The Health Optimist. Hanlie Combrinck

me achieve more goals, like completing an online course, or blogging.

      A recent study by the University of Toronto in Canada has proven that early rising certainly has benefits. One of the most interesting findings is that early risers have more positive energy. I’m blessed that my young son D is also an early riser. He will certainly make sure I’m up early even on days when I feel like sleeping in. He calls to me while the park next door is still enveloped in soft morning mist and while first light is only a thought. We tiptoe downstairs to the family room while Dad still snores, and he plays with his ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys’, his Lego helicopter, police van and many more, while I happily focus on my writing.

      Since I’m a working mom, I also use the early morning time to prepare dinner in advance so that it’s ready when we arrive home later. Dad and D are usually hungry when we come home, so I can just warm up our meal. I have lots of strategies and plans for working-mom-dinners which you can find in Chapter 5.

      Since there are fewer distractions early in the morning, I find I get more done and hence by the time my team lead arrives at work, I’ve already started working on things we discussed the day before and I can already give him feedback. There are certainly benefits to arriving early at work. It has been a positive driver in my work and income.

      How do I get into the habit of rising earlier? One way is to gradually start going to bed earlier. I’m usually in bed between 9pm and 10pm. Have a powerful, positive day.