Scientists have once again confirmed: daily routines directly affect health and overall well-being. The habit of waking up early can become one of the key factors in helping to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and increase productivity.
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh note that people who consistently wake up early and go to bed before midnight not only sleep better but also feel more energetic throughout the day. Additionally, their bodies are less prone to developing serious illnesses.
However, not everyone finds it easy to wake up early. "Night owls" are traditionally active in the second half of the day and prefer late hours for work and relaxation, while "larks" are naturally oriented towards an early rhythm of life. These differences are related to chronotype — an innate feature of the body.
However, circadian rhythms also play an important role — the internal biological clocks that regulate a person's activity throughout the day. Scientists studied the relationship between chronotype and these rhythms using data from a large program by the National Institutes of Health in the United States. Participants in the study wore special devices that recorded physiological indicators and also regularly provided samples for analysis.
The analysis showed that people with an evening type of activity and the habit of waking up late are more likely to develop metabolic disorders. This, in turn, increases the risk of diabetes as well as heart and vascular diseases. In total, researchers identified dozens of significant correlations between daily routines and health status.
At the same time, specialists emphasize that circadian rhythms can be adjusted. Even a slight shift in routine — for example, waking up earlier or engaging in morning physical activities — already has a positive effect.
"We encourage people to try to change their routine based on the data obtained. There are no guarantees, but if there is an opportunity to start the day earlier, it may be beneficial," noted one of the study authors, Kelly Chan.
Thus, even for "night owls," a gradual transition to an earlier start to the day can be an important step towards improving health and well-being.
