"Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” This is a very old saying. 

Sleeping early and getting up early, definitely makes one healthy. By being healthy, a person can make better decisions.

Nature has devised the routine of man such that day time is fixed for working and night is for sleeping. Therefore, an average person starts feeling tired as evening approaches.

But not all people respect such a routine. For some, staying up late is mandatory. These are the people who work in night shifts in factories, hospitals, security services, etc. For some it is the best time to study.  Some individuals may have to stay awake till late in the night to finish a commitment. 

But apart from these kinds of people, some simply sleep late after wasting time on Internet or watching movies or in pubs. Because they sleep late, they tend to get up late. Still they do not feel fresh because you may sleep the whole day but would not feel as fresh as after a good night’s sleep. 

A person waking late is more likely to miss breakfast. If they take a late breakfast, they would skip lunch. Thus, the overall intake of food is affected, compromising on the nutritional status of a person. This becomes more significant for teenagers because they mostly sleep late due to various activities. Their growing body is more in need of nutrients, which is not fulfilled due to not getting up early. 

Apart from the nutrition, bowel habits of an individual are also disturbed due to an altered sleep-wake cycle, hence reducing appetite and causing abdominal discomfort. 

A person getting up late is mostly late for work. If under duress, they do not maintain time, feel somnolent all day. This affects their performance at work. 

In contrast, an early riser feels fresh throughout the day; eats well and performs well on the job. 

Sunlight is a source of energy for the body. It also supplies vitamin D to strengthen the bones. Infrared rays of the sun kill germs. One does not need any artificial light while working in the day. 

Early morning is also said to be an ideal time for doing something needing concentration as preparing for exams. Because, at this time, one’s mind is naturally fresh and stimulated and can grasp more.

Nature is at its best in the morning. A good light, birds chirping, animals frolicking around happily, it is as if the entire universe is active. Man also needs to join them.

People who habitually wake up late ishould try to get up early one day and move around. They will never feel like sleeping until late in future.

Starting work early compels people to wake up early thus maintaining a healthy routine. This automatically keeps people healthy in mind and body.

Dr Rachna Pande is a specialist in internal medicine at Ruhengeri Hospital