Is It Possible to Wake Up Too Early?
The short answer? Absolutely. What’s most important is that you’re getting enough sleep, not just waking up early. “Most adults should aim to get between seven and eight hours of sleep,” Dr. Dimitriu says. “Sleep should never suffer at the expense of a morning routine,” he adds.
The research supports what Dimitriu claims too. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults get at least seven hours of sleep per night for optimal health benefits. That means that if you’re waking up so early that you’re not able to get the sleep your body needs, you might be starting your day too early.
So, if you aim to wake up by 6 a.m., that means you should get to sleep (lights out and phones off) between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. to get adequate sleep. If you’re a 4 a.m.-er, that puts you back to 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Whatever time you want (or need) to wake up is up to you. Just make sure you’re sleeping at least seven hours before then.
“This waking up really early requires going to sleep really early, and many people will find that difficult to do, due to our lifestyles,” Dr. Troxel says. If you find that an early-to-bed, early-to-rise schedule is easy for you, that suggests you’re a naturally “strongly inclined” morning person, she says.
And remember, “Good sleep occurs when the timing is consistent,” Dimitrui adds. Waking up early on the weekdays but sleeping in too long on the weekend can be a problem too, as it can mess with your body clock. “Circadian misalignment results from erratic sleep and wake times and can make people sleepy at the wrong time,” he explains.
It’s also important to keep in mind that if you’re waking up early but not feeling rested during the day, that may be a sign that you’re not getting enough sleep. Waking early unintentionally can also be a sign of an underlying medical issue, including sleep apnea, anxiety, or other health issues, Dimitriu explains. If this describes how you feel upon waking, it’s important to connect with your healthcare provider and talk about your symptoms and health concerns.
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