Morning people feel best in the hours before noon, energized by a full night’s sleep and morning routines. They may need to go to bed earlier and miss out on nighttime activities. Genetics may play a role, but night owls can become morning people by adjusting their routines. Going to bed early, avoiding screens before bedtime, and waking up at the same time every day can help.
A morning person is someone who generally feels at their best during the hours before noon. Many early risers feel energized after a full night’s sleep and can shake off the few remaining cobwebs by taking an invigorating morning shower. They often find that the early morning hours are also ideal for dealing with routine matters, such as e-mail correspondence, household finances and reading the newspaper. The opposite is a night owl, who typically feels better later in the day or at night.
Unlike their night owl counterparts, morning people actually get energy from the sights and sounds of a day just starting. Waking up to the first rays of the sun or to an alarm set to single digits is rarely a problem. Jogging or walking can feel more invigorating when performed in the crisp morning air, and many early risers enjoy the feeling of accomplishment before their real workday begins.
However, there are some drawbacks to this routine. Many shops and professional services are not available during the early morning hours, so to maintain an early morning wake-up schedule, people may even need to go to bed earlier in the evening than their night owl family and friends. They rarely stay awake after 9 or 10 a.m., which means they may miss out on some nighttime activities.
Some scientists suggest that an early riser’s preference for the early hours is in part based on genetics, specifically a gene that affects a person’s circadian rhythm and response to sunlight. This type of person has a natural sleep cycle that depends on a bright light source arriving at the right time. If he doesn’t get this beacon during the wee hours of the morning, he may feel groggy like a night owl forced to wake up too early.
Conversely, a night owl can sometimes learn to become a morning person by deliberately turning on a bright light source upon awakening in the morning. Moving the alarm away from the bed can also prevent a night owl from hitting the snooze button too often. Making the bed within minutes of waking up can also discourage someone from crawling back under the covers. Many people would have considered themselves morning people at some point in their lives, but the opportunity for sleep or a preference for nocturnal activities has converted them to night owls.
The conversion from a night owl to a morning person won’t happen overnight, but sleep experts suggest that people go to bed no later than 10 p.m., avoiding eating or watching television just before bedtime, and sticking to a schedule wake up early every day of the week, including weekends. Eventually, the body will adapt to changing light signals and a converted night owl should have a higher energy level in the morning.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
