The Best Time To Wake Up In The Morning, According To Science
If you're wondering what time you should wake up in the morning, look no further. Ideally, you should aim to wake up early and go to bed early. That's because the body and brain naturally start to slow down when it gets dark outside and wake up again when the sun rises (via Healthline). However, this isn't always possible.
Work and family commitments can make this sleeping and waking schedule difficult or even impossible to achieve. Luckily, there is no specific time of day that is better suited for waking up than another. In fact, the best time to wake up in the morning depends on how many hours you slept the night before. Consistency is key, however, so once you have a schedule you should stick to it.
Generally speaking, you should get 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night (via Medical News Today). If you sleep 7 hours a night, for example, you should go to bed at 11 p.m. if you need to wake up by 6 a.m. This will allow your body enough time to pass through four or five sleep cycles per night, which can help you feel more rested the next morning.
How to wake up early in the morning
However, this doesn't mean it will necessarily be easy to wake up in the morning, especially if you have to get up early. Thankfully, there are some helpful tips and tricks that can make it easier to wake up early in the morning (via Glamour). In addition to getting enough sleep and sticking to a consistent schedule, you should take the time to wind down and relax before going to bed.
"It's very hard if you're working on your computer to just close the computer and get into bed," Dr. Claire Kenneally, a board-certified sleep specialist at the Chicago Sleep Center, told Glamour. "The brain can't switch gears that quickly." Establishing a relaxing bedtime routine by engaging in non-stimulating activities like yoga or meditation can help quiet your mind, making it easier for you to fall and stay asleep. After all, the more well-rested you are, the easier it will be to wake up on time.
You should also limit your daily alcohol and caffeine consumption. Having more than one alcoholic beverage per night or consuming more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day can hinder your overall quality of sleep, which is essential to being able to wake up more easily at an earlier time. After a while, however, your circadian rhythm should adjust to your new sleep schedule.