Marc Binkley

This is something that I have always wondered about. We have all heard the saying – The early bird catches the worm. And if we are really talking about birds trying to earn their breakfast, then I can see some definite logic to this. There is, after all, a certain time for worms to be available for a quick meal. But for the rest of us out there, is it really any more productive to be up in the morning?

My parents did a good job of drilling it into my head as well, that I needed to rise and shine as early in the day as humanly possible in order to be a productive member of society. I followed this mindset for as long as I lived in their house. But when I left, I also left this idea behind with them. I suppose that I am somewhat of a nightowl by nature.

I figured out my nocturnal tendencies fairly early on when I was left to my own devices. Especially when I was in my twenties. I could afford to be more of a carefree sort then. The jobs that I wound up in always had flexible hours. And I certainly would flex them all that I could. I remember being up pursuing one hobby or another well into the night. I always felt, in fact, like I was the most productive after two in the morning and would frequently stay up until dawn. I had many passions at the time. Sometimes it was painting. Sometimes it was a little bit of creative writing.

Eventually, the need to join the rest of the world and their hours did overtake me, as it does with most people, I’m sure. But to this day I question the mindset. In fact, I often wish I still had the luxury of setting my own hours. I think I got the most done between midnight and morning. Even if those things never became a full time thing for me. It was all still quality work.