“Early to bed, and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
This saying is an age-old phrase, coined by Benjamin Franklin, and is widely adopted by productivity hackers and the society at large.
The phrase suggests that early risers are more successful in life…But how true is this belief? Are early risers actually more successful than those who start their day later? Are there any scientific proofs that validate this widely held belief?
Well…yes!
According to results from a study in the Harvard Business Review, “early birds” (as early risers are called) were shown to be more productive than those “night owls” who stay up late into the night.
Data from past research indicated that night owls generally have higher IQs and are more creative than early birds. However, the Harvard Business Review study pointed out that night owls suffer from higher levels of distractions and productivity problems.
Also, working late into the night has been associated with reduced concentration levels, lack of focus, and increased reflection. All of which affect productivity and chances of success at any given task.
According to another study carried out at the University of Barcelona, early risers that participated in the study were found to be more persistent at tasks they carried out. They also benefited from reduced levels of fatigue, frustrations, and difficulties.
Super Successful People Who Are Early Birds
Outside of scientific research, a slew of successful people has been proven to have one habit in common. The practice of waking early!
Some notable self-confessed early birds are Tim Cook, Richard Branson, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi.
They all start their morning around 3 am to 5 am, and most of them talk about the benefits of starting your day at the crack of dawn.
Benjamin Spall, author of a bestselling book titled, “My Morning Routine: How Successful People Start Every Day Inspired,” interviewed most of these notable figures about their morning routines. He mentioned to CNBC that it’s not a coincidence that all these people have routines.
Spall stated that although having a routine is a big predictor of success, it can’t be ignored that a large percentage of the most successful people interviewed for his book are early birds.
Benefits of Being an Early Bird
Listed below are five benefits of being an early bird. These benefits also highlight how being an early bird improves productivity.
Hopefully, after going through this list of benefits, you’ll see strong reasons to become an early bird and enjoy those benefits.
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Less Procrastination: A study carried out in 2008 showed that early birds don’t procrastinate as much as night owls. The science behind this is that early birds are naturally more proactive. And they have access to more quiet time in the morning to start executing and complete their tasks before others wake up. This makes it possible for them to cover more ground and finish more projects than someone who wakes later.
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Better Chances of Success: According to Christopher Randler, a Professor of Biology at the University of Education in Germany, early birds have better chances of succeeding in business than others.
According to his research, early birds tend to get better grades while in school. He mentioned that their good grades make it possible for them to get into better colleges, which in turn lead to better job opportunities. He added that early birds also anticipate issues and strive to minimize them.
Randler concluded that early risers are naturally proactive. He stated that several studies had linked proactivity, with better performance at work, bigger career success, and higher wages.
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Early Birds Deal Better With Negativity: In a 2014 study, it was discovered that people who sleep later are prone to get overwhelmed with negative thoughts. On the flip side, when you go to bed earlier and rest well, your problem-solving capabilities will improve, and you will be able to deal with problems better.
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Improved Memory: Study on animals and humans has shown that good sleep quality has a significant impact on memory and learning. This is proven by the fact that an alert mind is able to acquire and assimilate information better while awake, while a sleep-deprived brain suffers from shortened attention span and have a hard time focusing. As a result of going to bed earlier, early birds can focus more, be more receptive to information, and enjoy better memory.
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Better Looks: There’s no denying it that a good night’s sleep makes you look more energized and feel better when you wake. This can be linked to the fact that restorative processes like tissue repair and muscle growth take place while we sleep. As an early bird, when you go to bed early, you will look better. And looking good is super important for making a strong first impression on prospective clients or potential investors.
While being an early bird is a huge benefit, maybe you’re having difficulty getting to bed early, or sleeping through the night due to back, neck, or joint pain. If that’s the case, come see Dr. Lonny, who has been a chiropractor in Bellevue for over 28 years and is well versed in healing our community members.