project mojave blog - Latest Comments in Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

sağlık — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:21:01 -0000

i always wake up early bcoz i started working at 07:30 and my work is too hard

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Meteor Freaks — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:44:46 -0000

I used to be forced to wake up early for school and then later work, and as soon as I started working for myself I found myself to be most productive late at night. It is impossible for me to concentrate on working when it is sunny and bright out, but at 3 AM I am a work machine...

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Sam M.R. — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:09:03 -0000

Hey Clay,
Nice article, in fact, the first which approves my way of living! I'm a software developer and also I do some Forex. You know, when I was younger, I was a good student but I hated waking up early to attend school, however I was forced to do so. Now that I don't have to wake up early or go to bed early I don't sleep at nights at all, I'm up from 5pm to 11am most days. I don't know if I'm truly a night owl but I do my job better than my day-working friends.
About 6 months ago I realized I have heart problem, specifically Hypertension. When I changed my sleeping schedule to night-working the problem faded away and a week ago my doctor said you do not have any heart problem.

Cheers!

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

ungrateful — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:51:48 -0000

I always wake up between 3-5am. I just go to bed at 9pm. Good luck with that, hope you get it sorted.

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

KC — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:59:37 -0000

All I know is I am waking up between 3 and 5 every morning and not falling back asleep for three months now. Does not matter when I go to bed. Sleep deprivation is slowly killing me. I am more and more forgetful, irritable, sad and clumsy from lack of sleep. Exercise did not seem to have any effect on my sleep but the last 3 weeks I haven't even had the energy to get on the treadmill. Ambien stopped having any effect after the first week. Even the CR does not have any effect. I have a appointment with Stanford sleep Dr in a couple of weeks. I hope I make it till then..... This has to change because the quality of my life is rapidly approaching zero.

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

ungrateful — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:33:47 -0000

“any person who…sets serious goals in his/her life turns to rising early, sooner or later.” — Totally false. I have goals, some of them I’ve already achieved, yet I wake up later, much later, than the average person. Thanks for the great post!"

Yes! But your life isn't over yet. It clearly states "sooner or later". Later is still in the future.

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Mercola — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:20:49 -0000

"any person who…sets serious goals in his/her life turns to rising early, sooner or later." --- Totally false. I have goals, some of them I've already achieved, yet I wake up later, much later, than the average person. Thanks for the great post!

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Dot H. | Deeper Issues — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 04:44:33 -0000

Very stimulating post. You look so young to know so much, if that doesn't sound too patronizing. I'm writing at 4:40 am because yesterday I slept till 12:45 and now I can't sleep. But my sleep is disordered by fibromyalgia. I'm now a night person, but when I was a little kid, I didn't get to stay up late, so I got up as early as I could. I'd secretly sleep in my clothes to get a jump on the day, but my mother was not a morning person, so I had to wait until it was okay with her for everyone to get up.

I think people think that if they get up early, they're giving their best energy to themselves. What I mean is, if they wait until after work, they know they'll be tired and their energy will probably be low. So they figure that working late into the evening won't be as productive as getting up early. However, what I produce before 10 am isn't worth two cents, so I think you're right -- it's more important to go by when you know yourself to be most productive than by the hour on the clock.

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Andrew — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:42:36 -0000

This brought me a whole new perspective on sleep. It (and the rest of the blog as well, since I'm a n00b) was very interesting to me.

But that's a funny quote by Juan Francisco Díaz-Morales. I'm a creative-type who relies on intuition, with unconventional political views and (as a general rule) am rather informal. But I love getting up early in the morning. I'm at my most creative between 7 and 11 am. After 1 am I am absolutely no fun to be around. And creativity and productivity almost never come to me after noon. Certainly not after 11 pm. Maybe it's genetic.

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Thom — Fri, 23 May 2008 22:01:00 -0000

I'm sure I've seen sites/posts that offer methods for establishing what IS one's ideal circadian rhythm (on the assumption that many of us are thwarting that natural rhythm to some degree). Of course, one always has some instinct of being an owl or a lark, but that's not the same as being able to really work out what's optimum.

Just wondering whether you came across these in your own research.

