Being a Morning Person Boosts Productivity and Income

A survey of 510 early risers and 506 late risers found early risers were significantly more likely to be productive that day.

Less than half of late risers (48.6%) labeled themselves highly productive, compared to 61.2% of those who woke up by 7 a.m. The most extreme wake-up time yielded the more intensely productive respondents. Those who managed to get out of bed at 4 a.m. were highly productive 71% of the time. The least productive days were started at 11 a.m., with only 36% of these late risers finding high productivity levels in the ensuing day.

The survey from Amerisleep also found early risers earned an average of $14,917 more every year than those who slept in. Again, the 4 a.m. wake-up time resulted in the highest average income. On average, 4 a.m. risers earned $48,582 per year. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the lowest earners didn’t get out of bed until noon, and they earned just $22,689 annually.

However, what early risers do in the morning was shown to have an effect on income. Fifty-four percent spend the early morning checking their email, but those who choose to exercise in the morning instead make nearly $5,000 more per year, according to the survey.

Respondents were asked how they’d rate their quality of health, sleep and social life, and those who got up early felt better about all three aspects than those who slept in. Eighty-seven percent of early risers ranked their health as good to excellent, compared to 73.7% of late risers.