Up And At ‘Em

Even when I was young and would run around, when it was time to go, it was time to go. I didn’t care how cute she was or what my friends were up to — I was never one to stay up all night. Some people say that every hour of sleep you get before midnight is equal to two, and I believe them.
In Men’s Journal, surfer Laird Hamilton argues that getting up early in the morning is better for us because we accomplish more and have better focus after we’ve had enough rest. I am much more productive in the morning than I am in the evening, but I don’t think that’s the case for everyone. In a recent New Yorker piece, Elizabeth Kolbert writes that some people naturally wake up early, while others are night owls who need to stay up late, and despite our different sleeping needs, we all experience “social jet lag” because we adhere to the 9-to-5 workday. You do you, Laird Hamilton, and we’ll do us. The early bird gets the worm, but people forget that night owls get mice and other prey, so stay up if that’s what your body needs.
Photo: mehul.antani
Support The Billfold
The Billfold continues to exist thanks to support from our readers. Help us continue to do our work by making a monthly pledge on Patreon or a one-time-only contribution through PayPal.
Comments