Morning Routines: Briskly or a Bit Too Risky?
5:30 AM - The irritably contentious alarm clock sounds, beep beep beeping until you finally decide it’s time to open your eyes, touch the bottom of your feet to the cold, hardwood floor, and begin the day. Bright and early, the morning has just begun, along with all of the intricate tasks that come with getting ready.
Early rising has an abundance of positive effects that one can easily defend why it is vital. In a study by Matt Sandrini of the Time Zillionaire, it was found that getting an earlier start to the morning allows for better day-to-day habits, as well as a more significant sleep quality. The “night owls” always seem to have less healthy patterns and, if you’re going to bed extremely late, “you are missing out on the deepest, and most restorative part of your sleep.” On top of this, one German study found that people who tend to stay up later have much less white matter, or the fatty tissue in the brain that allows nerve communication, within the brain. Early risers tend to have lower levels of procrastination, are always timely, and can stay focused for much longer. Lastly, many researchers affiliate early risers with a higher pay rate in the real world. The University of San Diego calculated, “One extra hour of sleep increases income 4.5%”, meaning that skipping that last episode of This Is Us to get an earlier bedtime is worthwhile in the end.
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7:00 AM - For the eighth time of the hour, the alarm clock screams out, sending the ever so familiar “oh crap” sensation through every inch of your body. Looking good no longer matters, the most important piece of the morning is getting out.
In contrast to the intent of rising early comes waking up late. Amy Morin, an author for the Very Well Family, informs her audience that by waking up later, “[people] may be more likely to get the recommended amount of sleep [... and] more natural sleep/wake cycles”. Often, when people lack the “boost” that sleep fulfills, they turn to stimulants to keep them awake, for example, caffeine. Found in an array of products, caffeine artificially arouses the nervous system, allowing people to stay awake longer. However, biologically, this isn’t the best option, thus concluding that staying in bed longer is the better, more natural decision. In addition, adequate sleep also leads to better performance throughout the day, whereas sleep deprivation can only lead to health-related issues.
In completing a survey of some of the students from Licking Valley High School’s English teacher, Mrs. Adkins, it was concluded that 28% of the students tend to wake up “early” (5:30 and before), while 22% of them wake up “late” (6:45 and later). That leaves 50% of those students waking up at a “moderate” time (from 6:00 - 6:30).
Ultimately, there will always be the early birds and late risers, and, while they both have their ups and downs, distinguishing the two will always lead to a blurry line. For you, it all comes down to hearing the alarm clock for the first time in the morning: does that mean it’s time to hit the snooze or time to take on the day?