Why becoming an early riser will make you happier
Mornings are a time for freedom and appreciation
I was once a notorious late riser. I remember when I was in school, I once rolled up to a Politics lesson at midday. My teacher, Dr Pickles (the most principled and scrupulous person I have ever met) asked me why I was late. I admitted that I overslept. She respected my honesty, but it wasn’t ideal that my natural waking time was eleven a.m. Now, I get up at eight a.m. every day and I always go to bed before midnight. Once I am back at university, I’d like to start getting up at seven. Rising early isn’t a chore at all; I love it.
Real happiness stems from meaning, purpose and things which are good for you, not those which make you feel good in the moment. Jordan Peterson’s seventh rule for life is to pursue what is meaningful, not what is expedient. The morning is a time for aloneness, for reflection, for productivity: fresh and quiet, an opportunity to pursue what is meaningful. Late evening is a time for relaxation, for watching TV, for being on your phone, for just one more glass of wine: convenient and easy, raw pleasure. You certainly need time in the day for this, but in excess, it becomes less meaningful and loses its charm. You’re certainly not losing out if you go to bed at eleven rather than one.
How to become an early riser
I successfully made this transformation a few months ago, and I am infinitely glad that I did; it has had a genuine impact on my wellbeing. The first week or so is hard, especially if you don’t have anything to get up for; you have to be mentally strong. Leave your alarm on the other side of the room and try to make it a habit go to the bathroom very first thing to clean your teeth and wash your face — this will wake you up. Maybe you’ve slipped into a bad sleep cycle due to lockdown
Having work, college or university in the morning makes it easier, but it defeats the object if you only leave yourself time to get dressed, ready and fed; At least an hour and a half to yourself before you leave the house is ideal.
Mornings are a time for enjoying the beauty of aloneness
Most people prefer not to talk too much in the mornings. Your mind and body need time to wake up and warm up. If you wake up and feel ready to engage in an energetic conversation then you are blessed; for the majority of people, this is not the case. It can make you grumpy and irritable if you’re forced to engage with people before you are ready to, which puts you in a bad frame of mind for the rest of the day.
You therefore need time in the morning to be alone, and to enjoy that serene aloneness. In his profound text, Love, Freedom and Aloneness, the Indian guru Osho stresses that one needs to:
“Become aware of your aloneness, which it is a reality. And it is so beautiful to experience it, to feel it, because it is your freedom from the crowd, from the other. It is your freedom from being lonely.”
How to make the most of your mornings
Getting up early will only maximise your happiness levels if you actually maximise the mornings themselves. If you just sit at the kitchen table with a hunched back, sluggishly scrolling on your phone and knocking back coffee, getting up early isn’t going to have much of an impact on your life.
- Get up at the same time every day.
- Create a routine (for example: clean teeth, get dressed, go for a walk, meditate, eat, write)
- Find some space to reflect, whether that be writing a diary entry or thinking while on a walk
- Incorporate meditation in there somewhere!
- Stay off your phone for the first couple of hours of the day (this one is something I need to work on…)
- Get your body moving — go for a walk, do some yoga, or even go for a run if you’re feeling bold
Reward yourself with some mindful enjoyment
After you’ve woken up your body, meditated and reflected, take twenty minutes to do something enjoyable. You have just treated your mind and body with kindness and respect; now, you can reward yourself. You could savour a cup of coffee, enjoy a few minutes on your phone, or watch some Netflix.
Follow my guidance and every morning, you will be ready to dive into your day with zeal and purpose.I dare you to try it.
