The Morning Myth

Does the early bird always catch the worm?

Society largely praises early risers while maligning so-called "night owls." However, countless research studies have shown that night owls are more successful and wealthier than early risers.

The Morning Myth proves that indeed, night owls are generally more successful in life than early risers. It restores night owls’ self-confidence, and encourages them to achieve more on their natural schedules.

In The Morning Myth, Frank J. Rumbauskas provides practical tips to help night owls thrive:

• Informs employers about how much productivity they're losing by forcing night owls to be at work bright and early

• Offers advice on how to schedule both early risers and night owls for maximum productivity

• Shows night owls how to achieve maximum happiness at work

• Coaches managers on getting the most out of their night owl employees

Whether you’re a night owl yourself, or employ those who find their work “mojo” later in the day, The Morning Myth breaks down stereotypes and shows you how to increase productivity around the clock.

Preface vii

Chapter 1 Confessions of a Stigmatized Night Owl 1

Chapter 2 The Brainwashing 17

Chapter 3 The Prison 31

Chapter 4 Studies Favoring Morning Larks Are Fatally Flawed 43

Chapter 5 Fighting Your Internal Clock Is Harmful to Your Health 51

Chapter 6 Your Circadian Rhythm—and Why You Can’t Change It 63

Chapter 7 Night Owls Are More Successful 77

Chapter 8 Night Owls Are Smarter Than Early Risers 91

Chapter 9 Night Owls Are More Productive 101

Chapter 10 Night Owls Are More Creative 115

Chapter 11 Night Owls Are More Relaxed 133

Chapter 12 Night Owl Discrimination and Sleep-Shaming 141

Chapter 13 Diet, Nutrition, and Other Secrets to Better, Deeper Sleep 157

Chapter 14 Mitigating the Health Risks of Early Rising 193

Chapter 15 How Flexible Work Hours Benefit Employers 203

Epilogue: Night Owls Have a Huge Advantage over Early Risers 211

Acknowledgments 213

About the Author 215

Index 217

FRANK J. RUMBAUSKAS is the author of Selling Sucks, The Never Cold Call Again Online Playbook, and the New York Times bestseller Never Cold Call Again! Frank spent the first half of his sales career cold calling. Finally, after years of effort, he perfected a system of lead-generation techniques that catapulted him to the top of sales at Lucent Technologies, and has since changed the lives of countless salespeople around the world.

If being a "night owl" is your natural state, you have probably been stigmatized as lazy, distracted, and certainly not normal! Ben Franklin made matters worse by his often quoted, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Written by New York Times bestselling author, Frank J. Rumbauskas, The Morning Myth speaks to the 33% of the population that thrives at night, and reveals the research that has proven night owls are more successful and wealthier than early risers.

If you are a night owl who has forced yourself to get up early, you are likely to suffer from diminished cognitive function and decreased immunity, and are at higher risk for depression, anxiety, and Seasonal Affective Disorder. In addition, you are probably not performing very well on the job and experiencing more sick days to boot. The Morning Myth will give you the confidence to know you are okay the way you are, can go the distance with the best of them, and are productive for far more hours each day than morning people. Rumbauskas shows how to make the most of your night owl circadian rhythm, and offers suggestions for making it work in your favor.

Once you accept your inner night owl tendencies, you will enjoy better health. Scientific evidence has shown that night owls who wake before daylight throw off their natural sleep patterns, and can increase risks of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and depression. In addition to helping night owls thrive, The Morning Myth gives employers the information they need to improve productivity by adapting individual employees' schedules to their natural sleep cycles.

The Morning Myth debunks the common wisdom of the early riser, and offers an unapologetic reason for embracing your inner night owl.

THE GUIDE FOR EMBRACING YOUR INNER NIGHT OWL!

''Night owls overall are more successful than morning people! At a minimum, I assumed we all performed the same overall, but merely at different times. The reality, however, is that night owls are more prosperous in general. . .

So if you've been self-conscious about your night owl-ness, or suffer from low self-confidence and are tired of the criticism that far too many morning people throw at us, rest assured. You now know that you're at a distinct advantage over them, and now you're going to learn how to use your night owl tendencies to get ahead, be successful, and, as Ben Franklin put it, to be a healthy, wealthy, and wise night owl!

I wish you all the best and am glad that you're also a part of the night owl family!"

—FROM THE INTRODUCTION

The Morning Myth is filled with scientific research that proves night owls are more productive and successful than their early riser counterparts. If you are a night owl, you can stop feeling out of step with the rest of the world, and join the night owl revolution. In this book, Frank J. Rumbauskas supports his commonsense approach with compelling research, helps night owls realize their potential, and gives them the confidence to achieve more on their natural schedules.