being early risers

being early risers

Individuals who are highly productive and successful tend to have at least one habit in common: being early risers.

What’s so great about getting up early? Well, for one thing, mornings tend to have fewer distractions and therefore allow you the peace and quiet you need to knock out important tasks such as studying for classes.

This is particularly beneficial for students whose waking hours tend to revolve around classes and school activities such as sports, clubs and socializing.

If you can get up ahead of the pack, you’ll find that just an hour of early morning studying can have a great impact on your information retention and your GPA.

Here are some easy ways for you to train yourself into getting up early to hit the books:

Be Wary of Nightcaps

Having a drink right before going to bed can make it all the harder for you to wake up early in the morning. You’re more likely to be tired, dehydrated and groggy if you drank right before going to sleep.

Keep Away from Electronics

Studies show that accessing electronic devices before bedtime can lead to insomnia or troubled sleep. So using your laptop or cell phone, checking your Facebook or text messages or watching YouTube videos right before bed can lead to a lot of tossing and turning, making it more challenging for you to rise and shine early in the morning. These activities stimulate the brain and the senses in ways that make it difficult to “disconnect” from when you close your eyes and try to sleep.

Read Yourself to Sleep

On the other hand, reading tends to have a calming effect on the brain and reading a book before bed can lead to deeper, more relaxing sleep

Meditate

Meditation can be beneficial in many different ways. In addition to enhancing concentration, it can also have a calming effect on the mind, which is perfect for those trying to develop a restful sleep routine. There are some guided meditations geared towards enhancing sleepiness which you can listen to while you drift off to sleep.

Eat a Light Dinner

Eating heavy meals or drinking a lot of caffeine at night or even in the afternoon can lead to sleep disturbances or difficulty drifting off to begin with. Foods that are high in fat, fast foods and sugar-laden foods can be difficult to digest, leading to indigestion or discomfort, which is the last thing you want when you’re trying to get some Zzz’s. Try to eat light in the evening and eat at least two hours before bedtime.

Get Some Exercise During the Day

An exercise routine, no matter if it’s only a half an hour walk, can have a great effect on the body. When the body feels tired, the brain also tends to follow suit. Expending some energy during the day can lead to better sleep at night.

Set an Ambiance

Some scents can help put you into a relaxed state such as lavender and vanilla. You could use some aromatherapy sprays to enhance your relaxation. Taking a warm shower, drinking some chamomile tea (which has a relaxing effect) and dimming the lights can also help signal to your body it’s time to settle in for the night.

Create a Night Routine

You can use a combination of these strategies to create a routine every night before you go to bed. Creating a consistent routine will help you sleep better on a regular basis and allow you to get the hours of sleep you need to wake up early in the morning.

Create a Morning Routine

A morning routine is just as important as a night routine. Maybe you want to drink a cup of tea or coffee first thing in the morning before cracking the books open or do five minutes of meditation before beginning your day. Whatever you need to get yourself into the studying groove.

Hope these tips help you get a good night’s rest so you can tackle your studies early each morning!