Wake up early

In the age of the DVR and Hulu, there isn't any reason to stay up late on a week night. It is important to get enough sleep, but it's difficult to get this sleep when you're up after midnight, and you work at eight in the morning. And the mornings are hectic when there is barely enough time to get a shower and put on some clothes. I suggest a radical idea, for a young person. Wake up early.

Why should I wake up early?

The morning routine is often fraught with stress. Toilet. Shower. Shave. Clothes. Food. Rush to work. I know how it is. Most mornings, I miss one or more of these things. Spend a few more minutes in the shower, and now you don't have time to shave. Or maybe you don't eat breakfast and still get to work late. Whatever your morning ritual, I bet you wish you had more time to complete it.

The working man
As an employed worker, the main purpose of waking up early is to arrive on time, and ready to work. If you're not on time, or not ready to work when you do arrive, you are cheating your employer. Don't think they don't notice this. Having more time to prepare for work in the morning will make you more ready to work when you arrive (on time).

If you work as an independent contractor, or if you're self-employed, the morning is a great time to plan your day. Before the busyness of the day's tasks, you can spend some time thinking about what needs to be done, and putting together a game plan for how it will go down. Preparation will make the whole day easier. Just knowing there is a plan is a great help.

Personal fulfillment
There's also a personal benefit to rising early: Slowing down your morning will provide you with less stress throughout your day. Maybe you just need more time to complete the tasks you already undertake in the morning. Maybe some of that extra time can just go to quiet contemplation or meditation. Quiet time to read a book or magazine to get your brain engaged for the day.

For the more industrious amongst us, the morning is a great time to get some of the house chores completed. Getting these done while you still have energy will allow you to get home from work and just relax without the guilt that comes from neglecting the domestic duties.

Or maybe you just want to get fit, and can't seem to find the time in your busy schedule. Waking up early provides you the time to have a jog, or maybe put in that exercise DVD you bought six months ago but couldn't find time to use. Not only will you feel better about yourself for finally getting active, exercise will help you feel better throughout the day.

How to wake up early

As with anything: it's easier said than done. Routines and habits are hard to break. So you will have to be deliberate. But you don't have to do it all at once.

Get in bed
This seems like such a simple thing to say, but it's important. If you get in bed, you will fall asleep. Don't think hanging out on the computer, playing a video game, or watching TV on the couch will put you to sleep. The bright, flickering images actually keep you awake longer, and disrupts your sleep. Just get under the covers, and prepare for sleep. Read a book, or listen to music.

You need to get in bed earlier if you are planning on waking up earlier. As I said in the opening, sleep is important. You need between seven and eight hours of sleep to really recharge your batteries. Yes, staying up late to watch CSI might be relaxing after a long day at work, but sleeping is even more relaxing, and it will make you feel better the next day.

Set your alarm
You probably have an alarm set already. In that case, just move the alarm earlier. If you wake up at 7:00 AM now, I don't suggest jumping to 5:00 AM immediately - you'll probably just feel terrible and give up on the idea. Instead, move your clock early gradually in 5-minute increments every other week until you're at the desired awake time. You'll hardly notice the difference.

Move your alarm
I'm sure most young people these days just use their cell phones as alarm clocks, but this still applies: Don't keep your clock on your nightstand. Put it someplace that will cause you to get out of bed to turn it off. This cures the snooze button.

An added benefit for those who do use their cell phones: The science behind cancer and cell phone use hasn't settled yet, but it's probably better to be safe than sorry. Some studies do show a risk of cancer from cell phone use. If your cell phone is on your night stand, just inches away from your head for hours on end, you may be running a high-risk scenario.

Eat like a king
Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day. Studies have shown eating a healthy breakfast will help you focus the rest of the day, and will provide energy throughout the day. You know the saying, "Breakfast like a king. Lunch like a prince. Dinner like a pauper."

I have moved my mornings early recently, and I find the benefits tremendous. I now have an hour in the morning to work out three days a week, and the other two weekdays are used catching up on reading, or some other activity I lost time for recently. It even carries over to the weekend, where I find myself much more relaxed. Give it a try.