Morning Birds vs. Night Owls: Who Has the Advantage?

While Tim Cook, the mild-mannered and introverted CEO of Apple, and Donald Trump, a wild-mannered extrovert, may not seem to have much in common, they are both part of an elite group of CEOs and business leaders who wake around 4 am.

Unsurprisingly, the rest of the world who strive to follow in their footsteps try to emulate this routine, with the majority of self-improvement-focused bloggers and YouTubers preaching the benefits of waking up and starting the day early.

But is this morning lark routine truly the path to productivity and success? Or is it a quick and painful route to mental exhaustion?

The answer may lie in your genetics. Whether you are a “morning bird” or a “night owl” was somewhat decided before you were even born. 

This article will explore the differences between morning and evening people (chronotypes), which one you may be, and how you should build your daily routine around the times that are most productive for you. You may be surprised to learn that early is not always best.

The early bird catches the worm, as the saying goes. Early birds are praised for their efforts in getting up early and getting things done. Night owls, on the other hand, are notorious for working more productively later on when the rest struggle to stay awake. 

There is no clear consensus on what percentage of people are morning people versus evening people, as it can vary depending on how these terms are defined and measured.