The early bird gets the worm, right? As energy level and work performance in the morning varies from one individual to the other, we all know by now that the early birds tend to be more successful and accomplished than those who sleep in late. Early mornings seem to be popular amongst people like Apple CEO Tim Cook, who wakes up at 3:45 a.m. every morning, or Twitter co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey, who wakes up at 5 a.m. The 'early morning madness' is also popular and promoted by entertainers, businesspeople and other known names in different industries. It has also become extremely popular among the so-called YouTubers and bloggers who promote a healthy lifestyle or give advice on how to become successful.

But, a question arises; do we all need to be early birds in order to be successful and accomplished? Is there really a correlation between our ever-day accomplishments and the time we wake up? Let's take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of early mornings and whether you should start waking up early or not.

Advantages:

Me time

Waking up at 5 a.m. means waking up before the majority of the world; it is just you and the little birdies saying hello to the sunrise. And doesn't this sound wonderful? Such an outlook on the early-morning routine can leave you full of energy for the rest of the day. Not to mention, you are by yourself at 5 a.m., so there is no one to interrupt your routine, commitments, and obligations that you have set as a goal to be completed.

Early mornings are a great way to focus on yourself since that is your distraction-free time you can use to read, write, exercise, prepare a nourishing breakfast meal or even relax by the window with a cup of coffee or tea. You can also use this time to listen to some audio books while taking a walk or take online math course you have always wanted to but never had the time.

Increased productivity

By waking up early, you are already several hours ahead than you would usually be, so why not use the time for something productive. Even though it sounds terrible to some people, early mornings are excellent energy boosters, so you can get more things done and completed faster. The morning usually sets the stage for how the rest of your day is going to be, so by being productive in the morning you can be sure to also perform excellently in the office. Early morning productivity helps you fuel your motivation and the willpower to succeed.

Time management

Waking up at 5 a.m. ensures that you will complete the designated tasks you have prepared on time. It also gives you the freedom to create a daily schedule and to manage your time more freely and easily. Being timely is also of great importance when it comes to your job; by being an early bird, you can be sure to show up at the office on time, and leave a good impression as a responsible, disciplined and timely co-worker. Not to mention that you will probably be the first to hit the office in the morning, so you can work in peace, without any phones ringing or co-workers nagging. Timeliness is essential for a productive day, and early mornings will give you the power to manage your time as you wish.

Exercise and meditation

Exercise before going to work is a great way to boost your energy level and get ready for a hectic day at the office. When you exercise early in the morning, you are prepping your body for the day and boosting your metabolism which in turn improves your mental and physical energy and health as well as self-discipline and life-consistency. Not to mention, early morning workout or meditation will also help you with your sleep hygiene, as the adrenaline level you achieve in the morning decreases by the time you go to bed. So, you can say hello to a stress-free sleep.

Nourishment

Getting a proper breakfast meal is of the utmost importance when it comes to your overall health and body functioning throughout the day. By rising at 5 a.m., you have plenty of time to prepare a nourishing meal that you can eat and enjoy in peace, without any rush and worry that you will be late. The breakfast is the most important meal of your day, and early mornings ensure that you get all the vitamins, healthy carbs and nutrition you will need for a successful and productive day at work.

Disadvantages:

Increase in stress

Even though early mornings are supposed to relieve stress and provide you with calmness and peacefulness, for some people early-rising is the complete opposite. Namely, waking up at 5 a.m. is a cause of stress for some people, which in turn leads to a higher risk of attention problems, fatigue, tiredness, and overall poor cognitive performance. There also seems to be a close connection between early-rising and cognitive deficits, like the ability to remember or learn. The adverse effects of waking up early in the morning can be extremely problematic to some people.

Sleep deprivation

If your early rising could be classified as circumstantial, or to be more specific, as related to your job requirements, you should consider ditching the whole early-morning thing and start going to bed earlier instead. Rather than reducing sleep by waking up at 5 a.m., you should stop causing harm to your mind and body and get at least eight hours of sleep each night.

Why is this so important? Well, sleep deprivation is the number one cause of the decrease in brain function and restriction of one's full potential and best performance at work. Needless to say, sleep deprivation can lead to tiredness and overworking, therefore disrupting one's sleep even more. Sleep deprivation is also a cause of mental disorders, and if on-going, could lead to depression, anxiety disorders and insomnia.

Lack of productivity, focus, and creativity

Oftentimes, early rising is associated with an increase in productivity, as described in the previous paragraphs. However, the fact that the majority of people who suddenly become early-risers experience a lack of effectiveness at work, focus and concentration, even creativity is usually neglected. The pressure to look up to prominent names like Tim Cook or Elon Musk is so predominant in our society that people do not even take into consideration their health and signs their body sends.

Sleep-deprivation usually changes the way the brain functions, often causing you to think of nothing else but sleep. Therefore, getting a good night's sleep is essential if you simply cannot keep up with the early mornings, or if you want to keep your productivity and creativity.

Hormonal changes and immune system impairment

Due to sleep deprivation, it is known that the concentration of thyroid hormones usually decreases. On the other hand, sleep-deprivation leads to an increase in metabolic rate and body temperature, often also leading to obesity or malnutrition, depending on an individual's health and lifestyle. Early-morning rising can also easily affect your immune system and weaken it, leaving you feeling tired and irritable throughout the day. Sleep-regulation is extremely important for your health, so if you are a night owl and usually sleep-in late there is no need to change into an early bird. However, if your job requires you to become one, then make sure to do it gradually and in the least invasive way that will not harm your immune system in the long run.

Final thoughts…

So, the answer to the title of this article would be that waking up at 5 a.m. can be both good and bad for you. Several factors determine whether this lifestyle will compliment you or not, and every individual needs to recognize these factors for themselves. Regarding the correlation between early-rising and success, there isn't one for sure. As long as you work hard and try your best, success will always come regardless of whether you wake up at 5 a.m. or sleep till noon. If you have decided to become a morning person after taking into consideration both the pros and cons, then go for it. You need to know, however, that it will be hard in the beginning and that it will take time to get used to that routine if you have never done it before. Nevertheless, if you notice any of the adverse effects of early-rising creeping up on you and your health, reconsider your choice and make sure always to get enough sleep.