Most people consider themselves either night owls or early birds. I fall somewhere in between, but I’ve found that waking up earlier suits me best.
I’m not saying you must rise at 4 a.m.—I know many people who do, and I’m not one of them. The point is simply to wake a bit earlier than usual, instead of rushing out the door or sleeping late into the afternoon.
Some of you might think I’m asking too much when I suggest getting up an hour or two before you need to leave for work. I used to be a true night owl and absolutely hated mornings, so I get it.
When I worked a regular job, mornings were the worst. I’d wake up just in time and bolt out the door, or I’d groggily try to squeeze side-hustle work into the morning. Even when I worked on side projects in the morning, the start of my day felt rushed and chaotic.
Beyond the hectic starts, my sleep schedule was inconsistent: late nights, no set bedtime, and attempts to catch up on sleep over the weekend. That habit—trying to make up sleep on weekends—turned out to be a big mistake.
Had I gone to bed earlier and risen earlier, my mornings would have been far more pleasant. Since then I’ve discovered several real benefits to waking up before the rush.
Of course, everyone is different. But if your current routine isn’t working—if you feel pressed for time or perpetually behind—trying an earlier wake-up might help.
Benefits of waking up earlier
More daylight hours
Waking up earlier naturally gives you more daylight to enjoy. That extra sunlight means more opportunities for outdoor activity, a morning walk, reading on your porch, or simply basking in the early sun that streams through your windows. If you sleep until noon, you may only get five or six hours of daylight, and if you wake just before work you might miss the sun entirely. For me, staying up late and waking late often made the day feel over before it even began.
Less rushing
Waking up right before you need to be somewhere often leads to a frantic morning: skipped breakfast, grumpiness, forgotten items, and the stress of hurrying out the door. That rushed feeling can sour the rest of your day. Even one extra morning hour can give you time to prepare a proper breakfast, read, work on a side hustle, pack a lunch, or squeeze in a quick workout—so you start the day calm and focused.
Time to eat breakfast
Breakfast deserves repeating: when you’re not scrambling in the morning, you’re much more likely to sit down and actually enjoy a meal. Many people—especially night owls—call themselves “not breakfast people,” but often that’s simply because they’re in a hurry. A peaceful morning makes it easier to prioritize a healthy breakfast, which sets a better tone and energy level for the day.
Better sleep quality
Early risers tend to keep more consistent sleep schedules, while night owls often sleep at irregular times. A regular routine usually improves sleep quality. Research in reputable journals has linked irregular sleep patterns to worse health markers—so establishing steady bed and wake times can support both rest and overall well-being.
You can’t “bank” sleep
One persistent myth is that you can catch up on lost sleep by sleeping in on weekends. While extra rest may ease daytime sleepiness temporarily, it doesn’t fully erase the deficits caused by chronic poor sleep. Inconsistent sleep can impair focus, memory, and mood in the short term and increase risks to long-term health. Maintaining a steady sleep schedule is far more effective than relying on occasional long sleeps to fix deficits.
How to start waking up earlier
If you want to become an early riser, try these practical tips:
- Set a gradual alarm. Start by waking 10–30 minutes earlier than usual and progress gradually until you reach your target wake-up time. Rapid, drastic changes are harder to sustain.
- Move your alarm away from the bed. Placing the alarm out of reach forces you to get up to turn it off, reducing the temptation to hit snooze.
- Go to bed earlier. Adjusting your bedtime is essential; if your body is used to late nights, shifting sleep earlier will take time. Reading in bed or light exercise in the evening can help you relax and fall asleep sooner.
- Open your curtains before bed. Leaving curtains open makes your room lighter at sunrise, which naturally encourages you to wake with the sun.
- Set an electronics curfew. Powering down phones, tablets, and TVs well before bed reduces exposure to blue light and mental stimulation. Electronics can suppress melatonin and make falling asleep harder, so stepping away from screens supports better sleep.
Do you prefer waking early or are you a night owl? If you feel better staying up late, what makes that schedule work for you?