What Is The Best Time To Wake Up To Be Productive?

What is the best time to wake up to be productive? Let me begin with this saying: “No one ever became a success by snoozing in bed”.

This isn’t just empty talk. Waking up before 6 a.m. contributes to enhanced performance. Let me clarify my viewpoint.

Remember, we’re limited to only 24 hours daily – not a minute more. Therefore, the choice of how to leverage these hours is yours alone.

A Harvard article mentioned that researchers examined data from about 840,000 folks of European roots [1]. They managed to classify early sleepers and late sleepers. 

Afterward, they established which person had a prior diagnosis of depression. This bears relevance because depression and troubled sleep often trigger a decrease in work output and efficacy.

As I see it, this study might help you acknowledge and tackle productivity issues more successfully. It also highlights adjusting your sleep habits to support your health circumstances for total health.

Let me explain further, so keep your thumb moving.

What Is The Best Time To Wake Up To Be Productive?

There is no specific time on when you should get up. The ideal moment for waking up corresponds to when you feel at your most refreshed.

One study involving 4,188 U.S. workers found that those who slept less showed significantly worse productivity, performance, and safety outcomes [2]. Thus, having enough sleep is essential not just for well-being but also for enhancing productivity.

Here are some general tips to help devise a timetable that is convenient for you.

• If you want to accomplish tasks before sunrise, waking up at least two hours before your official work begins would be most beneficial. This duration allows you to get prepared and set plans for the day.
• You have flexible wake-up time if your morning schedule is free of commitments.
• If you have obligations requiring you to rise at a particular hour, for instance, work or school, then it’s a good practice to set your alarm clock to wake up earlier.
• If your body gets sufficient sleep, you are less likely to feel the need to snooze or combat tiredness throughout the day.
• If waking up is a struggle for you, consider adjusting your alarm 15 minutes earlier than usual and observe how this change affects you.
• If your body’s asking for more sleep than currently provided, shift to an earlier bedtime.
• Keep tweaking until you determine the sleep hours per night that maintain your top efficiency every morning. I’ve tested it with different environments and weather, and it is very accurate.

Incorporating these tips in your daily activities allows you to create a timetable fine-tuned to your lifestyle. These examples showcase a few possible means to manage your wake-up routine. 

Morning Larks Vs Night Owls: Which Is More Productive?

Productivity relies on identifying your best work time as an early bird or night owl. You should focus on doing important tasks during your peak hours. 

Choose the method that fits you most and maintain it. You can develop a schedule that maximizes your output when you identify your most productive hours.

Morning larks

Early risers, often referred to as ‘morning larks’ or ‘early birds,’ usually wake up at dawn and reach their productivity peak in the morning. 

People of this nature may have an easier time establishing a daily routine and leveraging societal norms, as their most efficient hours align well with typical work schedules.

Their habit of going to bed early allows them to meet the suggested sleep hours, which is vital for brain function, overall health, and productive work.

Night owls

However, night owls often operate at their highest efficiency during the late night hours. They can concentrate and complete significant work late when early birds may be relaxing or sleeping soundly.

So, night owls can thrive in sectors like the creative and tech industries, where you expect an out-of-the-ordinary work schedule.

Personal peak times

Each person has a high-performance period. Being aware of these can guide you in creating a productive routine.

Some may find they’re most productive in the early morning, while others hit their peak late at night. You can strategically align your demanding work during these times to boost your productivity.

I believe in this theory. With my system, I often experience my highest productivity levels early in the morning with an undisturbed ambiance (like our apartment). When staying in a lively home like my grandmother’s, I usually work until midnight because everybody is already asleep.

It’s the quietest moment I hit my productivity peak.

Pros And Cons Of Waking Up Early

An early riser can reap many rewards. You starts your day on an energized note and facilitates task completion before the daily routine begins. 

The list below highlights the pros and cons associated with waking up earlier:

Pros

• You can increase productivity: An early start to the day improves productivity and provides you with a larger window to achieve tasks.
• You will have better mental health: The Harvard article I mentioned earlier suggests that rising with the sun has a 23% lower risk of depression.
• You can enhance concentration: Starting with the sunrise allows you access to an undisturbed, peaceful setting, fostering better attention to tasks.
• You can develop healthier eating habits: Early rising gives you the opportunity to have a more nourishing breakfast, which acts as a stepping stone for healthier eating behavior for the day.
• You will have more time to exercise: Incorporating exercise first thing in the morning can positively impact your energy levels and reinforce overall health goals.
• You can improve sleep quality: An early-to-bed, early-to-rise routine can help optimize your sleep quality because it better aligns with the body’s biological clock.
• You can improve time management: An early start provides quiet hours at dawn to map out your day, promoting improved time management strategies.
• You will have more exposure to morning sunlight: Early risers reap the advantage of more contact with morning sunlight, enhancing your mood and encouraging a sound sleep rhythm.

