Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise: Practical Tips for Becoming an Early Riser

Ben Franklin said it way back in 1735:

Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

I think Ben was on to something.

Although I struggle with the early to bed part, and I have for as far back as I can remember.

However, over the past several weeks, as I’ve tried really hard to get up early to start my day (link), it’s forced me to do better at going to bed earlier so I can then get up earlier.

Studies have actually proven that getting up early has several benefits:

• You’re more proactive.
• You feel more in charge of your day than the other way around.
• You’re more able to anticipate problems, which means you can get ahead of them and hopefully eliminate them before they happen.
• When use those early hours to organize your day, you have better control over your day instead of your day controlling you, and you’ll find you have more time for the priorities in your life rather than spending time putting out fires (see #3).
• If you work out in the morning, you can cross “exercise” off your to-do list first thing, which makes the day go better since you’ve already accomplished something that is important for both physical and mental well-being. And exercise has been shown to increase our energy levels, which also makes the day go better.
• As weird as this sounds, getting up early helps you sleep better. But only if you also go to bed at a good time.
• You’ll make better choices and decisions throughout the day.
• You’ll be more optimistic. Life will just look better, no matter what’s going on.
• You can get some all-important quiet time before your “world” (and work stuff) wakes up.
• You’ll get more quality time with family and friends since you’ve started your day earlier, freeing up time later in the day for other things.

So, way back in 1735, Ben was right. Getting up early can definitely help us be healthier, wealthier (both temporally and mentally), and wise.

For me, getting up early helps me cross some priorities off my to-do list first thing in the morning when I’m definitely at my best, and I feel like I’m more in control of my day rather than the other way around.

Getting up early starts the night before, so in order to help you get up early, it’s important to put a nightly routine in place.

Nighttime tips for early risers:

• Set an alarm to remind you it’s time to get ready for bed.
• Set out workout clothes the night before so you don’t have to think about or find what to wear.
• Give yourself plenty of time to get ready for bed so you when bedtime hits, the lights go out.
• If you have a hard time sleeping, try using a sound machine. “The Beach” is my favorite sound!
• Exercise regularly—working out has been shown to help you sleep better! But if working out later in the day or at night will keep you awake (me!), then plan your workouts for earlier in the day.
• Go to bed at the same time every night. I do fudge this a bit on the weekends, but then I don’t get up as early on the weekends either.
• If caffeine will keep you up, skip it later in the day.
• Drink some calming herbal tea.
• Take a bath.
• Make sure your bedroom is cooler. We started keeping our temp at 68 at night, and it’s made a world of difference!
• No matter what time you go to bed the night before, get up at the same time every morning. Think back to when you were in school: No matter what time you went to bed the night before, you always showed up for that morning class. Just because you stayed up too late doesn’t mean your class start time changed.

For me, a cool bedroom + a sound machine have made all the difference in my sleep, helping me do better at the early rising thing.

What tips do you have for being an early riser? Please share!