Photo Credit: blinkingidiot via Compfight cc
We just went through daylight savings time, so I am sure that the issue of sleep has at least crossed your mind lately. Why is sleep important? Because it can either give you less hours in a day or it can give you more. I know you are busy, so I am guessing that the more time that you can have in a day, the better.
Here are four ways that you can benefit from waking up early:
1.Get in bed earlier.
As you get older, you realize just how valuable sleep is, says the guy with a two year old. Sleep just doesn’t happen like it used to. It almost becomes an award on some days. So, I learned to stop fighting sleep. instead, I embraced it. I promise you won’t miss much, at least I didn’t. By that time of the day, it’s hard to think clearly about anything. The secret is to get in bed earlier, but to wake up at the same time everyday. This trains your body to actually get up when you want to wake up.
2. Priorities become the first of your day.
Your top priorities become the first thing that you do everyday. It shows what and who you care about. For me, my days are drastically different depending on if whether I spend time with God in the morning versus mornings that I neglect that time. Whatever your routine is, put the things in the morning that prepare you for the day ahead of you.
3. You don’t steal time from others.
We have talked about this before, but it is so important, especially if your spouse’s love language is quality time. A computer just doesn’t say quality time to your family. I says, “Leave me alone, I’m busy.”
Chase your dreams without affecting quality time with your family. Waking up earlier and accomplishing things gives more time to those that are important to you and gives value to the time you put into your dreams in the morning. Remember, nothing worth having ever came easy. Putting time in earlier brings even more value to what you are doing.
[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”565px” height=”” background_color=”#c9c9c9″ border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]When you sacrifice time, it brings value to what you are trying to accomplish.
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4. Join Other Successful People
When you start looking at yourself as a successful person, then you will start thinking like one. You will want to do what other successful people are doing. And one of those things is waking up early. Just reading the above link will show you just how many driven, successful leaders are excited about starting their day.
Try waking up earlier than you are right now for the next three weeks straight and start a new habit. Let us know how it goes once you are disciplined in this area. If you don’t like it, then go back to what you were doing, but watch and see if you get more out of your days once you make this switch.
Are you an early riser or a night owl? You can leave your comment below.
I like getting up early because it gives me time to think while the house is still quiet. Once the kids get up I can forget about the quietness.
I hear you on that one, Caleb. 🙂
I like getting up early because it gives me time to think while the house is still quiet. Once the kids get up I can forget about the quietness.
I hear you on that one, Caleb. 🙂
Up early with an occasional late night when the creative juices seem to be flowing.
Sometimes you have to go with the creative juices.
Up early with an occasional late night when the creative juices seem to be flowing.
Sometimes you have to go with the creative juices.
This has been my prayer lately
awesome. love it
This has been my prayer lately
awesome. love it
Great article Adam! I started doing this myself a few months ago and will not go back to the old ways of being a night owl (unless I HAVE to get some work done). The earlier I can get up, the earlier I can start working and subsequently stop working, so I can spend time with my kids before they go to bed.
I’ve been fighting against my tendency to use the “work” excuse during the time I should spend with my family. I only work when my family is in bed. If that means I lose sleep myself… so be it. I would rather lose sleep than steal time from my family.
So glad you are enjoying waking up earlier and I love that you are using the evenings to spend time with your family. An inspiration to us all. Thanks for sharing.
Great article Adam! I started doing this myself a few months ago and will not go back to the old ways of being a night owl (unless I HAVE to get some work done). The earlier I can get up, the earlier I can start working and subsequently stop working, so I can spend time with my kids before they go to bed.
I’ve been fighting against my tendency to use the “work” excuse during the time I should spend with my family. I only work when my family is in bed. If that means I lose sleep myself… so be it. I would rather lose sleep than steal time from my family.
So glad you are enjoying waking up earlier and I love that you are using the evenings to spend time with your family. An inspiration to us all. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been wanting to start getting up earlier. RIght now I’m still up several times in the night with a nursing infant. I’m ok with that – it’s the season I’m in and it will pass all too quickly. BUT, I can see the opportunity in the near future to start adding in some of those things that get laid to the side because of the demands of small children (3 to be precise). There is so much grace for busy mommies!! 🙂 Thanks for this reminder of the benefits of getting up early!
Awesome Esther. We just have 1 child that is 2, but those early months were different for sure. And yes busy moms/wifes are blessings with all the responsibilities yall carry. There are seasons and the one you are doesn’t allow for waking up early and that’s ok. Thanks for reading/commenting.
I’ve been wanting to start getting up earlier. RIght now I’m still up several times in the night with a nursing infant. I’m ok with that – it’s the season I’m in and it will pass all too quickly. BUT, I can see the opportunity in the near future to start adding in some of those things that get laid to the side because of the demands of small children (3 to be precise). There is so much grace for busy mommies!! 🙂 Thanks for this reminder of the benefits of getting up early!
Awesome Esther. We just have 1 child that is 2, but those early months were different for sure. And yes busy moms/wifes are blessings with all the responsibilities yall carry. There are seasons and the one you are doesn’t allow for waking up early and that’s ok. Thanks for reading/commenting.
Adam, the next step is to now wake up early. I’m not a morning person, more of a nighthawk, and could never got up. The best way I found was to make it a habit by turning into a challenge. Here is what I did, try it out:
http://keystooptimalliving.com/6-am-challenge-the-benefits-of-waking-up-early/
Good stuff. I like your idea there. Thanks for stopping by, Ethan.