Those Extra Few Hours

Our bodies are wired to enjoy the early rise, here’s what my recent jet lag did to my sleep and how that helped me with my morning rituals.

Recently, arriving for a long holiday in the U.S., I found myself extremely jetlagged upon landing in San Francisco. The 16-hour flight had been as smooth as ever. I had slept for more than 10 hours, and cruised the other six by catching up on reading and a movie.

When I arrived at my first destination in Santa Rosa, Napa Valley, the jet lag hit hard, and endured throughout the first week. Without fail, I was passing out at 6 p.m., wherever I happened to find myself, and waking up at 4 a.m. on a daily basis. I felt disoriented in the evening, and was even slurring my words at one point.

When I woke up at 4 a.m. the first day, I shot out of bed like a rocket. I was wide awake and full of energy. I prayed, had breakfast, and caught up on e-mails. I checked my clock to see that it was just 5 a.m. I had several more hours to kill before everyone else woke up.

I went for a stroll in the neighborhood. The sky was lighting up, and there were barely any cars out. It was peaceful and tranquil, and the air was fresh and clean. I came back after half an hour to meditate. I then did some journaling, and started assessing my goals for 2015. It was now 7 a.m., and I still had more time. I had another cup of coffee. By 8 a.m., I had accomplished so much, and even managed to squeeze in a 10-minute meditation session. I felt great: complete, at peace, and ready for the day to begin.

I had always read about the blessings of starting your day early, but trying to wake up at dawn had traditionally been a challenge for me. Most of my workout sessions took place after 7 p.m., and I tended to work late into the night. Switching it up—going to sleep at 7 p.m. and waking up at 4 a.m.—dramatically increased my productivity levels. My energy levels were high. I felt focused, alert, and a lot more productive. Most importantly, I found such harmony in those early-morning hours, without distractions, noise, or people around. I was alone with my thoughts, and it was a luxury.

When my body clock started jerking me into consciousness at 4 a.m., wide awake with plenty of rest in my body, a whole other world opened up to me. For the first time, I realized that by taking a few hours for myself, to clear my head and strategize, I was able to give a lot more throughout the day. I felt satisfied and relaxed.

A month later, I am now back at home. It is 5:33 a.m., and I am writing this feature. I am equally jetlagged, but blessed that my body clock is fully aware and working at this hour. I get it now. Waking up early and completing the rituals of the morning allows you to focus on the larger milestones of the day: meetings, presentations, and getting through the dense work. I would highly recommend trying and perfecting this ultra-cool, super-healthy habit. I know I hope the jet lag sticks around for a few more weeks.

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