“A University of Toronto study finds that those who prefer to wake earlier lead happier and healthier lives than their counterparts who choose to sleep and wake later. This effect is the ‘social jet lag,’” (Forbes Magazine). It’s 5:20 a.m., and my eyes are blinded by the sunrise alarm clock I purchased after reading the TikTok news. A video claiming that being woken up by a light is healthier than startling your heart every morning from the loud sound of an alarm. Once I set my alarm clock, I reach for my five pillows and make my bed at record speed, setting a PR each morning, so I am not late for my $30 yoga sculpt class. The Toronto study didn’t have to say it twice, though my routine may be excessive, I am happy.

This snippet of my routine is repeated daily, up until that CorePower yoga membership discount ends. The most interesting part of my routine, though, is that each factor I have taken from other people in my life. “Influencing” is something we all do subconsciously. Those who appear to have their mornings together tend to influence others the most because they wake up early and knock out a whole day before 10 a.m. This phenomenon is called “Early Bird gets the Worm,” literally meaning those who wake up earlier get more than those who don’t. Whether it’s money, food, or productivity, it all aims for the same final product: success. 

Dr. Randell Bell from U.S Health News found in his studies last year that people who make their beds first thing in the morning are 206.8 percent more likely to become millionaires. For me, my success begins with making my 5-pillow twin bed. As a senior in high school, it took me until my junior year to understand my own style of studying, maintaining stable work, and establishing solid sleep schedules. But I noticed that once I started to care about the little things, like the way my bed looks and the way I look before school, I saw a change in mindset. 

Waking up an extra 20 minutes earlier to blow-dry your freshly washed hair and throwing on a pair of jeans isn’t going to hurt you. When you feel confident about the way you look, self-esteem rises, and so will productivity. If you aren’t putting thought and care into your appearance, then wouldn’t it be the same for your grades? This isn’t always the case. According to Harvard Law School and its research, students should be as comfortable as possible because comfort boosts performance. Though the easiest and comfiest thing to do is roll out of bed and throw on a pair of sweats, it shows the exterior lack of effort, which then equates to an interior lack of effort. After two years of not caring about my appearance, it was taking a toll on my self-esteem in grades and appearance. Putting effort into my outfits each morning helped, little by little, towards my GPA. 

Appearance isn’t all that important when it comes to early starts. For me, the propellant is the fuel to start my day, breakfast. It is true when people say the early bird gets the worm, because you are essentially eating breakfast the earliest. But if the “breakfast” is a venti Starbucks refresher, you might as well rule yourself out of that boat. Breakfast is essential to your brain functioning throughout the day. Whole grains, nuts, berries, and most unsaturated fats are proven to reduce inflammation and build brain cells. Less inflammation, less brain fog. So, next time you reach for the Fruit Loops or the Chocolate croissant on test day, consider the toll it could have on your frontal lobe, the powerhouse of logic.

Morning to morning, decision-making is essential, and morning actions such as brushing teeth or putting on deodorant are, though habit and hygiene, automatic. That being said, when making decisions that are not habits taught from a young age, it is up to you to change the trajectory of your life and benefit your brain and future. Early starts aren’t for everyone; it takes 18 to 21 days to form a habit. The earlier you wake up, the more hours you get. The longer the day, the more opportunities to make it great. Carpe Diem.