Morning people might just be an oppressive class. Whether it’s the 6am gym bunnies or the health fanatics who’ve already run a half marathon and plunged into an ice bath by 8am, it’s hard to say if the resentment they stir is envy or irritation at their smug sense of superiority. Either way, when these early risers brag about their "productivity" while the rest of the world clings to the dregs of life via their coffee cups, waiting for that first sip to bring them back from the dead, it begs the question: are morning people really more productive than night owls?While studies suggest that people’s effectiveness varies with their circadian rhythms, we wanted to find out for ourselves whether morning people really are more successful. So, we conducted a study with 846 participants who use the YuLife app—431 "morning people" (waking up between 4-6am) and 415 "night people" (who went to bed between 2-4am and woke at noon or later).What did the results show? First, let’s explore what actually makes people night owls or morning birds. Is it based on habit or genetics? What impacts your circadian rhythm?Your circadian rhythm is what controls your sleep cycles, and everyone has a different rhythm. What exactly your personal rhythm looks like is what determines whether or not you’re a morning bird or a night owl. A large part of what impacts your rhythm: genetics. Studies have discovered 350+ genetic loci associated with the circadian rhythm, dictating whether you’re naturally a morning person or a night person. Does this mean you are destined to be a night owl or a morning person based on your genes? Not necessarily! There are always things you can do to change your lifestyle and sleeping habits. And with so many studies showing how waking up earlier positively impacts your wellbeing, many people are trying to become morning people when they’ve always naturally been late risers. However, there’s conflicting research and because 47% of what influences whether or not you’re a morning or night person is genetic, trying to become a morning person when you’re not may not be helpful for those looking to become “more successful". Sometimes, night owls prove to be just as effective and more effective versions of themselves sleeping on a later clock than others.But which group of people are healthier, happier and more productive: morning birds or night owls? Habits of morning people vs. night owlsWe asked respondents several questions about lifestyle and habits and wanted to differentiate which lifestyle norms were more prominent amongst morning birds vs. night owls. Here’s what we found: Habits of morning birds The majority of morning birds agreed to have…Tried to limit the use of electronic devices (phone, TV etc.) at least 30 minutes before bedtime to help improve sleep qualityMaintained consistent sleep time patternsExplored food choices the day prior with a curious, open-minded attitude, focusing on appreciation rather than seeing it as a reward, punishment, or something to feel guilty aboutDone more than the recommended amount of exercise over the past week, and look forward to/enjoy exercisingRegularly engaged in physical activities for stress relief (yoga, tai chi, nature walks) Taken steps in the past week to organise or prioritise tasks to reduce feelings of overwhelmDrank water alongside caffeinated drinks in the past dayNot used nicotine products more than once in the past 6 monthsEnsured at least half if not a majority (50%-75%) of their fluid intake throughout the day was waterSet physical activity goals and followed themHabits of night owlsThe majority of night owls agreed to have…Used nicotine products more than once in the past 6 monthsUsed nicotine pretty consistently from day to day, while using more particularly in social settings Considered taking a break from phones/social media in the past 2 months for mental health reasons, but haven’tBeen taking medications prescribed specifically for depression, but are unsure if it's effectiveRarely taken care to prevent re-injury when experiencing strain/injury of some kind Been unhappy with their current dietWhat we learned overall about lifestyle habits...Through this study, we found that those who are morning people tend to be more health-conscious in their approach to their daily habits and focus on healthy living more than night owls. Morning people generally have 10-15% greater health metrics compared to night people, while night people were more likely to use nicotine regularly, not exercise as much, or take care when feeling physically strained. Mental healthWhile our study (nor other studies) can directly link the cause of poor physical health and increased risk of disease directly to staying up late, we can draw a link between the lifestyle habits of night owls and how those make people more at risk of physical disease. We can also look at the mental health patterns of this group, which, over time, can have negative impacts on the body and an increased risk of chronic conditions as well. We looked into the mental health of night owls versus morning people to see if there were any notable differences, and we found that night owls are typically more likely to feel down, depressed and anxious compared with morning people. In the past 6 months, night people claimed to “often” feel stressed out and in the past month, experienced periods of depression. Even when engaging with social media, morning people tended to show more resistance to poor mental health such as jealousy and depression or anxiety. This could indicate morning people have habits that tend to make them less susceptible and aid them from falling victim to comparison traps and common mental health struggles.Business impactNow the question on all employers’ minds: What’s the impact on the business? In your pursuit to build a top-performing team and streamline efficiency in the workplace, you might want to understand more about whether or not you should educate employees on healthy habits that involve waking up earlier and sleeping earlier—or perhaps leave the topic be. So which is better for overall business performance? While it’s difficult to track exact performance through a simple survey, we asked the employees themselves how they feel they perform at work. Whether or not it’s reflected in their actual output remains unknown. However, we can assess how people are feeling and how they are likely performing as a result: Focus abilities In the past week…Night people claimed they rarely stayed focus on important tasks without getting sidetracked in the past week. Morning people claimed they often or always manage to stay focused on important tasks without getting sidetracked. And in the past two weeks, have been able to focus more on things that need your undivided attention.Overall productivityGenerally, we found there was 10% greater self-reported productivity for morning people compared to night people. Morning people may have better productivity, efficiency and ability to focus on tasks at hand. However, we noted there wasn’t a difference between amount of sickness absence taken between the two groups. Therefore, we found no correlation between higher absenteeism and whether or not an employee is a morning or night person. Overall conclusionsSo are morning people more effective, productive and healthy than night owls? Ultimately, are morning people more successful?Based on our research, it seems morning people are more health-conscious, happier, and feel more effective. Their habits are more in line with holistic wellbeing and they tend to have greater focus and social connections. Does that mean night owls can’t be successful? Not at all! In fact, there are plenty of celebrities, entrepreneurs and successful politicians who are dedicated night owls and still find immense success in their lives because they know how to work with it.However, the lifestyle of morning people tends to welcome healthier habits and make it easier to engage in social opportunities that can help improve mental health and, thus, have a ripple effect on productivity as well as overall physical health. As listed in this study from Harvard observing nearly 700,000 individuals showed that night owls don’t have any direct higher risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity, while other studies in the past have indicated they may be at higher risk.There’s no solid evidence there are negative physiological effects of being a night owl, but mental health is definitely impacted according to several studies. As night owls, the resulting lifestyle tends to prove the most detrimental to this group. They have been considered to have poorer wellbeing and higher rates of mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and depression. So whether you’re a night owl or a morning bird, the key is not to deprioritise your healthy habits, lifestyle, and environment. And if you are a night owl, carve out time to ensure you’re getting outside enough, getting enough sun, reducing screen time and putting effort towards physical activity as it’s easy for that to slip when you are awake into the late hours of the night.Find out more about how YuLife can help to drive employee engagement and build healthy habits.