I have tried again and again to be a “morning person.” I may have a small amount of success for awhile, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot deny that my natural tendency is to stay up later and get up later than most of my friends and family. There are so many people who believe getting up early is better… better for your health, better for productivity, better for getting good grades or climbing the career ladder, etc.

But have you ever wondered…

“Are early risers more spiritual?”

Some people believe that night owls (people who rise late and go to bed late) are lazy and undisciplined. And there are quite a few Bible verses on early rising, which might cause you to think that early risers are more spiritual.

If you struggle to get up early or stick to a perfect morning routine, like I do, take heart!

Although some research shows that being an early riser is linked with better physical and mental health, compared to being a late riser, there are also benefits to being a night owl.

According to Wikipedia, “some research has found that night owls are more intelligent and creative and more likely to get high-paying jobs than larks” (early risers.)

Scientific research now shows that, if you prefer to rise later and go to bed later…

1. ​You might be more creative.
2. You might be more intelligent.
3. You may have more mental stamina.
4. You may get a burst of extra strength in the evenings.
5. You might have better reasoning skills.

For more detail on these studies, see this article on thisisinsider.com and this Readers Digest article.

Furthermore, studies have shown that night owls can be just as productive, or even more productive than early risers (larks.)

The Bible talks a lot about stewardship. This is something God has been bringing to my attention quite a bit lately. God calls us to be good stewards of what he has given us (including our bodies, our health, our energy, time, talents and resources.)

Personally, I don’t think early risers are more spiritual than night owls.

I think it has more to do with how well you walk in alignment with the way God made you (your natural tendencies.) The way I see it, if you are naturally more productive in the evening or night hours, then trying to be a “morning person” is not being a good steward of your time, energy, and talents. And likewise, if you are more productive early in the morning, you are not being a good steward if you sleep late all the time.

? ? Night Owls Unite! ? ?

Even though I struggle with getting up early or sticking to an amazing morning routine, I haven’t let that stop me from creating an intentional, productive life. Once I gave myself permission to work in alignment with the way God made me, instead of trying to fit in someone else’s mold, and quit feeling guilty for not getting up at 5 am every morning, my productivity and creativity, as well as my joy, skyrocketed.

One thing that has helped me is focusing on an evening routine.

My ideal* evening routine involves cleaning the kitchen, then soaking in a hot bath while soaking in the presence of God, expressing my gratitude and discussing my day, my hopes, my fears, my failures, and my dreams and desires with Jesus. It also involves reading or listening to the Bible, journaling and doing some type of creative activity like coloring, drawing or hand-lettering.

Finally, spending a few minutes going over my planner and prioritizing my to-do list helps me to get a good start in the morning. I find that if I wait till morning to plan my day, I usually feel overwhelmed with everything that needs done, am distracted by incoming email, texts and/or phone calls, and it takes me much longer to decide which tasks should take priority. 

*I currently live in a fifth-wheel RV, which does not have a bathtub. So instead of soaking in a bathtub, I simply retreat to the bedroom, where I have a stash of books and art supplies stored beside my bed.

What about you? Are you more of a morning person or a night owl? Do you think early risers are more spiritual? Do you have a consistent morning routine? or an evening routine? What helps you to be more productive? Tell me in the comments below.

Whether you are an early riser or a night owl, I believe having a great evening routine can set you up for a successful day.

If you would like to learn more about how to create an evening routine, you don’t want to miss this FREE CLASS by my fellow blogger and night owl, Beth Anne Schwanberger, titled, How to Craft the Perfect Evening Routine. The webinar will be held at a couple different times on February 18th and 19th.