Waking up early can be a very difficult thing, most people say "only morning people wake up early" but is there such a thing? Six months ago my sleep and productivity was a mess, I was going to sleep late (2am) and waking up even later (10am). Like most people who would sleep in, I would say "I'm a night owl" and somehow by saying that it made me feel a little better, when in reality it was just a cover up. Because why was it that if I NEEDED to wake up at 5:30am for work I would feel great in the morning? Was it because of the refreshing misty morning? Or was it because I loved the smell of coffee at dawn? Either way, every time I did wake up at 5:30am there was a certain type of dopamine that I carried throughout the day that helped me get through with a positive attitude.
In my first article I wrote about reading self improvement books and listening to influential people such as CEO's of Fortune 500 companies, Tony Robbins and Ryan Serhant to name a few. These are people making changes in massive ways. I noticed a similarity in all of them, like seriously, in ALL of them. They would wake up at 4:30am, sometimes even earlier! But lets keep it real, most people reading this aren't CEO's of Fortune 500 companies or the next Tony Robbins (that's still to question though). I asked myself, if they're doing it then why don't I? (Well Manuel because you don't own a Fortune 500 company or are the next Elon Musk. Ok I get all that). But I am the CEO of my life, and I needed a change for the better.
I decided that evening that I had enough of waking up late. I was going to start waking up at 5:30am every morning from that point on. I woke up the next morning drowsy, confused and pretty mad (mostly because I set my phone far away). After a few cold splashes of water to the face I was up and headed to the gym. That whole day changed my life, I noticed I was happier, more energized, better organized with my time and making smarter decisions throughout the day. I noticed that it wasn't so bad and that by 10pm, I'd be out cold and getting a better night sleep. I starting taking it further, 5:30am turned into 5am, 5am turned into 4:45am and 4:45am turned into... well lets just say, it's still pitch black outside and a-lot of people are still partying. It was truly like taking steroids for my life without the negative side effects. Now, 4 months into it I decided to share the top 5 benefits I have discovered..
#1: Time Boost
The very first thing that I noticed when waking up at 4:30am was the time boost, meaning I had way more time to do things. I would wake up plan my day, be more productive and knock out the things I needed to first. Most of my friends wake up at 8:30am or even later, and thats fine. But if you think about it by the time they wake up I'm already 4hrs into my day and I've already started or finished tasks. If you put it into a Mon- Fri work week, it equals to 20hrs more that I get! Isn't that crazy!? Time means everything in todays world so those hours are incredibly beneficial. Many notable CEO's have described the benefits of this time boost and all of what its done for their careers. The time boost is truly powerful!
#2: More Energized
You may think "How does waking up at 4:30am give me more energy?" The answer is simple. The benefit I got was that I was ready for the day, I had the time to plan it and get on with it right away. By doing this I was running on adrenaline and the energy and focus I had was so intense, that I was skipping breakfast. I tend to not be hungry at 4:30am and work hard enough that when lunch time hits, I'm looking forward to it. I refuel with a healthy lunch and get back at it for the second part of my day. If you think about it, people who wake up at 8am get to work at 9am have breakfast on the go (usually not a healthy one) will feel lethargic and will usually try and have a pick me up with a sugary energy drink. You see how this is just a bad way to start your day? Early morning rise equals more energy, and more energy equals more productivity.
#3: Time to Yourself
Ask yourself this, how do you usually work throughout the day? Are you working at 100% capacity with no distractions? Probably not, whether its instagram, facebook or that chatty group text that never seems to have an end to their conversations. By waking up at 4:30am those distraction don't seem to be around. Most people are asleep, no group text going off or friends posting on social media. This gives you time to work on yourself, whether its reading the book that you said you were going to start. Or building that e-commerce store to bring in more income. Your mind is fresh and your creativity tank is full! For me it was going to the gym first thing and reading for an hour, but whatever the case is, waking up early actually gives you the extra time you've been looking. NO EXCUSES!
#4: Healthier Lifestyle
Most people if you ask them they want to be fit and look good. Whether its eating healthier or finding the time to exercise. Unfortunately most don't accomplish these goals, its hard to be consistent. For me going to the gym in the evening was tough because by the end of the day I was drained both mentally and physically. And lets face it, when you're in that position all you want to do is get something to eat and watch Netflix. But all of this has a cure, and its as simple as waking up at 4:30am to work out. The extra time boost gives you the flexibility to go to the gym first thing in the morning.
#5: More Discipline + More Freedom
Waking up at 4:30am takes a lot of discipline, once you're able to master this discipline it helps you master and approach things the same way. It gives you the freedom to say yes to some things and no to others. Discipline is a big word, and for anyone who wants to be successful it should not only be engraved in their mind but you should live by it. There's a saying in the marines, "Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die" and its true. If you want to get the prize you have to be willing to pay the price. Saying no to those late night drinks and waking up early is discipline and it will help you in other aspects of life as well.
Since I started waking up early it has altered my life in many ways, these are the top 5 for me. They may be different for you, but I challenge you to try it for two weeks. I guarantee you will see a change for the better. You will perform better at work and approach the day with a different mentality. Remember, it's not going to be easy, it's going to be worth it!
-M
