The early bird may catch the worm, but he is also at risk of sleep deprivation, moodiness, poor concentration, potential weight gain, anxiety, increased risk of heart disease and higher blood pressure (BBC 2019). Sleep deprivation and tiredness are the most obvious side effects of getting up early, with brain function severely implicated. Decreased concentration and fatigue can come as a result and ultimately decrease performance throughout the day. A study by Westminster University found that those who woke up before 7am had higher levels of stress hormone in their body. With stress working to produce negative impacts on the body, such as headaches and muscle aches. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190213-is-waking-up-early-good-or-bad#:~:text=Sacrificing%20sleep%20means%20you%20may,%2C%20don't%20do%20it. https://www.careeraddict.com/7-disadvantages-of-getting-up-early

I don't believe getting up early is bad for you. I believe that generally an individual needs to get a certain amount of hours sleep in order for their body to function. This may vary from person to person but generally for those between the ages of 18-60, most people need to get 7 hours of sleep per night. Therefore if an individual has decided to wake up early at 5 am but go to sleep at 2 am, they are only getting 3 of the 7 hours they need for their body to function. This contributing to effects such as mood, concentration levels, anxiety etc. Therefore, I do not believe getting up early is inherently bad for you as long as your body gets the required sleep it needs by going to bed earlier. https://www.healthline.com/health/best-time-to-sleep#summary

I disagree with this opinion. Even though it is extremely difficult to wake up early sometimes even if you get a good 7 to 8-hour sleep, waking up early can have so many benefits, personal and professional. I really wish that I didn't have to disagree with this because I love getting up late; however, work and family make me an early riser. First of all, getting up early is beneficial for you only if you sleep early and get a good night's sleep. Resting and filling your batteries can urge you to wake up earlier than usual and give you time to prepare yourself for a busy and potentially stressful day. According to Jennifer Still from the Business Insider, 'sleep inertia — that slow-moving period between sleep-induced brain fog and full wakefulness — can last anywhere from between two to four hours', and waking up early helps you go through that period in a smoother way, giving 'your body a chance to reach peak wakefulness naturally'. Indeed, reaching full 'wakefulness' before noon can boost productivity and concentration, as well as maximise the time you have in your hands to do things for you, for work, for your family. Personal trainer Ciaran Robinson correctly says that getting up early 'improves your concentration which means you can accomplish those goals and tasks that you set out the night before. It also means that by the time you get to work, you are fully awake and properly acclimatized to the day meaning you will be more alert during those peak hours'. All this, of course, after resting properly through the night. Another good reason for waking up early is physical and mental health. As Still mentions, research in the Journal of Psychiatric Research 'revealed that women who get up earlier are far less likely to develop mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders than those who sleep later'. Physical and mental relaxation accompanies early sleepers and risers and offers an opportunity to properly combat stress through improving physical health and allowing for better mental re-grouping. Of course, waking up early just because other people say so while sleeping late is not going to work. We should listen to our bodies and rest when we get tired. Brian Lufkin also stresses this when he says that we should pay 'attention to when you feel most tired and most awake'. In the fast-paced world we live in this is not possible at all times, but health comes first and we will observe a difference in productivity throughout the day if we get the right amount of sleep and wake up early to seize the day. Works Cited Lufkin, Brian, 'Is waking up early good or bad?' (2019) <https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190213-is-waking-up-early-good-or-bad#:~:text=Sacrificing%20sleep%20means%20you%20may,%2C%20don't%20do%20it.> [accessed 26 January 2021]. Robinson, Ciaran, '8 Health Benefits to Being an Early Riser' (2019) <https://www.neurotrackerx.com/post/8-health-benefits-to-being-an-early-riser#:~:text=Starting%20the%20day%20early%20also,alert%20during%20those%20peak%20hours> [assessed 26 January 2021]. Still, Jennifer, '5 reasons to wake up early, even if you hate it' (2019) <https://www.businessinsider.com/reasons-to-wake-up-early-2019-5?r=US&IR=T> [accessed 26 January 2021].