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Samantha Kitiyani — Tue, 20 May 2008 11:06:35 -0000

wow..................... we move alot when we sleep. I'm actually scared to go to sleep now for no apparent reason.
signed

m.m.m

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Detlev Tesch — Thu, 08 May 2008 07:05:34 -0000

Hi Clay,

very good article! Thank you.

I guess main stream opinion still discounts late risers as lazy.

Now for a different take on that: A friend who organised a seminar for me asked me for a flyer to advertise the event. I did that between midnight and 2 am. She was plainly amazed - the next day of course - how anybody could produce quality at that time of day (night).

And that is a time when those lazy early risers are already tired and sleeping... ;))

Ok, I am lucky to be a freelancer and often have the chance to create my day the way it suits me. But not when I give a seminar. Starting times are usually between 9 and 10. And that is a bit of an effert for me.

Well rising early or late is just a question of types, not of morals. And of having a choice.

Best wishes from Germany
Detlev

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Duff McDuffee — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:32:11 -0000

Hells yea. Let's hear it for late risers.

A book I've been reading called Adrenal Fatigue (basically the physiology of stress) recommends sleeping until 9am, because those with adrenal fatigue tend to get their best sleep during those hours. I've always been one of those people.

And the quote on being more creative if you stay up late and more boring and conventional has certainly been my experience of larks and owls.

Keep pwning these awesome posts.

~Duff

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Ungrateful — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:58:08 -0000

I have always been an early riser. I love hitting the street for a morning walk when it's still dark, cool and empty of nothing but joggers, dog walkers and garbage trucks and the homeless people have all gone to sleep in the doorways.
My boss won't let me start work until 7:30 am so I have learned to sleep in until daylight.
I always wake up 3 minutes before the alarm clock goes off.

Great article. There really is nothing new under the sun, but that doesn't mean everyone has seen it.

Thanks,

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Michelle Watson — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 03:16:56 -0000

Before that was also my problem to wake up early and the reason was because of my type of work that became my habit to sleep late. I thought i had already an insomnia which is hard to sleep on night. he.. what i did is to take the advice of my friend and these are drink a milk, take some herbal vitamins supplements which takes as my source of energy, and take a shower before i sleep it is good to feel fresh and cool. And now am back to normal again. he.. Anyways, i like your posted topic its well informative that gives reason to finish my reading. best regards...

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Alicia Keys — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 09:33:48 -0000

I completely agree to you. BTW I am a night owl.

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Isabel Joely Black — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:46:25 -0000

I couldn't resist having a browse of your site today since I'm planning to mention it in my podcast next week. I happened across this article and was pleased to read that there is some backing to my personal experience. Although I put myself on a plan to do a "working day" (9-5) whilst writing Amnar in order to make it feel like it was real, valid work, I've discovered that the writing isn't the same as it was when I was writing at home, late at night. For some reason, 8.30pm is the kick-off for a push of massive creativity when I can write for hours. Any earlier and I'll spend most of the time being distracted by things. I've been concerned that I was procrastinating, but it's just that the "energy" isn't right.

I've seen a lot of people setting themselves the standard of waking up at 5am or whatever. Whenever I've tried to do that I've ended up feeling deathly for most of the day, and it's led me to conclude that you need good reasons to get up early. Which leads me to another point - there's something of a hatred of sleep as though it's wasting precious time. I think sleep is wonderful (possibly because I've always suffered from insomnia!), and I get most of my best ideas when I'm in bed.

From a confirmed night-owl, it's good to see that a new perspective is being offered on the cult of the early-riser.

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Clay Collins — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:41:08 -0000

@Liara: Regarding this: "Remind yourself everything is an opinion unless it is experienced by yourself." Your statement is exactly what this post is about. Thanks for your comment.

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Liara Covert — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:56:14 -0000

Ever heard the phrase, "sleep when you're dead?" This cultural phenomenon grew out of the idea sleep shouldn't be necessary. Workaholics may have coined the phrase? Yet, on a physical plane, rest and regeneration are necessary. Its interesting to read about different sleep habits and the impact on different levels of productivity. It has been noted for instance, that shorter sleeps (i.e. shifts of 2-3 hours) a few times per day would lead to getting more out of life. Remind yourself everything is an opinion unless it is experienced by yourself.

