Wouldn’t it be wonderful if one simple habit had the capability to transform your life?

You’re not dreaming—it exists and it’s right within your reach.

It costs no money and anyone can do it.

What is this magical habit?

Waking up early.

Before you click away and deem yourself as a night owl for the rest of eternity, you might want to take a minute and consider the benefits. Waking up early is difficult, and feels nearly impossible for some. However, adopting this habit can truly make a positive impact on your life.

For instance, the American Psychological Association discovered that those who wake up early are generally happier than those who burn the midnight oil:

A recent study published in the American Psychological Association journal, Emotion, reports early risers are generally happier than night owls. More than 700 respondents, ranging from ages 17-79 were surveyed and asked about their emotional state, health and preferred time of day. Self-professed morning people reported feeling happier and healthier than night owls. Part of the reason, the researchers hypothesized, is that our society has structured the workday as a common 8-5 time period, which focuses more on a morning person’s schedule.

So, morning people might be happier. But this might not be enough convincing to get you out of bed at 5:30AM.

If that’s the case, here are other reasons why waking up early can help you get ahead in life:

You’ll Feel Like You Have More Time in Your Day

How often do you find yourself asking “how can I add more time to my day?”

While waking up early won’t magically find a 25^th or 26^th hour in a day, it can help you feel as if you have more time to accomplish things. Even an extra hour to read a book, cook a good breakfast, or exercise can make you feel as if you’re ahead of the game.

If you’re struggling to find that extra hour in the day, waking up early might be a new habit to add to your life.

You’ll Feel Less Stressed

When the day is in full swing, how often do you find yourself overloaded? Too many assignments sent your way can easily cause stress and overwhelm. Not to mention, if you leave for work at 8AM but don’t wake up until 7:30AM, you’re setting yourself up for being late and sending stress levels into overdrive.

If you wake up earlier, this gives you a head start on tackling those tasks so you can cruise through your day with minimal setbacks.

Early Rising will Help You Get into a Consistent Sleep Schedule

If your bedtime is later than you’d like or you aren’t getting enough sleep, the habit of waking up early can increase sleep quality. When you know that you’re waking up at 530AM, you probably won’t stay up until 1AM.

To get sufficient sleep, you’ll likely go to bed anywhere between 9 and 11 to wake up at 530. This gets your body adjusted to a regular sleep/wake routine and can even help you sleep more soundly.

You’ll be More Creative

Studies have shown that many of us are more creative early in the morning—even during periods of grogginess.

According to the American Physiological Society, creative brain activity is most active immediately after waking up. If you plan to use your early morning hours for creative purposes, you might strike gold with creative flow before sunrise.

You’ll Feel Like You’re Winning Just by Being Awake

There is a sense of accomplishment when you are working, exercising, or using time productivity before anyone else is awake. This sets your day off on the right foot and makes you feel more productive overall.

How Can You Become a Morning Person?

If you cringe at the thought of waking up before sunrise, the good news is that you don’t need to go from waking up at 8am to waking up at 530AM. In fact, this is not the right approach at all if you’re serious about early rising a habit.

When it comes to switching to early mornings, think in terms of baby steps. Going from your normal wake-up time, set your clock 15 minutes earlier. Once your body adjusts, set the clock back another 15 minutes until you hit your desired wake up time.

This infographic from Entrepreneur shows us more tips on how you can wake up early, including diet adjustments and mind tricks:

How do You Use Your Mornings?

Whether you wake up to meditate or get an early start to the work day, make sure you have a plan in place. If you wake up early with nothing to do, you’ll likely turn around and go right back to bed. Set your sights on an activity that motivates you to get up in the morning and put in 100%—your body and mind will thank you for it.