Are you constantly hitting the snooze button and rushing out the door feeling frazzled? If so, it may be time to adjust your body clock and become an early riser. Waking up early and following a productive morning routine can completely transform your day – and your life. Here are 5 reasons I started waking up earlier.

Increased Productivity: One of the biggest benefits of being an early riser is a boost in productivity. When you begin your day earlier, you’ll find you have more functional hours to dedicate to work, chores, hobbies, exercise and other tasks. Those precious morning hours when the world is still quiet can be maximized for your most important priorities before other distractions begin. You’ll likely find you’re able to accomplish more with higher focus and efficiency.

Improved Time Management: By getting up earlier, you’re essentially giving yourself more time each day – a precious commodity in our overscheduled world. An early start allows you to organize your schedule proactively rather than feeling rushed and reactive. You can begin your morning intentionally instead of jumping straight into your usual hurried routine.

Better Mental Health: Mornings tend to set the tone for the rest of the day. When you wake up late and have to sprint out the door, it can leave you feeling frazzled, frantic and out-of-control right from the start. However, an earlier rise time allows you to start your day from a calm, centered place. This reduces stress and anxiety, boosts mood and clarity, and provides a healthier foundation for the hours ahead.

More “Me” Time: How often do you sacrifice self-care activities because you “don’t have time”? Being an early riser can give you that time back. You can engage in hobbies, exercise, journaling, meditation and other mentally-refreshing activities before the hectic pace of the day begins. Having this daily “me time” is essential for work-life balance.

Consistency and Routine: When you’re an early riser, it naturally lends itself to having a morning routine and consistent schedule. This consistency is incredibly powerful for productivity, stress management, and personal growth. You’ll find it’s easier to build positive daily habits like exercise, healthy breakfast, and goal-planning. That momentum will carry through to other areas of your life as well.

While adjusting to an earlier wake-up time can be challenging at first, the benefits are hard to ignore. Give it a commitment of a couple weeks, and you’ll start to appreciate how empowering and energizing mornings can be. Your entire day – and life – may be transformed.