Why 4 A.M. Is The Most Productive Hour? (8 Reasons)

4 A.M? Who is still awake or working at this hour? If you are a student who has some deadlines, businessman, entrepreneur, individual who works 24/7, graveyard shifts, and others, then you can relate to why 4 A.M is the most productive hour.

The increased productivity at 4 A.M is because there are fewer distractions, no one is emailing or texting you, a peaceful environment, and there is less to see on social media, according to the report published in the Wall Street Journal.

When a person wakes up early, there’s scientific evidence that you have a “24-hour internal clock” that runs in the background of your brain and cycles between sleepiness and alertness at regular intervals. It’s called the circadian rhythm. 

People get used to a certain amount of sleep. For people who go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, circadian rhythm works best. As an example, going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, no matter if it’s the weekend or not. 

Another thing to note is that the circadian rhythm changes as the person get older, which is important to know. You may not be able to go to sleep and wake up at the same time as you did before, or like your husband, your kids, or your parents.

Continue reading this article if you want to know the reasons why 4 A.M. is the most productive hour. Also, in this article, we will tackle some of the famous people who rise early and if getting early is detrimental to our everyday life. 

Who Wakes Up Early?

Mornings are the day’s golden hour. Getting up early allows you to start your day relaxed and intentional, whether you are working or studying. It has been proven that when the sun is low in the sky, the light is warmer and softer, making you more productive.

The choices made in the first hour of the day often shape the rest of the day’s productivity. Does your morning routine ensure a productive day?

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook is an example of someone who rises early. In an interview, Cook said that he rises at 3.45 A.M. to check emails and then goes to the gym at 4.30 A.M. While most CEOs get up between 5 A.M. and 6 A.M. and do some kind of exercise and check one‘s emails. 

Few people appear to have time for a relaxing breakfast or a crossword puzzle.

It’s time to get up, work out, and get to work. Michelle Obama, who works out first before answering emails, and Anna Wintour, who gets up at 5 A.M. to play tennis at New York’s Midtown tennis club, are two other early risers.

Arnold Schwarzenegger sets his alarm for 5 A.M. reads the news and then checks his email on his iPad.

Some people like to get up early while some people want to start the day off early. A kind of peace is there before 7 A.M. when the alarm clocks of the whole country haven’t yet rung.

In this kind of silence, you can write the report that always has to be put off without having to deal with social media or email.

Reasons Why 4 A.M Is The Most Productive Hour

Productivity in this context may have nothing to do with your job. Self-care, exercise, family time, personal growth, and spiritual connection appear to be the most popular uses of this “sacred time” in recent years.

There are many reasons why productivity is highest in the early morning hours. Here are some reasons as to why 4 A.M is the most productive time of day:

1. Peaceful Environment

Almost everyone in your house is still sleeping at 4 A.M unless someone is leaving to catch an early flight, working a night shift, there is an emergency, or working a 24/7 job like doctors, nurses. 4 A.M is a peaceful hour.

The lack of noise allows you to think more clearly and generate ideas, allowing you to complete your daily tasks or that proposal or project that is approaching its deadline.

When you have peace and aren’t concerned with people trying to get your attention, you’re dramatically more effective and can get important work done.

This is the first reason why 4 A.M is the most productive hour, you get a quiet surrounding that could help you work faster and effectively. 

2. Fewer Distractions

Most people are still sleeping soundly and dreaming in the early hours of the morning, especially at 4 A.M. If you’re a parent, your loved ones are most likely still sleeping in their beds.

This is a great chance that no one will pester you to play with them or ask for assistance with an assignment they forgot the night before. No husband will be able to divert your attention with his corny jokes. You have all of your time to yourself when you decide to work at 4 A.M.

3. Energy Level At Its Peak

Another reason why 4 A.M is the most productive hour is that it is where your energy level is at its peak. When you first wake up in the morning, your body’s energy level is at its highest.

You can multitask and do a lot of things when you have a lot of energy. Consider sleeping for several hours the night before; this indicates that your body was able to rest and regain the strength it requires for the day ahead.

4. A Well-Rested Body

It’s a continuation of the previous one. The key to productivity is a body that has had enough sleep or rest. Let’s face it, it’s difficult to function when you haven’t gotten enough sleep or are exhausted.

When do you think your body is at its best? Of course, it is at its best when you first wake up.

5. You Are Focused

Being productive requires a high level of focus. When you are focused, you can complete tasks efficiently and on time. When there’s nothing else on your mind but the job, you can only concentrate on finishing it.

That’s what 4 A.M. has to offer you. Focusing on things is easier when there are no distractions and peace around, as well as a well-rested body and mind.

6. A Well-Rested Brain

When you have a lot of energy in your body, your brain works faster. Of course, when you first wake up, it is also the first time your brain will begin to work. It has had enough rest for the night.

It’s easier to think of ideas, plans, or actions related to your job or daily tasks when you wake up with a well-rested brain. Compare this to when it’s already 5 p.m. and all you want to do is go home and rest. No more thoughts or ideas are coming in.

7. No Texts Or Emails Coming In

Are you still perplexed as to why the most productive hour is 4 A.M.?

During this quiet hour, no one will text or email you because everyone is still sleeping and as a courtesy, people wouldn’t likely bother you at this hour unless it is an emergency.

People respect your right to sleep, so they’ll most likely send a message once they’re sure you’re awake. 

8. Fewer Social Media Uploads

Since most people are sleeping at 4 A.M, there is less to see on social media. You aren’t distracted by the prospect of checking your friends’ most recent status updates.

Most likely, by this time, you’ll be seeing old uploads or posts that you’ve already seen the day before. By this, you will be productive and efficient when working and in the mode to finish the job immediately. 

Is Waking Up Early Bad For Us?

The stress hormone cortisol is found in higher levels in those who rise earlier, according to research conducted by the University of Westminster. Furthermore, the Sleep Council’s Lisa Artis claims that no evidence waking up early gives you a leg up on the competition.

While a small percentage of the population may be members of the sleepless elite, the majority are likely adept at concealing signs of exhaustion.

She explains that most of us believe that sleeping an hour less will give us an hour more productivity in today’s busy world, but in reality, it’s more likely to have the opposite effect. 

Natural sleep has restorative properties because it detoxes the neurotoxic waste that builds up during the day.

This waste persists because of a lack of sleep. Sleep deprivation can be hazardous in other ways, as well: it is one of the leading causes of burnout among top executives.

According to Artis, misaligning your body clock (i.e., getting up very early) can increase your risk of stroke or heart attack. She recommends the following:

• If you’re going to get up early in the morning, use daylight or a daylight-equivalent artificial light to help you stay awake. It helps you get up and go by stimulating hormone production. 

• In the same way, if you get up early, you should go to bed early as well. To block out any rays of light on summer evenings, use blackout blinds, thick, thick-lined curtains, or even an eye mask.

Winston Churchill famously stated that he could get by on four hours of sleep per night but required a nap in the afternoon. While taking a nap to make up for ‘lost sleep‘ is acceptable, it should not be done regularly. It has the potential to interfere with your sleep at night.

A couple of hours less sleep now and then won’t hurt you. But chronic sleep deprivation is serious – it adds up, and you can’t undo all the side effects of sleep debt.

Conclusion

It’s important to be fully focused on your work periods and to take a break to rest and recover in between them. This allows for deep, focused work that yields the best results. Do your best. It’s the key to being more productive.

The reason why 4 A.M. is the most productive time is that there is less stress and you can think more deeply. When you have a moment or an hour to think about yourself, figure out how to do something, and more, you can.

However, your productivity level also depends on how you want to get things done and what makes you want to finish them.