Morning versus night. Light against dark. Good battling evil. Ok, maybe not that last one, but you get the point.
Chances are, you are either the type of person who loves to roll out of bed and tackle the day or you’re the person forever pushing snooze and cursing at your clock. If you’re that first person, you probably also adhere to a strict bedtime sometime before 10:00 pm. Or, in the case of that second person, you may burn the lamp oil well into the midnight hour (or 3:00 am). It’s just the reality of life: some are an early riser… and some are not.
You probably wonder how on Earth people do things the other way, too. Well, lucky for you we’ve put together a list of 5 reasons people enjoy being “a morning person” as well as 5 reasons others embrace being “a night owl.”
5 Reasons To Be “Early Riser”
Rise & Shine!
There’s something about the sun pouring into my window that wakes me up and tells my body it’s time to start the day. I feel most productive if I get out of bed nice and early because for me, sleeping in leads to a lazy day. Early risers just have it in their blood.
Everything’s better with a cup o’ Joe.
I’m a huge fan of coffee and tea, and it seems the best time to enjoy those warm, comforting, caffeinated beverages is in the morning or early afternoon. Even decaf keeps me up, so coffee at night just isn’t right for me.
Open for business!
It’s nearly impossible to take care of most day-to-day tasks if you aren’t up and at ’em during daylight hours. Whether it’s grocery shopping or an annual physical with your doctor, you’ve got to be an early riser so you are available during the day to get things done.
Peak productivity happens during daylight hours.
Studies show that peak productivity time for adults occurs from 8:00 AM until around 2:00 PM. After this time, a human’s ability to function at high levels starts dropping. You might feel like you are still achieving your goals at night, but science says the opposite is true.
The night is full of fright.
The later I stay up at night, the more I struggle with depression and anxiety. This furthers my inability to sleep, and begins a cycle of emotional dysregulation that is hard to break. By maintaining a schedule where I am asleep during most of the darkness and awake during the light, I better maintain mental stability. Being an early riser literally keeps me sane.
5 Reasons To Be “A Night Owl”
The creative juices flow in the night.
Nighttime has always been ideal for writing for me. When I’m writing at night, I feel most secure with myself, which allows the creative process to flow freely. I struggle to experience that same process during the day when I’m so busy completing other tasks. My writing excels because I am not an early riser.
Ambiance quiets the heart and soothes the soul.
Don’t get me wrong, I love having the sunlight shine through my window and radiate off my face, but nothing calms me more than ambient lighting and a warm candle. That’s peace to me. That’s calm.
College kid… enough said!
Let’s be honest here. While I love the nighttime for different reasons, the reason I’m even a night person in this first place is because I’m a full-time college student. The only time I have during the day to do anything at all related to my education is after dark, so, by default, I’ve been forced to enjoy that time, but now that I’m accustomed to it, I prefer it.
The hustle and bustle of daytime can be sensory overload for most.
I have a hard time working during the day. With the rush of cars, the sunlight, and the natural hustle and bustle of a typical day, I am very easily distracted. After dark, there is no traffic, no sunlight, no distractions, and I’m finally able to settle into a peaceful atmosphere.
Nighttime provides the silence to sit with your thoughts.
When I lay down at night, I finally take the time to recap my day. It’s the first time where my mind isn’t already consumed by my to-do lists, my important tasks, and everything else that I have to get done during the daylight hours.
As you can see, there’s valid reasoning and even science on each type of person’s side, early riser or not. Whether you are an early bird, a daytime dove, or a night owl really doesn’t matter. What matters is that you find a lifestyle that fits your needs and provides you with the healthiest lifestyle.
So, who are you? The morning person who jumps out of bed bright and early or the party animal who burns the midnight oil? Why does that lifestyle work for you? Share with us!
Written in collaboration with Megan Glosson.
Feature Image by Şahin Yeşilyaprak on Unsplash
