While the night owls snooze their fourth alarm, the early birds have already checked off their to-do lists for the day.
My daily routine consists of taking a warm unrushed shower, brushing my teeth, making a nice warm cup of coffee or potentially going to my nearest Philz Coffee. After drinking my productivity juice, I complete more house chores like unloading the dishwasher, vacuuming underneath the couch or wiping down the mascara stains from any mirrors.
May I add that Philz at 5 a.m. is legitimately empty, with no line or crowd, it’s just you and the barista. The night owls would never know how truly rewarding that feels, they’d be lucky to have to wait just 30 minutes for their order by the time they roll out of bed to head there in the early afternoon or mid-day.
Oftentimes, when I go to Philz during their busy hours, my off-menu medium Iced Ether Hazelnut House Way Honey Drizzle drink is poorly executed. This is not the case during the early morning hours, the baristas make my drink exactly how my taste buds dream of it.
PSA to all the night owls out there, commuting in the early morning not only allows you to see the beautiful sunrise, but you also rarely have to deal with sitting in traffic, which in my book is a win-win.
When all those tasks are checked off my to-do list, I can move on to self-care, which usually consists of some retail therapy.
As a huge Hello Kitty lover, the stores that carry Sanrio items are open at 9 a.m.
Sanrio is the official home to all Hello Kitty items.
No. 1, I’m inside the store by opening time. I’m getting first picks on which Hello Kitty plates I want from the Easter collection.
The night owls would never be able to get their hands on these items! They're too busy dreaming about them!
No. 2, I’m enjoying my scenic drive to the store jamming out to Fantasia's song “When I See U” and crossing my fingers I'll find some unpassable Sanrio items at the next location.
Most of the time, the second store never disappoints and I can resume my early morning playlist jams on my drive back home.
By the time the clock hits 11 a.m., I’m home and watering my house plants as I call my mom on FaceTime for our daily chats.
My mom lives in Boston so working around her schedule and mine, with our 3 hour time difference, would not be possible if I were sleeping in till mid-day, that is just another reason why being an early bird benefits me.
I know some of you may be thinking, “Do you not have class? Work?” To answer this question, yes, I have class Monday through Thursday and work from 9 p.m. to 5 p.m. on certain days of the week.
My classes do not start until 1:30 p.m., which gives me plenty of time to mentally prepare for the mental crisis college brings to a 22-year-old.
As for my work schedule, if I were not an early bird, there is no way I would be able to get to work on time or feel remotely productive and satisfied with my time usage of a 24-hour day. Following a consistent morning routine can promote better time management and organization. I believe having a structured start to the day can lead to increased efficiency and from personal experience, reduced stress.
As a college student, I have undergone many moments of high stress, but giving myself time to start my day, check off my to-do list, and spend a little self-care time truly helps me not crash or burnout.
According to an article by Sleep Foundation, those who stay up late tend to perform worse in the morning at both physical and mental tasks.
While partying late at night and becoming besties with the bartenders for free drinks on a Tuesday night used to be in my daily plans, I can no longer afford those hangovers or the sleep deprivation that being a night owl brought upon me.
Get out of bed and enjoy the most peaceful time of the day. You’ll regret wasting these precious hours when schedules change, kids are born or whatever else life has in store for you.
