Health

Learn about the health benefits of being an early bird

Are you an early riser? If so, you may be reaping the rewards of your habit in the form of better health! Check out these early bird health benefits and see for yourself.

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Waking up early may seem like a chore, but it’s actually good for you!

Waking up a little bit earlier can make a huge difference in your life. Source: Freepik.

Do you get up early in the morning, before everyone else in your house is stirring? If so, you may be surprised to learn that there are a number of health benefits associated with being an early bird.

Generally speaking, there are two groups of people: night owls and early birds. Most people fall in one group or the other.

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Your sleeping habits are influenced by a number of things, such as your age, genetics and even your mattress.

Being a night owl isn’t exactly a bad thing. However, research over the years has found that there are more health benefits in being an early bird.

Even if you’re genetically inclined to being a night owl, it doesn’t mean you can’t make the switch. Keep reading to learn why you should consider doing so.

The many health benefits of being an early bird

Many people dread getting up early in the morning, but there are actually quite a few health benefits to being an early bird. See below why adapting your sleeping hours can be good for you.

You develop better eating habits

Wake up early and eat a good healthy breakfast. Source: Freepik.

If you’re an early riser, you may not feel too great about it when your alarm goes off. But it turns out there are some health benefits to being an early bird.

According to research, people who wake up early tend to have healthier eating habits than those who are “night owls”.

The study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Southern California, found that early risers were more likely to eat breakfast and less likely to skip meals.

They also tended to eat fewer late-night snacks and have fewer cravings for sugary and fatty foods.

In addition, the early bird group was more likely to eat at regular intervals throughout the day, while the night owl group was more likely to have large gaps between meals.

You have time to get better physical health

Starting the day early has a lot of benefits for your physical health. For one, you’re more likely to get in a workout.

Early risers are often able to fit in a morning run or trip to the gym before their day gets too busy, whereas night owls may find it harder to find time for exercise.

Exercising is essential for good physical health, so this is a major advantage of being an early bird. In addition, early risers are less likely to indulge in unhealthy late-night eating.

After a long day, it can be tempting to order takeout or raid the pantry for snacks, but if you’re already full from eating breakfast and lunch, you’re less likely to make unhealthy choices.

It helps improve your mental health

Did you know that waking up early can have a positive impact on your mental health?

According to specialists, people who are early birds are more likely to experience improved mental health than those who are night owls.

A series of different studies show that early risers have lower levels of anxiety and depression. They are also more likely to report higher levels of satisfaction with their lives.

Additionally, early birds were found to be more productive and efficient at work.

Being a night owl does not mean that your mental health is struggling.

However, it means you might have to work a bit harder to get sunlight and exercise in order to keep it in top shape. 

Tips for switching from night owl to early bird

Waking up early might not be easy, but it is for sure good for your health. Source: Freepik.

Unfortunately, there are no magic potions that can make you switch your sleeping hours instantly. However, nothing is set in stone and you can still reap the health benefits in becoming an early bird.

While this change won’t happen overnight, there are a few things you can do to start the process. It’s important to remember you need to keep at it to achieve results.

Before you know it, you’ll be able to really feel the health benefits of being an early bird.

Prioritize your routine before bed

Make sure you’re getting enough sleep each night and that your sleeping environment is dark, quiet, and cool. Secondly, avoid caffeine and alcohol in the evening so that you’re not keeping yourself up unnecessarily.

Finally, establish a bedtime routine that will help you relax and wind down for the night.

Once you’ve incorporated these tips into your nightly routine, you’ll likely find it easier to wake up early and start your day on the right foot.

Let the sunshine in

One of the best health benefits of becoming an early bird is taking advantage of natural lighting. A sure fire way to wake up feeling refreshed in the morning is to use natural light.

Open the curtains or blinds as soon as you wake up, and let the sunlight pour into the room. Sunlight is a natural cue for our bodies to wake up, and it can help to boost our mood and energy levels.

In addition, try to get some fresh air first thing in the morning. Even just a few minutes of deep breathing can help to energize your body and mind.

Move your bedtime by 15 to 20 minutes

To reap the health benefits of being an early bird, you have to start slowly. If you’re not a morning person, the thought of getting up early can be daunting.

But there are some simple things you can do to make the transition to an early bedtime and wake-up time a little easier.

First, start by moving your bedtime by 15-20 minutes for a few nights. Then, slowly continue to move your bedtime earlier until you’re going to bed at your desired time.

Once you’ve established a new bedtime, stick to it as best as you can during the week.

Also, avoid hitting the snooze button in the morning so that you can get used to getting up at your new wake-up time.

Keep your phone away from your bed

There are quite a few easy tips you can follow if you want to take advantage of the health benefits in becoming an early bird. One practical tip is to avoid bringing your phone to bed with you.

It’s tempting to scroll through social media or answer a few emails before turning in for the night, but this can actually make it harder to fall asleep.

The blue light emitted by screens can disrupt your body’s natural sleep cycle, making it more difficult to drift off.

So instead of reaching for your phone when you climb into bed, try reading a book or taking a few minutes to relax. You may find that you sleep better and have an easier time getting up in the morning.

How to boost your immune system

With the colder months starting to settle in, our immune system becomes compromised.

While there are plenty of health benefits in being an early bird, there are other things you can do to make sure you’ll stay healthy during fall and winter.

Check out the link below to learn how you can naturally boost your immune system and steer clear of colds and other diseases.

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How to boost your immune system to stay healthy

Do you want to learn how to optimize your immune system? Here are a few tips that will help you stay healthy all year long. Read on for more!

About the author  /  Aline Barbosa

Aline Barbosa is an editor, writer and learning-enthusiast. Passionate about music, books and human behavior. Curious about the unknown. Believer that learning is a life-long process.

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