5 Perks Of Being A Morning Person

Let’s talk about something I didn’t always love…waking up early. Growing up, I would sleep in as long as my parents let me. Sometimes that meant waking up around lunch time…and still wishing I could sleep longer! It sounds crazy to me now, because if I even sleep until 7AM, I feel like half my day is gone. As I get older, I become more and more of a morning person. I love the quiet moments before (I feel like) the rest of the world is awake and honestly…I swear I get more done! It’s like I tick 5 things off my list and it’s barely 9AM – hallelujah! When I moved to Hawaii and my body was adjusting to the time change and jet lag, I was waking up before the sun. It’s safe to say that nearly 6 years later, I still am 🙂 Today I’m sharing the plus side of this adjustment – 5 perks of being a morning person!

It’s HOT in Hawaii (duh!), so after I have my first  cup of hot coffee, I need something that is going to keep me going, not leave me wanting to crawl into bed. Fellow heat dwellers feel me on this one! I turn to SToK™ Unsweet Cold Brew Iced Coffee, a low and slow cold brew coffee with no weird ingredients. See also: I can pronounce everything on the label. I first discovered SToK™ last summer when I was visiting my parents on the mainland. My mom had picked up a 48 oz. bottle at Walmart after she saw the catchy label (we are suckers for good branding in this family) and the rest is history! We’ve been drinking it ever since here in Hawaii in the morning and throughout the day.

You can pick up your own bottle of SToK™ Unsweet Cold Brew Coffee at your local Walmart in the dairy/refrigerator section and be sure to look for all the flavors – like new SToK™ Chocolate! My favorite is the unsweet black coffee, simply because it’s delicious as is or serves as a great base for other recipes (like coffee with Bailey’s!).With my new-ish appreciation for mornings, I find myself happier and content overall. Why? Being a morning person gives me more time to:

1. Enjoy morning workouts (hiking, running, biking)

Let me tell you a little secret – no one else is working out before the sun rises and if they are – it’s a heck of a lot fewer than after that 8AM hour hits. I love being able to catch sunrise hikes and morning runs before it gets too hot (and dangerous) to workout. This often means waking up before 4AM or so to get above the clouds if I’m hiking or 5AM to get out on the pavement. My 10 favorite hikes on Oahu can be found here.

2. Go to breakfast or brunch

Fewer things annoy me more than when I’m ready to eat breakfast or brunch and there’s a line at my favorite restaurant. Beating the rush and heading out early has never failed me! Looking for island brunch recommendations? Read this post.

3. Get to the beach before it’s too crowded

This one seems like a no-brainer, but it’s so important here in Hawaii. Certain beaches get pretty crowded depending on the time of the year and the wave patterns (hello, surfing!). If I’m up, ready and set to go, I can head out to my favorite beach and pretty much have the pick of the litter, whereas a lazy morning would leave me with limited options.

4. Accomplish a bigger chunk of my to-do list

It’s no secret that the early bird gets the worm, but I never understood this saying more than I do now. Once I’m up and have my list in hand I’m like an automatic list ticker – check, check, check. Fewer interruptions leads to more accomplishments in areas like writing, cleaning, laundry and more.

5. Feel better

Because I wake up early and my body simply doesn’t sleep in, I tend to go to bed earlier. Getting a full night’s rest (when I can) is so important to overall functionality and mental clarity that it has become a vital part of my routine. When I sleep better, I function at full capacity. I think that’s something we can all strive for!

Are you a morning person or a night owl? What keeps you going?