Xero C.We all have our times to shine (whether or not the sun is still shining at that hour is another matter), whether it’s early, midday, or evening, and that difference is part of what makes us special. Personally, I savor the afternoon, as that is the time I do best. But regardless of what time you prefer, there are benefits to following your rhythm and going with it. Science shows that no matter when we work best, we are better off taking the cues our body gives us and rolling with them. Here is why you should find your favorite time of day and savor it.
The Different Camps
There seem to be two distinct camps: night owls and morning people. The afternoon people like me — if indeed there is an entire camp of us — are somewhat neglected in this metaphor. We are often lumped in with the night owls, or are treated like morning people who are simply procrastinating. But I digress. Morning people thrive in the earliest hours of the day. They treat the sunrise as a late alarm clock, and choose to relish the time when most people are busy snoozing. They have often completed a hike, postdoctorate degree, and Michelin Star-worthy breakfast by the time most of us manage to open our eyes in the morning. Even though it feels like they’re doing this just to show off, according to them, the morning is just when they work best.
Night owls are a different story. They loathe the morning. They spend the early hours with their eyes only partially open, looking for dark corners to crouch in until it is their time to proverbially shine. Some people simply say this is the equivalent of insomnia with extra steps, but I think that’s a cynical way of looking at things. One the evening rolls around, they are masters of their craft, slyly acting with the courage and charisma of James Bond and accomplishing things their morning-selves could only dream of.
Then there are afternoon people (my people). We struggle through the mornings just like night owls, but we are ready to go just a tad earlier. Noon is our rallying call. Before too much of the day has passed, we are ready to seize opportunities and make the most out of our time. Personally, I am happy to hit my midday high before the typical 3 pm slump. It’s a great time to be at peak productivity, as the day trends toward the end of the workday and the hours we most typically associate with rest.
Finding Your Time
Once you have found the time of day that works best for you, it’s time to seize it and take advantage of those hours. No matter what, you should stick to a regular sleep schedule. If you are not getting adequate sleep, then it won’t matter what hours you thrive, as you will still be performing at well below your optimal levels. You need 7-9 hours of sleep per day to stay at your best: no more, no less.
According to an analysis published in the journal “Sports Medicine – Open,” there is no strong evidence supporting the idea that the specific time of day you exercise is important. Instead, the evidence strongly indicates that training and testing yourself within the same day is ideal, meaning so long as you are consistently exercising each day — regardless of time — you are doing something right. In short: getting consistent exercise is much more important than when you exercise.
Conclusion
Even though we each have a different time of day, it’s important to take advantage of whichever time works best for you. If you are most able to exercise and be productive in the morning, for example, then schedule your day around your peak hours. You want to be at your for as long as you can, without squandering your natural rhythm. For me, the afternoon is when I shine, so that is when I schedule my most difficult tasks. If you would like to learn more about lifestyle, wellness, or nutrition topics, please check out our other blogs!
