I'm not disagreeing with you, but I'm wondering why it would be that if you get up earlier then you have more time. Everyone has the same 24 hours, so it must be something about energy or logistics or something. Does it have to do with the sunlight? Or other people's schedule?
We have found, for us at least, that maintain a relatively consistent sleep schedule makes it so much easier to maintain a routine. When you have a good daily routine going, it gives you a psychological momentum that allows you to get things done easier, keeps you from forgetting things that need doing, and allows you to get things done slightly quicker as you pick up a rythym for your life. I do also notice that on nights where I go to bed at a reasonable hour and wake up at a reasonable hour, I have more energy than on nights where my sleep schedule is thrown off. That also helps immensely.