In the frantic pace of London working life, it’s frequently said that there are never enough hours in the day. But as the clocks change later this month, our wish will be granted. Will that extra hour be squandered luxuriating under the duvet or could it be used to transform your working day? While night owls will relish the extra hour of slumber, those who can stick with the summer-time alarm call may just get more than they bargained for. Not convinced? Read on to experience the benefits of becoming an early riser.

Phil and Pam Early Morning

Start the day the non-stressed way: Does your normal wake-up routine involve an 11th hour scramble out of bed before a mad dash for the tube? House keys have a habit of suddenly disappearing while wardrobe malfunctions multiply in the panic-stricken rush not to be late. Sound familiar? Take the pressure off completely by giving yourself an extra hour and you can enjoy a luxurious shower followed by a leisurely breakfast in the peaceful solitude of the pre-rush-hour calm.  Can’t decide what to wear?  Having a bad hair day?   Relax, you’ve got another half hour to sort it out.  

The early bird gets the seat: The morning commute can easily be the most stressful time of the day.  By beating the hordes an hour earlier, you can not only increase your chances of securing a much-coveted seat but also avoid the rush hour signal failures that seem to most reliably occur around 8.30am. Once smugly seated, the commute can be transformed into a more productive hour of goal-setting, e-mailing checking or even researching your next holiday. (See my earlier post for more ideas on how to transform your morning commute.)

martin pettitt escalators on tube

Stay in control of your day: If you’re already on first name terms with the cleaning staff following evenings toiling at your desk, you’ll be amazed at how much more can be achieved by swapping the evening shift for the dawn patrol. Rested and refreshed after a night’s sleep, we’re normally at our most productive first thing in the morning. Without the constant distraction of telephone calls, e-mails and urgent last-minute tasks, you can whizz through time-consuming reports and briefings before the circus arrives. Starting the day early also increases the likelihood of being able to leave on time and being able to fill your evenings with more new activities.

Gain a return on investment on your gym membership
How many times have you packed your gym kit only to drag it home again untouched? When you schedule gym trips for the evenings, it’s all too easy to find excuses not to go. Increasing workloads, fatigue, after-work drinks and a desperate desire to retreat to the sofa all take a heavy guilt-ridden toll on gym membership.By scheduling a pre-work swim or gym work-out, there are far fewer excuses not to go. Exercising first thing also gives an important smug feeling of accomplishment and reduces stress levels before facing the working challenges of the day. It also clears the way for guilt-free evening indulgence with a pizza on the sofa or at your favourite after-works drinks venue.

What will you do with your extra hour? I would love to hear your comments and suggestions.