Could Sleeping In Make You More Productive?
New research is turning a long-held belief on its head. The early bird, it seems, doesn’t always get the worm.
If allowed to sleep on their own schedule – and to perform work tasks during their peak waking hours – night owls actually have more mental stamina and get more done than early birds, a recent study has shown.
The research, reported in the new issue of the Journal Science, used 30 volunteers who are extreme early or late risers. After 10 hours of being awake, the early risers showed reduced activity in brain areas associated with attention span.
They also felt more fatigued and took more time to carry out tasks.
“The results suggest that night owls generally outlast early birds in the length of time they can be awake without becoming mentally fatigued,” the study concluded.
But what about the old adage? Is there no truth to it?
Researchers conclude that the reputation of late risers – that they are lazy and unmotivated – could be due to society’s own alarm clock. Late risers simply hit their peak later than others. If allowed to sleep in and keep their own schedule, they likely could outperform the early birds.
And maybe even get the worm.
Story Link: [The Globe and Mail]
