About the Early Riser sleep personality
An Early Riser is at their best in the morning - you’re a natural early riser and often don’t need an alarm clock to wake up. This is your sleep personality type if you are up with the sunrise and often awake long before everyone else in your home - you’re up and at it before the rest of the world gets going. You wake up the earliest of all the sleep types, but this also means that by early evening, you are tired, and so you tend to go to bed earlier than others too!
The ideal schedule for a Early Riser
Morning
A Early Riser often benefits from having some alone time first thing in the morning before everyone else wakes up, so take advantage of this undisturbed ‘me time’ to do something you enjoy and that sets you up for a positive day. This could be cooking breakfast, exercising, or writing out your to do list.
As a natural early riser, you may not feel the need for a coffee when you first wake up - for the early birds, 9am to 10am is a good time for that first cuppa. Your most productive time is likely to be between 10am and 12pm, and you may find you do your best or most creative work during this time window.
Afternoon
1pm to 2.30pm is a good time for the Early Riser types to take a little break and spend some time alone, catching up on solo tasks - you’ve likely been awake for a fair few hours by this point, so your energy may begin to slow down.
3pm to 5pm is where your energy dips, so try to spend it doing lighter or more administrative tasks and perhaps reach for a herbal or decaffeinated tea. Avoid caffeine after 2pm, as it may interfere with your sleep - especially as you tend to go to bed earlier rather than later!
Evening
Family and relaxation time is from 7 - 9pm and if your friends are looking to go out with you in the evening, 7-9pm is ideal for an Early Riser, as you’ll be back in time to hit the hay early, having been up since dawn. As a result of being up so early, you’re ready for bed early too, and should begin your bedtime routine by turning off screens at 9.30pm, as you’ll likely be asleep around 10pm.
The ideal bedroom for a Early Riser
As an Early Riser, you should consider creating a bedroom that embraces your morning energy.
You might like to consider a lighter, fresher palette that will make the most of any natural light in the morning. Try injecting your favourite vibrant colour as an accent to give the overall look a lift and shot of energy.
We spend one third of our lives sleeping, so it’s important to select the right type of mattress for your comfort preferences, and also a bed that you’re going to love waking up in. If you’re an early riser who likes to spend a little time relaxing in bed before actually getting up, consider opting for a bedframe with an upholstered headboard that allows you to sit up and still relax.
Think about how you like to use your bedroom during that valuable ‘me time’ in the morning and style the space to suit. For example, you might like to place an accent chair by a window, where you can sit down and enjoy a warm drink in the mornings. Or, if you’re a fan of journaling or planning, ensure that there is a dressing table or side table within reach, so that you can sit and jot down your thoughts at the start of the day.
Getting sunlight first thing in the morning is an important part of waking up and sets our circadian rhythm correctly for the day. While you can achieve this easily during the spring and summer months by opening your curtains and letting in plenty of natural light, as an early riser, you may find that during the winter months, you’re often getting up in the dark. Try using a light therapy lamp during these months to mimic the natural sunrise and help you kick start your day.
Choose a scent to energise you when you wake up! If you have a diffuser, go for an uplifting scent such as Wild Orange, which is known to lift the mood and reduce stress levels.
Explore other sleep personality types
The Early Riser is just one of five distinct sleep personalities, each based on a different sleep chronotype. If you don’t think this quite sums you up - or you’d like to understand a partner or family member’s sleep type a little better - you can take the quiz again, or explore other personality types below.