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Damon L. — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:52:24 -0000

Keep in mind Ben Franklin was crucial to daylight savings time creation, and back in his day there were few jobs that would allow for night owl behaviors.

And to the person who told Clay to wait10-15 years and then he'll see ... Well I'm almost 40 and I love sleeping until 9:30, going to sleep around 1 a.m. while reading blogs like this in bed on my iphone in the dark while my wife is sleeping next to me...and we have 4 kids as well so life isn't easy! Thankfully my job let's me come in when I need to, as long as I get my work done. I'm very blessed in that respect.

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Kerouacky — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:05:25 -0000

Thank you Clay for another interesting read. So far, I have found your blog to be first-rate (I'm a new reader-of-blogs, but so far you're the only one to make it onto my favourites tab).

It's been a couple weeks since anyone has commented on this article, so naturally I feel a need to keep things fresh. A point that did not come up (so far as I can see) is how the evolution of public education will address this issue. From my observations, public education is moving swiftly toward a much more independent framework. Inexpensive access to technology continues to revolutionize public classrooms, and it is not a stretch to see the implications of this. Only two decades ago many had to complete their computer class assignments or essays in class, because home computers were not nearly as available as they are today. Now, students have the option - or are expected - to complete the same work at home. What might the next step be? Glad you asked! I suspect a significant portion of education will become decentralized. Students will be able to 'login' to class from bed - or better - login when they feel like it. It is no secret that interactive classrooms exist already, and I think it is only a matter of time before the public will not want to pay the overhead for infrastructure, auxiliary staff, etc. when they can receive the same results without the cost. Maybe I digress a bit, but the gist is that such an education system would allow people to schedule their day around their own sleep patterns. I'm not suggesting there aren't many other factors related to this type of education system (lack of social dynamic) to discuss, but that is for another time and another place. Again, thanks for the food for thought. My peabrain needs it!

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Clay Collins — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:20:57 -0000

@Very good points. Getting up later has also had the same affect on me. And subscribing to my blog is really the best complement someone can give me about this website, so I thank you for that.

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Nez — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:14:32 -0000

Good points, Clay.

Sometimes I need to wake up early just because I'm too tired by 9pm (kids, ya know!). And other times, I stay up late to work (after the kids are put to bed, when the house is finally quiet).

But I do love sleep, though.

I've sometimes wondered how much of one's lifespan depended on the amount of sleep one got throughout one's lifetime -- then I snap out of it and get back to work.

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Louise Pool — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:05:44 -0000

@Keith
I'm older (45) and wiser (I hope) and my peak times are still 10 pm to 2 am.

§Clay
Great article, again. This is my second read on this blog and I am off to subscribe now.
I sleep from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. and meditate for 30 min at around 6 p.m. I certainly have less need for sleep than on a so-called normal schedule.

Re: Healthy, Wealthy, and DEAD?: 5 Reasons Why Getting Up Early Might be Harmful

Dan — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:39:58 -0000

Clay --

First off, just wanted to compliment you; this blog is a clearly a work of great love and effort, and the little I've looked through, you really have a keen ability to foster a discussion environment.

Next, I just wanted to give my two cents:

Last semester, I had 8 or 9 AM classes every day. Certainly not "ungodly" hours of the morning, but still plenty early, especially if I was going to go through whole hour-plus morning routines.

This semester, none of my classes start before noon. I wake up when my body tells me to, usually between 9:30 and 10:30. I sleep eight-and-a-half to nine hours a night, and I'm not sure I've ever been happier. Of course, a lot of the happiness has little to do with sleep schedules, but I think it plays an important role behind the scenes. I'm sleeping more than ever, and so I'm feeling more energetic and focused than I ever did last semester. While friends complain about grogginess after late-afternoon classes and stumble back to their dorms to crash, I grab a snack and get to work. Since the beginning of the semester, I've started tutoring, writing and editing for the school newspaper, ushering at a local theater, and writing every day -- not to mention the requisite studying and surviving college.

So, in summary, for me, allowing myself to wake up later has actually increased my productivity and happiness. I'm sure some day I'll try Leo's plan for waking up early and taking advantage of those early hours, but the energy and focus I get from a natural, complete sleep cycle is not something I want to give up.

Anyways, keep up the good work with blog -- I'm subscribing! Good job! Take care.