Cons

• You will have difficulty as night owls: Swapping to an early morning routine may be problematic if you are naturally inclined towards night-time or have problems sleeping early.
• You will have reduced social time: Transitioning to an early bedtime with the intent to wake up early might restrict your social interactions during late hours.
• You may have a risk of sleep deprivation: Pushing for an early rise time without sufficient early sleep can contribute to your sleep insufficiency with undesirable side effects.
• You can experience low energy in the evening: Morning types might fatigue earlier at night, making it hard for you to engage in activities or focus on duties after supper.
• You may have less time for creative pursuits: If the deep night is your period of creativity surge, early mornings might feel suppressing and not beneficial for your artful tasks.
• You may struggle to maintain consistency: Waking up early might be burdensome during off days or holidays when your body craves more sleep.
• You may experience the potential for enhanced stress: If early rising does not come naturally and feels like a strain, it may induce heightened cortisol levels, which intensifies your overall stress.
• You may develop a dependence on alarm clocks: Getting up early repeatedly needs an alarm which, with persistent use, can generate dependence and interfere with your internal sleep cycle.

10 Tips On How To Wake Up Early

I earnestly follow the “early to bed, early to rise” concept. Waking up early grants more hours for accomplishing tasks.

But how can you make waking up early easier? 

Keep reading to get advice on leaving your bed at 6 a.m. or before and keeping a high energy level for the entire day.

1) Pre-sleep yoga

A gentle yoga session before bed can calm your mind and body to foster a deep sleep and simplify waking up early.

2) Meaningful alarm tones

Instead of the standard alarm beeping or buzzing, use a song or noise that offsets a positive mood. Consider using an alarm app that noticeably raises the volume in stages to wake you more naturally.

3) Pick your breakfast the night before

Looking forward to a satisfying breakfast can make waking up early more enticing. Explore new combinations of overnight oats or prepare your smoothie ingredients in advance.

4) The 90-minute hack

A typical sleep cycle lasts approximately 90-120 minutes. By adjusting your sleep to multiples of this time frame (7.5 hours or 9 hours instead of 8), there’s a higher probability you’ll rise at the finish of a cycle,  potentially reducing feelings of grogginess.

5) Pre-bedtime visualization

Allow yourself a few moments to imagine your next day before heading towards sleep. This builds a mental replica of waking up at dawn and fulfilling your to-dos to make the alarm sound more manageable.

6) Room lightening

No matter how much you enjoy the fully darkened room, the increasing intensity of natural or artificial light can help send wake-up signals to your brain.

7) Smartwatch alarm

Some smartwatches include a built-in function to set vibration on your wrist at the set alarm time to provide a softer wakeup method for early risers.

8) No-snooze policy

Repeatedly using the snooze option tends to become a pattern. Break this cycle by resisting the temptation and consistently rising at the onset of your alarm.

9) Incentivize the morning

Inspire yourself to rise at dawn by planning an activity you love for the early hours. It could be reading, brainstorming, reflecting, or savoring a peaceful moment with your coffee.

10) Early morning workout

An early morning exercise session can provide a natural surge in energy and instill a productive mindset for the rest of the day.

How Much Sleep Do We Need?

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), sleep requirements vary based on our age [3]. 

Here’s the breakdown:

Also, getting enough sleep is crucial, but it isn’t everything. The quality of your sleep also holds significant importance. 

It signals poor sleep quality if you feel you need more time to feel refreshed despite getting enough sleep. You could improve your bedtime routine or seek medical advice regarding potential sleep issues.

Best Time To Wake Up To Be Productive (FAQs)

What to do next?

Changing your wake-up time along with adjusting your lifestyle can give you positive results. Consider creating a bedtime and morning routine.

Also, setting daily goals when you wake up can improve productivity and help track your progress.

And, if you have any productivity tips or ideas about the best wake-up time for productivity, feel free to share with us.