My Messy Take on Morning vs. Night Productivity
Morning vs. night productivity is, like, the question I’ve been wrestling with forever, okay? I’m sitting here in my cramped apartment in [let’s just say a random US city], surrounded by empty LaCroix cans and a sad houseplant I keep forgetting to water. My desk smells like yesterday’s coffee, and I’m trying to figure out if I’m an early bird or a night owl—or just a perpetually confused pigeon. Seriously, I’ve flip-flopped so much on this, it’s embarrassing. Like, one week I’m chugging espresso at 5 a.m., feeling like a productivity god, and the next I’m up at 2 a.m., typing nonsense into Google Docs with Netflix blaring in the background. Anyway, here’s my raw, unfiltered, slightly chaotic take on morning vs. night productivity, straight from my very American, very flawed perspective.
Why Mornings Kinda Slap (Sometimes)
Mornings have this… vibe, you know? Like, the world’s quiet, my phone isn’t buzzing with Slack notifications, and I can actually think. I started experimenting with morning productivity last year after reading some article about how CEOs wake up at 4 a.m. to, like, meditate and run marathons before breakfast. Me? I’m lucky if I can find matching socks. But I gave it a shot.
One morning, I dragged myself out of bed at 6 a.m., made a coffee so strong it could wake a coma patient, and sat at my desk. The sunrise was all pink and orange, and I felt… alive. I knocked out a blog post in, like, 45 minutes. It was wild.
But here’s the thing: mornings aren’t always magical. Sometimes I wake up, stare at my to-do list, and just… zone out. Like, last week, I spent 20 minutes googling “why do my eyes feel like sandpaper” instead of working. Mornings are great for productivity if you can actually get your brain to cooperate.
Tips for Morning Productivity (From Someone Who’s Barely Got It Together)
- Set a vibe: I light a candle that smells like “forest dreams” or whatever. It’s cheesy, but it helps.
- No phone for the first hour: I’m serious. My Twitter addiction is a problem.
- Eat something: A banana or, like, a slightly stale bagel. Hunger makes me cranky and useless.
Why Nights Are My Guilty Pleasure for Productivity
Okay, confession: night productivity is my jam, even if it’s a total mess. There’s something about 11 p.m., when the world’s asleep and my neighbors aren’t blasting reggaeton, that makes me feel like I can conquer anything. I’ll put on a lo-fi playlist, grab a Red Bull (don’t judge), and just go.
One night last month, I stayed up until 3 a.m. redesigning my entire portfolio website. It was… not great, honestly. I got super into picking fonts and ended up with something that looked like a 90s Geocities page.
The downside? I’m a zombie the next day. Like, I once scheduled a 9 a.m. meeting after a night productivity bender and spent the whole call nodding like a bobblehead, praying no one noticed I was half-asleep.
Night Productivity Hacks (From a Night Owl Who’s Learned the Hard Way)
- Set a cutoff time: Midnight is my limit now. 3 a.m. me is not trustworthy.
- Dim the lights: My desk lamp is like the sun. Blue light makes my brain think it’s noon.
- Snack smart: Popcorn, not Doritos. Orange fingers on my keyboard are not the vibe.
The Sciencey Stuff (Because I Googled It)
Okay, I’m no scientist, but I did some digging to figure out why morning vs. night productivity feels so different. Turns out, it’s all about your circadian rhythm—your body’s internal clock. According to this article from Harvard, morning people have brains that are wired to peak early, while night owls get their best ideas when the moon’s out. Cool, right?
There’s also this study from Sleep Foundation that says night owls might be more creative, but morning people are better at sticking to routines. I’m, like, stuck in the middle, which explains why I’m a hot mess. Anyway, the science says there’s no “right” time—it depends on your biology and lifestyle.
My Biggest Screw-Ups Trying to Crack Morning vs. Night Productivity
Oh man, where do I start? One time, I decided to “hack” morning productivity by setting five alarms, each with a different obnoxious sound. Result? I woke up in a panic, knocked over my water glass, and spent 30 minutes mopping my floor instead of working. Classic me.
On the night productivity front, my worst moment was when I stayed up until 4 a.m. writing an email to my boss. I thought it was brilliant at the time, but in the morning, I realized I’d included a paragraph about my cat’s weird obsession with plastic bags. Sent it anyway. She never mentioned it, but I’m pretty sure she thinks I’m unhinged.
So, Which Is Better for You?
Here’s the deal: morning vs. night productivity isn’t a one-size-fits-all thing. I’ve learned (the hard way) that I’m most productive in the morning for boring stuff like emails and planning, but nights are where my creative juices flow—usually into a chaotic puddle, but still. My advice? Experiment like I did. Try a week of mornings, then a week of nights. Keep a messy little journal of what works.
Right now, I’m leaning toward a hybrid vibe: mornings for structure, nights for passion projects. But, like, check back in a month, and I’ll probably have a whole new theory.
Wrapping Up This Chaotic Chat
Morning vs. night productivity is such a personal thing, and I’m still figuring it out. I’m sitting here, surrounded by my messy desk and that sad houseplant, wondering if I’ll ever crack the code. My gut says it’s less about picking a time and more about knowing yourself—flaws, quirks, and all.
Outbound links :
Harvard Health – Blue Light Has a Dark Side
