In Need of Superwoman Powers? Hint: Wake up Early

Waking up when the sun rises does not just give you a feel-good vibe, but it also gives you an edge over your rivals in a competitive corporate business environment. Many prominent female CEOs and presidents share the inherent quality of waking up before dawn, followed by some light physical activity before initiating their business dealings.

Examples of women who follow this regimen include Michelle Gass, president of Starbucks, who kicks off her day at 4.30 a.m. by exercising and running, which she describes as vital for her personal confidence and success. She believes that when she feels amazing, she is able to perform at her best.

President of Starbucks Michelle Gass

Early Rise

Waking up early is associated with a higher level of success and productivity, whether at work or at home. According to a study conducted by the University of Texas, students who were early risers tended to achieve better grades whilst also being better at foreseeing potential problems and actively seeking possible solutions and workarounds. Further studies have also concluded sufficient evidence linking morning people with higher productivity, proactivity, a high success rate, and bigger paychecks.

Research also shows that morning people are generally associated with personality traits like positivity, optimism, clarity of thought, and meticulousness. That does not mean that people who tend to stay awake during the night are to be ignored; research suggests these individuals are associated with personality traits like creativity and intelligence, but also exhibit some negative mannerisms like depression and pessimism.

Experts also suggest that waking up early has the added benefit of using your peak productivity time for important tasks like appointments, standardized tests, examinations, and interviews, which are often scheduled in the morning

An Edge over your Competition

According to some, being one of the first people to enter the office gives you a tremendous advantage since you have an extra hour to get things done while avoiding the early morning hustle and bustle which can tend to be distracting. Early risers believe that the time they spend in the office before everyone else arrives is typically their most productive time during the whole day and not only can they get more work done, they can also plan more effectively for the day to come and prioritize their work-related activities.

One of the main benefits associated with waking up early is that you get enough time to squeeze in a quick workout before starting your day, which can pay dividends in the hours to come; not only does early morning exercise boost your positive demeanor and energy, it also releases healthy hormones in your body which can help maintain a positive mental state for longer. Additionally, waking up early also helps to promote better sleeping patterns and schedules since you would not only be going to sleep earlier but ensuring that you get your adequate amount of daily shuteye.

Working Mothers and Wives: The Real Heroes

Researchers also have science to back up the benefits of early mornings; according to scientists, going to bed early at night and waking up when the sun rises aligns your natural body clock with the Earth’s diurnal rhythms which means that sleeping during this time can be much more invigorating and soothing, given that you do get at least seven to nine hours of sleep daily.

Experts are worried that most executives who are early risers tend to deprive themselves of sleep by sleeping late and waking up way too soon and in most cases, that is true. Many executives and entrepreneurs like Kevin O’ Leary and MaryAnne Gilmartin only tend to sleep 4 to 5 hours a day and claim that there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done.

One of the problems with hardworking women in the workplace is that they also need to balance work life with home responsibilities and many claim this can result in a responsibility overload, leading to tension and can promote a feeling of injustice since they are expected to adequately fulfill their responsibilities in both environments and give their full commitment to both their work and personal life.