Gone are the days of the Barter System, when people exchanged goods, instead of actually paying a price. However, in the present world all things, expensive or inexpensive, come with a price tag attached. With the advent of modern technology, in exchange for a lucrative job, carrying a fat pay scale and some extra perks, what that most people pay is a very heavy price- sleep. While the whole world is asleep, some techies are busy at their computers, working all night, catching up on some precious lost sleep, during the daytime. This besides changing their natural biological clocks causes sleep deprivation. However, all said and done nothing better than enjoying the luxury of seven to eight hours peaceful sleep at night. As Benjamin Franklin rightly said “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise”. With health, everything else falls into place naturally, and to enjoy good health one must be a morning lark instead of a night owl. Let us now delve into a few positive benefits that early birds enjoy compared to late night owls.
1.Experience the Charm of Early Morning: Night owls miss the picturesque beauty of the morning sunrise, spreading its beams painting the sky in an array of vibrant colours. They also miss the sounds of the chirping birds, the gentle breeze, and the first blossoms with little drops of translucent dew, an atmosphere filled with serenity, imparting an inner peace and calm.
2. Time to Meditate: The beauty and calm of the early hours, filled with peace and quiet is the best time to meditate, pray or practice yoga. This, besides strengthening your inner self imparts a sense of satisfaction, calm to your body and mind.
3.Time to Exercise: Early risers enjoy the extra benefits of regular exercise by way of brisk morning walks, running, jogging, and breathing in fresh unpolluted air. The quality of good oxygen maximizes brain function, prevents lung damage, accelerates blood circulation and increases body defenses. This sets the tone for the day, refreshing body, stimulating the release of those feel good brain chemicals known as endorphin, boosting moods, providing the energy to carry on the day with increased confidence.
4. Increase Productivity and Efficiency: A study conducted at the Texas University in 2008 revealed that early risers are more prone to be productive and efficient at work. In fact, students who wake up early are known to get higher grades than those who wake up late. Moreover night owls linked with intelligence and creativity are more prone to depression, exhibiting anxieties with a pessimistic attitude and irrational neurotic behaviour, wherein early birds are more optimistic, tolerant, pleasant and meticulous.
5. Eating Breakfast: According to studies, Breakfast is the most important meal for refueling after a six to eight hour fast from the previous night. Therefore, early rising gives extra time to prepare a healthy and nutritious breakfast. However, skipping breakfast, due to lack of time, leads to various health problems making the body run in fumes. During lunchtime when hunger strikes, to compensate for loss of breakfast, most people tend to overeat, gorging on unhealthy food. Over eating during lunchtime adds on to those extra kilos leading to obesity. Since early risers have timely breakfast, they maintain ideal body mass index.
6.Sunshine Vitamins: Waking up early also help nourish the bones, as the body gets plenty of exposure to sunlight, abundant in vitamin D. Sun exposure in the morning, before nine, is considered the best time to obtain the required amount of calcium and vitamin D.
