Thank you for your thoughts.
I do not fully agree with all the arguments. I am too much science-based in such aspects.
This early bird myth comes from the preference of early birds in the classically conditioned workday schedule. Thus, it is not that they are more successful than the others, but because of the selection bias. And they are not the majority of the population, but naturally only 15%. The behavior is conditioned because of work and career preferences.
If you look at successful people who get up early, then the ratio is about 50%. Tom Corley argues in his book “Change Your Habits, Change Your Life,” that successful people get up early because of the studied people, nearly 50% are getting up early. But this means that the other half of the successful people do not get up early. Thus, one could also throw a coin. It has no scientific significance.
Further, everybody can indeed learn to get up at 5 am. But there is also the aspect of health.
There is evidence from long-term studies that night owls forced to the early bird’s life have higher mortality risk, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory disorders, and so on.
Sleep experts show that each person has a so-called chronotype. That means an own rhythm of natural sleep habits and energy patterns. And they recommend following for productivity these patterns and not blindly following any sleep and working myths. For example, Dr. Michael Breus has classified the people in four types and has recommendations on how to plan a day.
My advice for people: Before you blindly follow such myths, assess what is the science behind it, and then determine what is best for you. There are several aspects: physical and psychological health, happiness, interaction with people, and the importance of a career and, thus, adjustment to the professional preferences. Take all into account and make then the decision.
And it also has not to be the same for your whole life. For example, I am adjusting my sleep behavior every few years, based on the goals I have.
