The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. Although the lark (early riser) vs. owl (late risers) debate isn’t the most heated debate out there, it’s been a long standing one. Those who prefer to start their day at the break of dawn may see boosts in their productivity and sleep quality, while those who stay up hours after the sun sets may have better opportunities to relax and build their habits to require less sleep.
In this article, we discuss the following question:
Should you be an early bird or night owl?
| Early Bird! | Night Owl! |
| 1. Increased Productivity As the sun begins to rise, the birds start chirping, and everyone is fast asleep. You’re woken up by the fact that you have thirty pages of lab manuals to do for physics. Now is the prime time to lock in, as your levels of norepinephrine, a hormone that is related to attention span, are highest in the morning. When everyone else is asleep, you can get ahead efficiently and effectively, much quicker than you would have by cramming all of your homework late at night. | 1. More time for relaxation The day’s over, you’ve stayed up and finished your work, but what about the latest chapter of your favorite novel, or that one indie game that you’ve already sunk hours into and still haven’t completed? Well, now’s your chance! Who’s there to judge you for relaxing a bit at night? Plus, if you’re gaming, after around 10 pm is a time when most younger or casual players are asleep, which means that hopefully your chances of queuing with more competent players increases. |
| 2. Better Sleep Quality Studies have shown that waking up earlier leads to a better circadian rhythm in your sleep cycle, and therefore better sleep. This, in turn, helps you develop a more regular sleep schedule. Over time, your body becomes used to waking up in the morning and feeling alert and energized. While at night time, your body knows to wind down. This is crucial, as high school students often have this the other way around, leading us to feel constantly tired and groggy during the school days. Waking up early trains our bodies to align with the sun rising and setting, leading to a more healthy and sustainable cycle of energy in our bodies. | 2. Your Body Will Require Less Sleep Humans on average spend about a third of their lives asleep, but by being a night owl, it is possible to decrease that value. A study published in the journal Science found that after being awake for over ten hours, night owls tended to perform better on psychomotors tests than early birds, meaning that they’re able to stay mentally alert for longer and sleep less. You could do so much with that extra mental alertness and extra awake time. You could finish more work, spend extra time playing video games, read novels, doomscroll, and so much more. The possibilities are endless. Just remember to know yourself and when you do actually have to go to sleep. |