Nora:
Hi, everyone! This week Lily and I took on the challenge of getting up 30 minutes earlier than normal every day. We wanted to see the impact on our morning routine as well as our mood for the rest of the day. Keep reading to hear about our experiences!
At the beginning of the week, I was really looking forward to this challenge because I tend to be a little rushed in the morning and I wanted to feel like I was preparing myself well for the day. I normally get up around 6:30, so I set my alarm for 6:00 Monday morning. I ended up oversleeping until 7:00 with about half an hour to get ready. I was really frustrated because I had planned to really relax that morning, but I went to school feeling stressed. I came home and had to clean up my room because I had made such a mess getting ready. That night, I set about 10 alarms to make sure I would get up at 6:00 on Tuesday morning.
The next day, I managed to get out of bed at the right time, but I was not happy about it. I really couldn’t function until about 6:30, so I questioned the point of getting up earlier. I went about the rest of my morning, and it was fine, but I was tired. On Wednesday I didn’t really have an issue getting up because it was a late start, so I was happy with my extra time to get ready and prepare all of my school materials. However, on both Thursday and Friday I had the same experience I had had on Monday; I overslept by an hour and had to rush to get out the door, an experience leaving myself feeling stressed and annoyed.
I successfully woke up at 6:00 only ⅕ days this week, a fact that says a lot. There really was no benefit to me doing this system, because I was either more tired than normal, or I had even less time to get ready. I wouldn’t recommend changing your morning schedule unless you feel you aren’t getting enough sleep or are constantly late to school because otherwise it will likely be really hard to adjust and not worth the trouble.
Lily:
A few weeks ago I agreed to drive my friend Lauren to school. Unbenounced to me, I now have to wake up earlier every day in order to swing by Lauren's house. I have been known to set my alarm for 7:30 and hope for the best, but this week I have been setting my alarm for 6:45. With the exception of one day where I slept through my alarm and got an angry text from Lauren about how her mom had to drive her, I have been able to get up and get my day going. It has been refreshing to be fully awake when I arrive at school, and the combination of talk in the car and additional waking time definitely helps. Also, some days I am able to stop for coffee or go for a walk before driving to Holton. Although I wouldn't tell people who lack sleep to wake up earlier, if you feel particularly motivated or have a reason, waking up early can give you extra time to clear your mind and prepare for the day.
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