Reclaim Your Mornings!

Set your alarm an hour earlier this summer and discover a whole new world of wellness

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How do you start your day? Do you spring out of bed, raring to go for a run? Or do you groggily hit the snooze button, ending up late to work for the sake of a few extra minutes in bed? If it’s the latter, you’re missing out on what many wellbeing experts say is the key to a happy, successful life – the early-morning ritual.

It’s no coincidence that many of the world’s most famous high-fliers start their day hours before most of us are awake. In a world that never stops, rising early is often the only way they can enjoy uninterrupted ‘me time’ and get ahead with their day. Apple’s Tim Cook wakes at 3.45am to deal with emails before heading to the gym at 4.30am. Michelle Obama works out at the crack of dawn before tackling her inbox, and Jennifer Aniston rises at 4.30am when working, for meditation, a Spin session, and yoga. Indeed, super-achievers’ early-morning rituals usually involve some form of exercise. And, as word has spread of the benefits, the early-bird trend has started to grow. From sunrise yoga classes to crack-of-dawn runs, early-morning workouts are everywhere.

EARLY-BIRD BENEFITS

You can always spot an early-morning exerciser – they’re the person emanating a virtuous, post-workout glow from their desk as everyone else shuffles wearily into the office. And there’s a good reason for early birds to feel smug – scientific studies show they do, indeed, catch the worm. According to a study from Bristol University, if you exercise first thing, your concentration levels at work may rise by as much as 21 percent,

your productivity can skyrocket by 41 percent and your risk of burnout goes down. Morning workouts also help kickstart your metabolism and aid a good night’s sleep.