Sleep your way to success

We always get told how essential it is to get good night sleep whilst at university. I remember this time two years ago when I was about to start university, and it seemed like 90% of people that I asked for advice said something along the lines of “remember to sleep” and “sleep is important.” Sleep impacts your life in so many ways, here are just a few of the ways:

Sleep helps with productivity

I recently read a quote that said: “Win the first hour of the day means that you will win the day”. It’s simple right? I want to win every day, and so all I need to do is win the first hour of the day.

Imagine this situation. You wake up at 7 am, and as a result, your first hour consists of having a healthy breakfast, completing your daily workout, and planning for the day ahead. You immediately feel good about yourself, as well as more relaxed, you are likely to focus more in lectures, and have a fulfilling and productive day ahead. Now compare this to waking up at 8:50 am, and you have a 9 am lecture. You would have to frantically rush just to get ready and go to your lecture, and as a result, you will already be stressed, not setting a good tone for the day ahead.

Waking up early means that there is reduced rush at the start of the day. And more often than not, this can make you feel calmer for the day ahead, which normally leads to higher productivity. This is vital at university, where the majority of students are busy with a variety of task.

Early risers are generally more proactive

A 2008 survey conducted by Harvard Biologist, Christoph Randler showed that a higher percentage of the early-morning risers agreed with statements such as “I spend time identifying long-range goals for myself” and “I feel in charge of making things happen.” In the early hours of the day, there are fewer interruptions and distractions then there would be in the middle of the day.

Many successful people wake up early every day, for example, Richard Branson wakes up at 5:45 am, and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz wakes up at 4:30 am. Furthermore, many of my university friends that are early risers devote the early hours of their day on reflecting on their mental health and how they can make the most of future opportunities that come up.

Waking up early can have a positive impact on your mental health and positivity

The points that I have mentioned above all contribute toward having better mental health, which is crucial in  stressful periods at university. Feeling more productive and more in control of your life does create a feeling of accomplishment. Furthermore, by waking up early, you get to see the amazing sight of the morning sunrise, hear the birds chirping, and experience the smell of fresh air in perfect peace, as well as much more!

Waking up early has spiritual benefits 

In the early hours of the day, everything around you is silent. And your mind is free of thoughts. This means that a lot of early risers use this as a perfect chance to meditate. If you’re a believer, meditation can help bring you closer to God. Furthermore, the most practical time to meditate is indeed the early hours of the morning and not the middle of the day, when we are surrounded by responsibilities.

Waking up early can help you sustain a healthy diet

You may think that if you oversleep, and miss breakfast as a result, then it isn’t a big deal. After all, you can always eat something later, and you can still sustain a healthy diet. But actually, there are more serious repercussions. When you sleep, your body partakes in a fast. Therefore, when you wake up and miss breakfast, your body is in starvation mode. When you are hungry, you typically crave more unhealthy foods.