Getting up earlier vs getting more Zzzzz’s

I read many articles that advocate waking up early and starting your day earlier to make the most of it and get those things done that will set you up for a great day ahead, like doing your morning meditation or exercise session.  Some find it gives them some vital “alone” time for reflection or before the busyness of the day begins.

I do find that during the summer months I wake up earlier naturally, probably because it’s light outside, however, that doesn’t necessarily mean that I get out of bed and get on with the day.  Generally, I internally groan that its aaaaaaages before I need to be up and about and try to get in another few precious moments of sleep. 

However, once I am up, I’m up.  I don’t like sitting around.  I shower, dress, swig my coffee then go to work.  Even at the weekends, I get up, shower, dress and am wanted to get on with something or go somewhere.  I hate sitting around, wasting time. I can get up at any time of the morning.  If we’re catching a flight and I need to be up at 4am, I can get up and get on with the day.  I’m not loping about all groggy thinking that it is outrageous to be up at that time of day.

I do however like my sleep.  I think it’s because I have so much going on with a full day at the office, then come home to #bellringing meetings or activities most evenings.  I can keep going as late in to the night as you like if I’m on the go, but as soon as my butt hits the sofa, within half an hour I can fall asleep.  Once I’ve sat down, that’s it.  I’m not budging for anybody.

I have a tendency to fall asleep somewhere between 9 and 10pm.  Then I wake up at about Midnight, in time to go to bed.  I can remain conscious enough to get ready for bed and brush my teeth, but invariable, I can go straight to sleep again when my head hits the pillow.  According to my Fitbit I clock up an average of 7hrs 23mins of sleep a night, although that can range from 5½hrs to nearly 8½hrs at the weekend.  The app also gives you a sleep score where it works out the quality of the snoozing based on time spent awake, in REM, Light or Deep sleep cycles, and heart rate.  My average score over the last month as been 82, which puts me in the Good category.  Recommendations to improve sleep scores include exercises at least 3-4 hours before going to sleep, maintaining a regular sleep pattern and taking at least 150 minutes of active exercise per week.

I could get up earlier, but then I’d only be sitting around waiting for other people to get up, or go to work, by which time, I’d probably nod off again!