The motivations for being an early riser are numerous. You don’t hear much about them because those who know about the benefits prefer to keep them a secret for reasons you’ll soon discover.
People who get up early experience the world in ways that a late riser never enjoys. I suspect that late risers are simply unaware of the benefits. I can’t think of a single advantage to being a late riser.
I was first exposed to the early morning world as a kid. I had several incentives to get up early in those days: I wanted to earn money doing my paper route, I wanted to go fishing with my grandfather, and I wanted to go camping with my dad and sister. All of these activities required that I be up and ready to go by 4:00 a.m. I was amazed by what I found in this mysterious and beautiful early morning world.
Early risers are like an underground community. They don’t want others to know the advantages because some of them are its lack of popularity. When you see other early risers, you often feel a sense of camaraderie. It’s like we both know a wonderful secret that the rest of the world doesn’t.
Once you learn about the motivations for being an early riser, you might become one yourself. But don’t tell anybody else about your discovery. We want to remain a small, exclusive club. Here’s the list of incentives for enthusiastically leaping out of bed before the roosters are even up.
- Peacefulness – The stillness and serenity of the early morning do not exist at any other time of the day. The quietest time over 24 hours is just before dawn – 3:00-5:00 am. It’s the time when the least number of cars are on the roads. It’s the time when the least number of people are awake and moving about. And it’s the time when you almost never hear any dogs barking because there is no human activity to arouse them. It’s incredibly peaceful. This alone is a strong enough incentive for many early risers.
- Clarity of nature sounds – The soft rhythmic sounds created by crickets, frogs, and other creatures (depending on the time of year) dominate the atmosphere. Your auditory senses take pleasure in adjusting to this strange, nearly silent world punctuated only by the sounds of nature. Without the bombardment of all the noise that you normally contend with, deep relaxation and tranquility come easily.
- Beauty – The glistening, undisturbed water droplets, dew, frost, or snow (depending on the time of year) on the grass, trees, and shrubs. The fresh fragrances in the air. The gradually brightening sky, changing colors, and rays of light shooting through the trees, plants, and across the landscape. The contrasting combination of seeing the moon (occasionally) and the rising sun at the same time! With its unique natural beauty, pleasing fragrances, and stillness, the visual appeal of a sunrise takes on a special significance. Only an early riser experiences these fleeting moments of beauty.
- Marks a new beginning – The sunrise marks the beginning of a new day, a full supply of energy, and new opportunities. It begins in darkness (rest and rejuvenation) and then moves slowly to full light (energy, activity, and opportunity). In contrast, a sunset marks the end of a day and the end of any possibilities for it. A sunset begins in diminishing light (declining energy and activity) and moves slowly into darkness (inactivity and sleep).
- Best time to meditate – Early morning is the perfect time to meditate because of the quiet and solitude. This is especially true because it happens at the start of your day, which sets the tone for it.
- Best time to review your daily plan – Early morning is an ideal time to review your plan because of the quietness, solitude, and position at the beginning of your day. I say “go over” because it’s best to create your plan at the end of the previous day so that your subconscious mind can go to work on it during the night. This is one of the reasons that I keep a notepad next to my bed. I get ideas almost every night.
- Best time to exercise – It allows you to exercise without interruption. It sets the tone for the day by invigorating your body, stimulating the release of those feel-good brain chemicals (endorphins), and getting you into a confident state of mind. If you belong to a health club, these facilities are usually clean and uncrowded. I have had these conditions 24/7 since I built my own home gym.
- Uncrowded, clean, and well-stocked stores – Grocery shopping is a lot easier and less stressful in the early morning. Not only are the stores clean and uncrowded, but they are also well stocked. Depending on what time you get there, you may have to navigate around some stocking clerks, but I have always found them to be very courteous.
- Uncrowded and clean restaurants – When you go to a restaurant early in the morning, you won’t have to contend with crowds. You will have your choice of tables, your server is able to give you more attention, and the chefs will have the time to prepare a superior meal for you on clean equipment. These are a popular gathering place for early risers.
- Undisturbed by family members or roommates – If you are the only person in your home who is an early riser, you can enjoy your breakfast in peace, pick the television station you want, and use the bathroom without being interrupted or rushed.
- First in line, first out – As an early riser, you can be first in line when you take your car in for service, drop off or pick up your dry cleaning, and take care of tasks at government offices, business headquarters, educational facilities, and retail stores.
- Head start on your work day – Most people’s energy levels and creativity are at their peak at the start of the day. You can take greater advantage of that peak performance period by starting your work at the earliest time possible. And since you’ll probably be alone, or nearly alone if you work in an office, you will not be disturbed by visitors or noise.
Once you experience the full range of benefits of being an early riser, you may never go back to being a snoozer.