You don’t have to wake up early to be productive.

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Do you feel guilty for not being a morning person? You’re not alone.

The idea of waking up early to be productive is so widely spread that it’s easy to feel bad when you can’t make it happen. Indeed, waking up early every day requires discipline, and being disciplined might be the key to productivity.

But here’s the thing: waking up early isn’t always the best strategy for everyone.

In this article, I will explain why I think the early bird doesn’t always get the worm, hoping to give you a different way of thinking.

In this article, let’s discover:

• Why People Believe in the Early Bird Myth
• Why You Don’t Have to Wake Up Early to be Productive
• My Personal Experience: I tried waking up early for a month and this is what I found
• Actionable Steps I Have Found Helpful

Let’s dive in!

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So, Why Do People Believe in the Early Bird Myth?

In my opinion, there are a few reasons:

1. The society’s invisible rule

Most of us have to wake up early because of work or school. It’s become an invisible rule that waking up early is the norm. We follow the norm because we’re told to, and we barely have a chance to stop and consider whether it’s for us or not. For many of us, we simply do not have a choice.

2. The Symbol of Hard Work

Some people consider waking up early (or staying up late) as a sign of hard work and dedication.

Waking up early means spending extra time on doing something. It doesn’t mean that you do the thing with efficiency or make good use of that period of time.

There are different reasons why people believe this:

1. It takes discipline and sacrifice to wake up early every day. It’s not easy, and completing difficult tasks makes people feel good about themselves. (Which they should.)
2. Some people feel that waking up early helps them outperform others or get ahead in life.
3. Others believe that doing this helps them make the most of their limited time each day.

However, it might not be the case.

3. Famous People Wake Up Early

Many gurus, experts, and famous people wake up early, which can make people believe that waking up early is the key to productivity.

It’s quite normal that we want to learn from the best and to be like them. Yet, everyone is different and what works for them may not work for you.

In addition, there may be other key reasons for their productivity and success that we simply don’t know about.

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Why You Don’t Have to Wake Up Early to be Productive

Now that we’ve debunked the early bird myth, let’s discuss why you don’t have to wake up early to be productive.

1. Everyone is Different

Everyone has their own biological clocks, known as circadian rhythms, which determine when they feel most alert and productive.

Some people are naturally morning people, while others are night owls. This means that the idea of a “normal” wake-up time is subjective and may not be applicable to everyone.

That is why some people suffer from “Social jet lag,” which means the mismatch between a person’s internal body clock and their actual sleep schedule that’s affected by the social norm.

They might stay up late on weekends or days off and then having to wake up early on workdays.

It’s really painful- I know it ’cause I’d lived a morning person’s schedule as a night owl for so many years.

In fact, there are many successful people who don’t follow this norm.

For example, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been known to work late into the night and sleep in until mid-morning.

Mathematician Paul Erdős, who made significant contributions to the field of mathematics, also had an unconventional sleep schedule and often worked through the night.

So while waking up early may work for some, it’s not the only way to be productive.

2. Waking Up Early is NOT the only Key to Productivity

Productivity is the power of transformation — converting inputs into useful outputs, the ability of achieving goals in an efficient and timely manner.

The factors that affect productivity include:

1. Resources
2. Motivation
3. Energy/time management
4. The ability or environment to stay focused
5. The quality of work management

Therefore, waking up early doesn’t have a direct affect to productivity, unless it gives you full energy and a clear head to manage the factors above.

The key is to find what works best for you and your unique situation. So don’t stress if you’re not an early riser — there are plenty of other ways you can work on to be productive!

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Personal Experience: I tried waking up early for a month and this is what I found

As someone who has struggled with sleep for years, I think that waking up early is not the only way to be productive. Well, I can’t wake up early even if I want to. I’ve gone through 3 stages. Here’s my personal experience:

Stage 1: Tried to Wake Up Early Without a Routine

At first, waking up early felt good. However, because I was used to sleeping late, I soon found it hard to wake up early as planned. This led to feelings of guilt, self-blame, and lack of confidence.

Additionally, I would think “tomorrow, I will definitely wake up early” and tend to give up doing things that day. And then, I failed to wake up early the next day. This led to a vicious loop. I couldn’t wake up early and got nothing done.

Stage 2: Finding My Sleep Routine

After quitting my job and being a freelancer, I had plenty of time to try to figure out what sleep routine works for me while dealing with insomnia. Unfortunately, I discovered that my routine kept spinning, and I would fall asleep at different times each night, ranging from 2am to 5am.

At last, 5am seemed to be working for me, but I soon discovered that although my mind felt comfortable sleeping at 5am, my body didn’t. This led to health problems.

Stage 3: Focus on What I Can Improve When Awake

Instead of finding an ideal sleep pattern, I tried to focus on what I can improve when I’m awake.

For example, I focused on time (energy) management and ways to stay focused and avoid distractions. At the same time, I was constantly finding my why.

I realized that when I was extremely stressed, overwhelmed, or lost in my previous job, I couldn’t listen to my heart about what I really wanted. What’s worse, I thought I wanted A, but deep down, I actually wanted B.

This led to self-doubt, procrastination, being late at work, making tasks go past their deadlines, and many other situations that kept me from being productive. I know, ultimately, it would damage my physical and mental health.

After I have a clearer vision of my goals and make better use if my time, I look forward to embrace a new day every day. It ‘s also much easier to stick to a sleep schedule of 3am to 11am. I finally find a pattern that works for me.

Actionable Steps

If you are struggling to wake up early to be productive, here are a few actionable steps I have found helpful:

1. Identify your sleep pattern and work with it.
   Are you a night owl or an early bird? What sleep schedule feels the most comfortable for your mind and body?
   Create a sleep schedule that works around your body clock.
2. Focus on what you can improve when you’re awake. This can include time (energy) management, ways to stay focused, and avoiding distractions.
3. Find your “why” and prioritize your goals. By doing this, you can stay motivated and productive.
4. Take care of yourself. This includes getting enough rest, eating healthy, and exercising regularly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you don’t have to wake up early to be productive. Waking up early is not the only key to productivity.

Instead of focusing on waking up early, try to identify your sleep pattern, focus on what you can improve when you’re awake, find your “why,” and take care of yourself.

I hope that this article helps you figure out works for you.