If you’re reading this, you’re most likely not a morning person.
Guess what? Neither am I!
The thought of seeing the crack of dawn horrifies me. Heck, waking up at 8 am in the morning is already a feat.
But society seems to favour morning people. We all know it – and try to deny it.
So, should we bother changing our sleep habits?
But first of all…
Why am I a night owl?
Determining whether you’re a “morning person” or a “night owl” is determined by our “chronotypes.” Think of it as your body’s internal clock. 50% of your chronotype is determined by genetics.
You may be thinking: Genetics? 50%? Looks like I’m set for life. No point in changing things now.
But let’s not forget the other 50% of what determines your chronotype: Habit.
However, changing your habits can be difficult. So you may be asking yourself:
Why should I become a morning person?
Here are the facts:
Morningness is associated with …
Eveningness is associated with….
- Increased susceptibility to depression[4]
- Increased alcohol and stimulant use [5]
- Fair or poor general health [6]
Of course, correlation does not necessarily assume causation.
So let’s think practically:
- Our society favours morning people. Morning people are more alert at school/work. To be blunt, being a morning person helps you function in society.
- Being a morning person implies having a constant sleep schedule, which pretty much means more sleep. Wouldn’t that be nice? To feel the same level of alertness everyday?
- Waking up early gives you more time in the day to be productive. (More on developing successful morning habits next time)
- Morning people start the day off calmer. Jump-out-of-bed-rush-out-the-door-rush? Why give yourself more stress than you need?
The verdict
Overall, it seems like being a morning person has more benefits than limitations. Morning people are generally happier, more productive, and more successful.
But not everyone is a morning person. Some people are night owls, no matter how hard they try to change it.
But hey, maybe being a morning person can work in your favour. It’s worth a shot, right?
So, are you ready for a change? If so, check out Part 2 for a step-by-step guide on how to become a morning person.
[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3399900/
[2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3399900/
[3] https://hbr.org/2010/07/defend-your-research-the-early-bird-really-does-get-the-worm
[4] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3399900/
[5] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3399900/
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