Is Getting Up Early The Biggest Mistake We Make Every Day?

How many times have you heard that “who gets up early, God helps him”? A popular saying that our parents used a lot to wake us up in the morning to go to school and make us see that getting up early was a good option. Even Miguel de Cervantes affirmed that “whoever does not get up early with the sun does not enjoy the day.”

However, now after years of suffering in the morning or enduring the torture of our conscience for not doing it, it turns out that getting up early is not as good as they have sold us. Thus, perhaps those who affirm that “by getting up early does not wake up earlier” end up winning this battle of popular sayings.

In recent decades, most European societies have defended the use of light and day to work and take advantage of the day. However, it has been precisely on this continent where the study has been carried out that shows that getting up early can be harmful to our body and mind.

Why is it not good to get up early

They have been researchers from the University of Westmister, in England, who have carried out the study. In it, it is estimated that getting up excessively early is not a positive thing, and can even shorten our lives. Dr. Angela Clow has led the study conducted among 42 volunteers over several weeks. In addition, saliva samples were taken 8 times a day, one of which was right after waking up.

Based on the data obtained, it has been shown that people who wake up too early are more prone to headaches. In addition, they also suffer from more muscular problems and a great tendency to bad mood is noticed in their attitude.

Therefore, the key time established by the study is 7:21 in the morning. People who regularly get up before then show higher levels of cortisol. This favors the appearance of stress, since this is the responsible hormone.

Other study data

However, someone may think that, as long as they sleep 8 hours, it does not matter when they get up. This is not the case, since the study shows that with the same amount of sleep, early risers are more prone to stress and even anger.

However, those people who wake up somewhat later than the indicated time boast of a higher quality in their social relationships. In the most intimate settings, they are also especially comfortable.

However, there is a positive figure for those who prefer to get up earlier. According to Dr. Clow’s study, people who wake up earlier show greater ability to concentrate.

How to reduce stress

So, if you are one of those people forced to get up very early for work or family reasons, you should lower your stress levels. Remember that stress is a great epidemic in the most industrialized societies. Far from being merely mental, it can become somatized and cause serious physical problems. Hence, it is necessary to adopt healthy habits that lower it:

• Managing time effectively is essential . Rushing and doing everything at the last minute are not good advisers.
• You don’t need to be a perfectionist to the extreme. It’s a good idea to relax a bit in this regard.

• Playing sports that do not require high intensity and that keep us away from strong stress for a while are always a good idea. They are fantastic managers of anxiety.

• Using positive thinking is also a good stress reducer. If we see everything black, it will end up taking over every corner of our thinking and we will end up creating ghosts in the corners where there is really no threat. On the other hand, we will overestimate the danger of threats that do exist.
• A healthy diet is a good idea to manage stressful situations. Avoid highly processed products, excess fat, and alcoholic beverages.

• As we have said, the hours of sleep are basic. If you can’t get up later, at least try to rest 8 hours a day. If they can be followed overnight, so much the better.
• Activities such as humor, mindfulness, listening to a good musical concert, watching a funny movie or play… Let activities that relax you and make you have a good time enter your world.

Remember, getting up early is not always a good idea. The important thing is that you get to know your body and find, within the range that your obligations allow, the best time to feel good. Excesses, even with sleep, are practically always negative. In this and other cases, common sense, discipline, small pleasures and information are our best weapons to live better.