TikTok has been obsessed with the new trend of waking up early in the morning. However, is being an early riser truly good for you? Besides the obvious effect of getting a few extra hours of your day, early rising comes with various benefits.

For example, it can help prevent depression and anxiety, especially due to the sunlight hitting one’s face directly after waking up. According to Edison Research, “Early risers make upwards of $15,000 extra dollars per year, just from waking up earlier.” In the morning, many people find their brains to be most awake, which explains why the deep focus can help early risers be more successful throughout life. 

Cathedral Catholic senior Cecilia Stapleton has recently begun waking up before 6 daily, saying it has “changed [her] life.” When asked what waking up early has done for her, Stapleton responded saying  “It has provided me with a lot of extra time to be with myself, which is needed as for the remainder of the day I will be surrounded by family, coaches, and friends.”

Stapleton, being a 3-sport athlete, claims that the time in the morning is practical for “[her] to complete her homework, without being tired from trying to work on it after practice the night before.” 

However, while the concept of waking up before the rest of the world may be appealing, it comes with a few downsides, especially for high schoolers. According to the National Institute of Health, “teenagers need at least 8 hours of sleep per night, but closer to 9 or 10 not to feel sleepy throughout the day.”

The main issue with waking up early is the lack of sleep that it often will cause for people. Dons Press staffer TJ Campbell wrote an article about the lack of sleep that CCHS Students are getting, and the results show that sleep deprivation has a major effect on the life of students. However, health effects won’t necessarily apply to everyone, if they plan ahead for waking up early, by going to bed at an appropriate time the night before. 

So, back to the question, is getting up early worth it? It truly depends on the person and their lifestyle. If someone can manage an appropriate amount of sleep AND get up early, then being an “early bird” may be a good plan for them.