[bcheung]

Early rising isn't so much what time you wake up as it is waking up early enough so you have time to yourself before you have to go into the office or start your day job.

The important thing is your first few hours after waking go to your most important goals.

[_emacsomancer_]

> The important thing is your first few hours after waking go to your most important goals.

Why? I find I'm often more productive at the end of the day than the beginning. And more productive late at night than early in the morning. I find the obsession with waking up early very strange (and often counter-productive).

[randomsearch]

Some people are more effective in the morning, others later on. The morning and night owl thing is backed up by scientific evidence.

NB - I previously didn’t believe this, and posted so in the past. After reading “why we sleep” that cites evidence to the contrary, I admit I’m wrong.

[bcheung]

I originally thought I was a night owl as well. I think it was for other reasons though and there is a legitimate benefit that is unique to mornings. It has a lot to do with lifestyle.

It's not an exact science and there's not a lot of literature on it yet but some variables to consider:

Are you referring to mornings working on what is important to you personally, or are you referring to mornings at a day job that you're just punching a clock? Motivation and interest are going to play a key role here.

Are you consistently waking up at the same time or are you thinking about a few times you woke up and were tired? It must be consistent for circadian rhythm to adjust.

Do you have time alone to yourself in the morning or are other people already up and around you? Depending on lifestyle, people often have more time to themselves at night than morning so that might be part of the reason.

Do you have a routine to wake up in the morning? Certain triggers like sunlight, drinking water for hydration, electrolytes, and moving around, don't happen for the majority of people until much later in the day. Without these people are not going to be at their best. Many people who are early risers incorporate these and other types of rituals (exercise, cold showers, meditation). Without them, their mornings would not be as productive.

Are you giving yourself enough time in the morning to be at a relaxed pace without worrying about the clock or is it a rush to get to work?

[stordoff]

I suspect it's individual - I've always found myself more productive at night, to the point where I can be sleep deprived and borderline passing off, but I know if I make it another few hours (to around 1am) I'll start waking up again (then start falling asleep again as the sun comes up).

[giobox]

Is the idea that working on your “important goals” in the first few hours after waking is more effective an evidence based opinion?

I can’t imagine myself performing my best at any task I do the first two hours after waking, and that certainly seems to be the case for almost all of my colleagues too, if early AM meetings are any indicator.

[bcheung]

Not sure about references but the general consensus I have seen and heard, and is congruently in my own life as well, is that willpower is at its strongest in the morning and as the day goes on we experience "decision fatigue" that drains us mentally.

Additionally, there seems to be some kind of slowdown that necessitates sleep. There have been studies (sorry don't have references handy) that show people who are sleep deprived are less likely to exercise self-constraint.

I would recommend the book "Miracle Morning" if you are interested in more.

As to not being productive in the morning, there is a consistency of waking up at the same time that needs to happen. In my experience, it takes 10-20 days before you can function well at the earlier time period.

Also, there are things you can do to increase alertness. Sunlight, drinking water (dehydration makes you tired and mentally sluggish), electrolytes, exercise (just a minute or 2 to get heart rate up), cold shower. All of these wake the body up and increase mental alertness. I frequently use them before I start my day and it makes a big difference. You can't just wake up and start working, you have to have a consistent routine that is aligned with human physiology.

It takes about 30 minutes after getting out of bed before I reach peak alertness.

[strken]

Ego depletion and decision fatigue suffered pretty badly in the replication crisis, although I have no idea what the current consensus is. The key phrase to search for is "ego-depletion RRR", if you're interested.

[bcheung]

Also, meetings first thing in the morning isn't exactly a productive, mind engaging activity. That would make pretty much anybody want to go back to sleep. It has to be something that benefits you that you are excited about achieving.

[matwood]

Get up and work out. Afterwards your mind will be clear and ready to work. And, as a bonus you'll have a few hours before anyone else shows up to bother you.