Living in the world of college students, it is very rare to find a twenty-something that actually enjoys waking up early every day. You usually find that most students say that they would prefer to be up all hours of the night than having their feet touch the ground at 6 a.m. But apparently, I break that mold.

Honestly, I LOVE waking up around 5:30 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. every weekday, and HERE are five reasons why:

1. The world is QUIET.

And when I mean quiet, I mean just about dead silent. Nothing is more serene than sitting outside or opening the windows and only hearing the sound of birds chirping and (maybe) a couple cars on the road. Other than that, there are no voices, no blasting music, no hustle and bustle of the campus, it is just me, myself, and I.

2. Early morning runs!!!

OK, so omitting winter (the cold and I are NOT friends whatsoever) early morning runs are the BOMB. The weather in the early morning of spring, summer, and fall is near perfect for a run, not too hot, not too cold. I run my campus, and I never see a soul that early, so there's no traffic to dodge. Also, I get this overwhelming feeling that my life is put together and that I am "adulting" the right way when I get a solid run in before my day officially starts.

3. I can get stuff done earlier.

Since I am already up, I have absolutely no problem with eight or 9 a.m. classes. Honestly, my brain does better in the morning, so I take advantage of it and typically, I am done with my classes around 12 or 1 in the afternoon. Which usually leads me to the library for studying, then to the gym for a weight lifting sesh. That way I can get my last workout in for the day and get my homework done at a reasonable time, which means a free night and great sleep. Granted, this schedule only applies when I do not procrastinate, which may or may not happen quite a bit (it's OK, Jesus and I are working on that one).

4. I can get some SCHLEEP.

On the days that I do not actually procrastinate, I tend to successfully get in bed by 10 or 11 o'clock in the evening. This ensures a wonderful seven to eight hours of sleep and sets me up for an amazing tomorrow!

5. Most importantly... uninterrupted Jesus time.

For me, once it hits 8 a.m., I do not have a second of downtime to really enjoy and spend quality time with the Lord. So waking up earlier gives me a solid amount of time to go through a devotion, read the Bible, and worship. Having this time to meditate on the Word and grow closer to the Lord really prepares me to take on my day with His strength and peace.

When you read the title of this article, you probably thought I was crazy. Hopefully, as you continued reading you have begun to see that my points are reasonable and valid, and if not that is fine, at least you got a new perspective! Whatever way you like to start out your day, I pray that it gives you the best platform to live your life to the fullest!

I hope each and every one of you has a fabulous week — and remember to keep spreading love and sharing smiles!

With blessing,

Ash.