7 Tips for the Night Owl Entrepreneur
How to Work With Discipline When You’d Rather Stay Up Late
When it feels like most CEOs tout the benefits of waking up at 5 am, it can feel a little bold to call yourself a night owl…and an entrepreneur to boot. And yet, the night owl entrepreneur is nothing new.
Many successful entrepreneurs have naturally adapted to the unique schedule of working late at night and sleeping well into the day, with examples like Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian, Xerox CEO Ursula Burns, and even Mark Zuckerburg.
While you may feel like being a late-night worker puts you at a disadvantage, there are strategies available that can help you make the most out of every minute that’s powering through your mind. Whether you’re already an established entrepreneur or aspiring to be one, this blog post is for those who want to take command after dark.
What Is a Night Owl?
A night owl is someone who identifies with night-time, typically staying up late and sleeping in. Such people–in this case, entrepreneurs, tend to be night owls by choice or by nature, often finding that their night hours are more productive because they need less to function through the night and find they reach a level of focus difficult to access during the day.
Many entrepreneurs take advantage of this tendency by using night time to focus on essential business tasks such as planning, promoting and cultivating customers. Night owls can maximize the hours of the day free of office commitments and leave daytime available for personal activities. Enjoying natural night owl tendencies may offer limitless potential for business endeavours.
The Benefits of Being a Night Owl
Being a night owl has its perks; revel in the quieter hours of the evening, when you can have time for yourself to work and create undisturbed. Here are some benefits to working the graveyard shift as an entrepreneur.
More Mental Fortitude
Though night owls might be seen as sleep slackers, they may actually have a mental fortitude that others lack. Research has suggested that night owls are more productive in their off-hours and may benefit from the mental boost night time affords. By taking advantage of the night hours, night owls could develop increased problem-solving skills and greater creativity than those who stick to traditional workday hours. Being able to work during night hours is a great asset for success, making night owls just as well-suited to business ventures as the proverbial early birds.
Night Owls May Have a Better Social Life
Being a night owl can be beneficial for more than just productivity; night owls may have better social lives as well! Staying up late usually means night owls have more time to interact with their peers, giving them the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and activities, leading to deeper connections.
Not only that, but night owls who stay up late may find themselves being less exhausted and thus they could benefit both mentally and physically from extra bonding time with friends. All in all, night owls may be onto something!
Night Owls Might Be Smarter
The night owl lifestyle may actually be a marker of intelligence! A study conducted by Satoshi Kanazawa at the London School of Economics and Political Science surveyed sleep habits in 80 middle and high schools. Intriguingly, those students that scored higher on intellectual tests had later bedtimes and wake times compared to their average or lower achieving peers. So don't feel guilty about your late nights - they might just mean you have an edge over others when it comes to intellect.
Drawbacks of Being a Night Owl
Although being a night owl comes with its perks, there are some drawbacks to look out for. With their tendencies to skimp on how much sleep they get, there is research showing that night owls are actually more at risk for developing sleep deprivation and depression, leading to a negative effect on mental health, as well as an increased risk for chronic conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Now, you might be wondering: is being a night owl bad?
Let’s discuss this question in detail.
“I’m a Night Owl, Do I Have to Change?”
Instead of feeling obliged to become an early riser, night owls can make the most of the night hours without missing out on productivity and success. With the right strategy night owls have been known to benefit from their night-time lifestyle in terms of reaching positive mental health, successful working habits and even improved performance.
After all, having a night owl personality may give you an extra edge with tasks that don't require face-to-face communication or collaboration. When it comes to strategies to save up energy and increase productivity, late risers should consider keeping regular sleep times during night time that involve getting enough rest and focusing on nutrition intake too.
How to Work as a Night Owl: 7 Tips for Success
If you are looking for ways to maximize your night owl status, there are some simple steps you can take that can help you succeed. Here are six ways to optimize your productivity as a night owl entrepreneur.
Get the Right Mentality
Having the right attitude is the first step. While it may seem like a privilege to be able to work whenever you'd like, this freedom can easily become an excuse for procrastination. Before starting any task, remind yourself that you have to make the most of your time and stay focused on getting things done.
Create the Space
Next, create a healthy environment in which to work. This means having the right tools and resources available, such as comfortable seating, a well-lit workspace, and quality noise-cancelling headphones. Additionally, make sure you have everything you need on hand before you start working so that you don't waste time looking for things while in the middle of a task.
Get More Out of Your Mornings
Make your mornings a breeze by automating as much of it as possible! By planning ahead and getting into the habit of going to bed & waking up at regular times, you can make sure that each morning is stress-free. An easy way to shorten your routine? Get creative in delegating tasks - think prepping clothes or coffee for the next day before hitting snooze – and save time commuting with a job closer to home. Streamline things even more so all you have left when the alarm goes off is just walking out the door ontime – no fuss needed!
Set a Sleep Schedule
As mentioned above, night owls are at a higher risk for sleep deprivation than morning larks. As night owls, entrepreneurs are often so driven by their passion for their work that they can easily run into a situation of feeling overwhelmed and sleep deprived. To ensure that you remain productive and healthy, it is essential to prioritize your sleeping routine.
Instead of focusing on staying in bed in the morning, night owls should focus on waking up earlier in the night and setting a regular bedtime or start each night relatively earlier than the night before--this way, many night owls can eventually get used to settling down in bed at an earlier hour while still getting the recommended amount of sleep. By setting up this kind of sleeping schedule, night owls can manage to stay feeling energized and ready for all their daily tasks.
Take Breaks
Finally, use breaks as an opportunity to reward yourself for staying productive. This could be something as simple as taking a few minutes away from your work and going for a walk.
Final Thoughts
While being a night owl entrepreneur does come with its own set of perks and drawbacks, pre-planning is key. With some strategic planning and goal setting, you can create a schedule that works for you and allows you to take full advantage of your natural sleep pattern and enjoy the many benefits of working, whether you’re a small business owner or a venture capitalist.
As more people are starting to realize just how important getting enough sleep is, there will likely be even more entrepreneurs shifting towards unconventional work hours. At the end of the day, doing what works best for your body may turn out to be the best choice after all!