Six benefits of being a lark

The alarm clock breaks the serene silence with its persistent (and largely unwelcome) clamour. You struggle to roll over to silence its wail and even consider reaching for the dreaded snooze button. But the work day beckons, and despite the fact it’s not always easy to leap up and jump headfirst into the day, being a lark instead of a night owl can offer six very clear and enticing benefits:

1. Avoiding Commuting Complications

If you hit the road before the rooster crows, you get to skip the traffic. Breezing down the highway devoid of lane-cutters and snarled gridlock means you can avoid unnecessary frustration and arrive in the office in a more positive frame of mind. For those that don’t drive, being able to get your choice of seats on public transportation is a joy those who follow an hour later will never know.

2. Claiming Fridge Space, Coffee, and Peace

Arriving at the office before everyone else permits you to stake your claim for space for your lunch in the refrigerator. Avoiding the balancing act atop Tupperware and sideways sandwiches ensures your lunch will actually be edible when the time comes. Likewise, making and serving yourself one of the first fresh cups of coffee enables you to approach your day calmly and caffeinated. Finally, starting your day in peace and quiet before the cacophony of the crowd permeates your presence allows your mind to begin its tasks in an orderly and efficient manner. This is particularly important if you work in a creative field.

3. Prioritising Plans and Productivity

Mapping out your work day before it technically begins is the very best way to gain the edge on productivity. Knowing when your meetings are and organising your time for your allotted tasks takes the frustration and futility out of the endless loop of making up your schedule as you go. If connecting with a client before their vacation is essential, then you must plan your phone call and its critical details. Submitting your budget in time for a deadline becomes small change if you have organised your day at the outset.

4. Making Memorable Impressions

When your boss appears at the office early in the morning and finds that you are already there, they will remember. When this happens repeatedly, you are established as a “go-getter” who is serious about their job. The person that’s consistently late, disorganised and always one step behind is also the less likely to be the recipient of management favours.

5. Expanding Your Evening

One of the most important personal benefits to being the early bird is that if your job has flexible hours, you are headed home long before your colleagues. This leaves time for you to run errands, cook dinner, socialise, and spend more time with family. For those with children, it’s no secret that kids grow up fast. Being able to attend family dinners, school performances or evening sport is priceless, and well worth the sacrifice of an early start. This also allows you to get to bed earlier and maximise your rest time, so you can get up the next day to do it all again.

6. Following in the Footsteps of Greatness

Before the general populace has even hit the snooze button for the first time, many of the most successful people the world over have already squeezed in an early morning workout, responded to emails, and prepared for the day ahead. Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has been known to go for an early morning bike ride with his wife and still make it to the office by 6AM. Anna Wintour, Vogue editor-in-chief, is famous for starting her day with a tennis match bright and early. Similarly acclaimed architect Frank Lloyd Wright is known to have come up with some of his most creative ideas between the hours of 4 and 7AM. While there are plenty of stories of successful people that are night owls, there’s no denying a link between early risers and success.

So, this coming Monday, why not set off on the right foot and get a jump on the week by getting into the office ahead of the pack? It might just make all the difference

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