I woke up at 5 am for 15 days and here is how it changed me

I had never been a morning person. I used to force myself out of the bed at 8 am to reach my office on time. My nights usually ended by 12 or 1 am, that too after watching two movies back to back. As you can see, sleep was never a priority for me, rather a daily job. I got cranky when I got less sleep and felt overly lethargic when I got excess.

One day, my mother who saw my lazy schedule commented on how much weight I had gained and how I was wasting my time. This somehow irritated every inch of my body and I challenged her that I could change all of this. Little did I know that in an effort to do that, I will end up changing myself for the better.

So there started my journey and I decided to wake up every day at 5 am for two weeks to see if it would make any difference. Here’s how things changed for me:

HIGH ON ENERGY: Prior to my early morning stint, I would just feel super lazy at any time of the day. If someone told me to get a file for them from another department, I used to make a face. Once I started waking at 5 am, I noticed that my energy levels were becoming better. Initially it was very tough to wake up so early, but eventually I started looking forward to my early morning time.

I HAD MORE TIME IN HAND: For any millennial like me, time management is a hassle. With social life, office and home to juggle, we often end up being stressed. Once I started waking up early in the morning, I realised I had more time in hand to enjoy the things I like. This included reading a book, finishing up on pending work, cooking, cycling or just being alone in peace.

I BECAME ORGANISED: When you get more time in hand, you automatically start organising things to make better use of it. I used a planner to do the same. I planned my day by the hour and it helped me become more productive!

I EXERCISED EVERYDAY: I have always run away from exercise. I would rather use the lift to reach my office floor than take the stairs. Waking up early definitely made me more self-aware. I started cycling for one hour every morning and lost 2 kgs in the process.

I ATE BREAKFAST IN PEACE: Since I woke up late and reached office in a jiffy, breakfast was never an option. Most days, I skipped breakfast and hogged during lunch. When I got the opportunity to design my day, I chose to eat breakfast in peace. And how delighted I was to enjoy the things that mattered! Of course, all thanks to my mother!
By: Niya Khan