes in the morning but really feel awake after a few hours. It is pointless to try and fit square pegs in round holes. if you are most alert around noon or later then don’t feel guilty about it.

just make sure you do the same things that early birds do, at your own chosen time of the day.

Set Realistic Goals: Choose manageable goals, such as improving sleep quality or maximizing your most productive hours.

countless people try to set a dozen alarms and promise themselves that tomorrow will be the day when they will beat the sun at its own game.

and we all know how long that lasts.

instead, it would be better to start small, like waking up 30 minutes earlier than usual.

Have a solid reason to wake up: Remember how we wake up at ungodly hours if we have a flight to catch or an exam to take?

the sudden appearance of our superpower abilities is because of having a strong reason to look forward to.

in my case, I have to wrap up my workout in the morning, because I wish to live longer, happier and healthier.

It is so important to me that it never fails to push me out of bed 6 days a week.

you may have a different reason, wishing your spouse goodbye, attending the doodhwale Bhsiya, yoga, laughter club..anything.

But make sure you have a reason to wake up.

Make it pleasurable: The book Atomic Habits by James Clear, the modern-day bible for building good habits and breaking old ones says that any new habit that you want to start should give you an immediate positive reward, for it to stick in your brain and your life.

in simple words, if you wake up and do your favourite thing first in the morning, then you are more likely to do it every day unless of course it is scrolling on social media or having an alcoholic beverage. then you are probably better off catching some more sleep.

start with something absolutely simple and likeable, like going for a walk, reading a book or writing your thoughts - doing your favourite healthy thing

Optimize Your Evening: Create a calming wind-down routine with minimal screen time to improve sleep.

preparation for waking up early begins one night prior.

social media is known to arouse your brain and that is the last thing you want one hour before sleeping.

try to stay away from Instagram or YouTube in the last hour of your day.

Identify Peak Hours: Schedule demanding tasks during your most alert times for better efficiency.

I for once do all my creative work before 10 am.

I have a 10-6 job, which leaves me with a good 1.5 - 2 hrs of time to think about ideas, write down scripts of videos and scan social media for inspiration and entertainment, despite gym and a walk between 6 to 8 am.

after 10 it’s hospital work, private clinic, and by evening I’m doing the most mundane of things like watching standup comedy on YouTube or catching up with friends for a coffee.

Reflect and Plan: Spend 10 minutes each evening reflecting on your day and planning for the next to reduce morning stress.

I know this because I observed my habits, which I believe is a dying art these days. thinking and reflecting should be categorised as a hobby in itself.

if you know your own strengths and weaknesses it is easier to decide what to do when rather than forcing yourself to follow a borrowed regimen.

Incorporate Exercise: Fit physical activity into your routine at a time that works best for you.

exercise has been my go-to therapy for a host of things. it helps me stay in shape, boosts confidence, allows me to socialize and most importantly, think clearly.

especially outdoor exercise decreases melatonin levels so that you wake up properly and some movement gets endorphins (feel-good hormones) running and lets sunlight produce some vitamin D in your skin.

also, the morning is full of motivated no-nonsense people in the gym, the best company to start your day with.

Practice Practice Practice: Just like any other skill that we learn by repetition, I guess deciding when to wake up, and when to sleep are also essential life skills that can be mastered with planning, repetition and fine-tuning,

so, does this letter make you feel better? can you win the day without being grumpy in the morning?

I would like to hear from you.

Reply with a suggestion, question or just say “Hi”

Cheers,

Dr. Vishal.

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