Beat an Early Riser with Hard Work

The early bird always gets the worm, right? Holding onto that classic cliche has created a perception of what the ideal worker should be and even shaped the way that businesses operate to match. However, being prompt means more than just hopping in your F150 in Costa Mesa and driving off to work. As nice as it can be to be early, one also needs to realize that there are other elements of being an effective worker. In addition, as science is proving not all of us are wired the same way, and trying to force an early riser’s mindset onto a later one serves no one. So, here are a few ways you can compete against those early birds.

Yes, the early riser, in theory, has more time to play with. But the question isn’t who has more time so much as how that time is being used. If you come into work but use that time to grab that cup of coffee, check social media, or have an extended chat with your coworkers, you’re not really any more productive than the person who just skirts being late. This doesn’t mean that you can’t say hi when you walk in. Just keep in mind that you are coming to work and have a focused and pleasant attitude.

In addition, be sure that you know how you work on top of when you work. There are unique cases where some people start working in the middle of the day and don’t stop until night time. This isn’t because they’re behind or forgot an important task, it just suits them. Remember, everyone is wired differently. This is an extreme example, but it illustrates a common point. Do you know for a fact that certain tasks are a better fit for a certain part of your day? Use that knowledge and organize your plans accordingly. The same applies to group work.

The great irony in the early riser fallacy is the whole reason that it came to be is no longer relevant. This concept stems from the age where farm and agricultural work was the norm. Then, you needed daylight to do the work, and being an early riser was useful, if not necessary. Today, it’s different. Don’t try to force a square peg into a round hole. Find what times are productive and valuable to you and adjust your schedule to match. For example, if you sell cars like Ford in Costa Mesa, when do you do the most business? During weekends? During lunch hours? Holiday weekends? Adjust your time accordingly.

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