Why I wake up at 4 am(ish)

The articles about waking up early go on and on and on, and the like anything, there is a differing opinion. 'Don't wake up before Dawn', 'People who rise early suffer higher levels of stress', 'The early bird catches the worm', 'Navy seal commander wakes up at 4am', and the list goes on. Reading any number of articles will leave you confused and ready to curl up into a ball, needing a nap.

Waking up early has been such a contentious point, as to whether or not you should. Realistically, the 'should I, Shouldn't I?' comes down to one thing and one thing only, and that quite simply is, 'Does it work for you?'

For me the answer is a resounding yes, it does work or me and my lifestyle, and the only way i figured that out, is by getting up at 4 am and trying it. Firstly, my daily schedule looks a little like this...

4 ~ 4.15 am - Wake up

4.30ish - Arrive in the office at my desk. This allows me to review overnight markets, respond to any emails.

5.30 am (every second day) - Gym for a 45 minute gym session. Every other day, I skip this step, and go at lunchtime

6.30ish - Back at my desk. This time is reserved for admin, paperwork, strategies, read the overnight news

8.30 am (Everyday) - Morning meeting

10 am - Markets open.

For me the daily routine works because it allows me the time to be more reactive between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm, which, for anyone working in markets would assure you is priceless.

Some things are important to me, spending time at the gym, taking some time to myself, and also having the flexibility to do my job without the stress of constantly feeling on the back-foot. All of my critical work is done before 10 am, throughout the day I have the time to speak to my clients, to chat, discuss and spend time on critical thinking.

A regimen like this is only as important as its flexibility. Yes, I'm human, sometimes I get tired, and sleep in another 15 minutes. Sometimes, I decide, 'this week I'm sleeping in till 5.30'. The process of rising early is there to reduce the stress on my life and allow me the time to do the things I want to do, so it's important to remember that sometimes you just need a lie in.

In conclusion, the 'Should I, Shouldn't I?' is entirely up to you. Try it for a week, you might find you cant live without it, or, if like you're like my fiancee and there's no chance a stampede of wild horses is getting you out of bed until 6.30, then that's fine too.