Does the Early Bird Still Catch the Worm? Insights from Denmark

'Early Bird Gets The Worm': is the world getting a bit tired of that old perspective? (Pexels, Aphiwat Chuangchoem)

Some people have more energy in the morning, others perform better in the evening. Or, as science puts it, each of us has a unique chronotype. There's a growing belief that aligning our lives with our chronotype would make us healthier and more productive. However, is it feasible to organise life in this manner, and why should we? A Danish viewpoint provides fresh insights into this matter.

Every morning, people around the world get jolted awake by their alarm clocks. Getting up early is considered key to success and even has a bit of a status symbol vibe. The earlier we rise, the more awesome we seem. After all, the early bird catches the worm.

However, it seems people are becoming a bit tired of this traditional mindset. We're beginning to understand that not everyone is naturally inclined to be a morning person. Additionally, we're recognising that waking up early doesn't necessarily lead to success, nor is success inherently tied to early rising.

We are also beginning to see that waking up earlier than our natural inclination may not be beneficial for everyone's health, as each individual has a unique chronotype, or natural waking time. That aligning with our natural rhythm can actually boost productivity. So, getting up early if that fits you better, or getting up later if that is more your thing. And, that getting up late does not make you lazy, less succesful, or less of a person.

Meet Camilla Kring, the founder of Denmark's B-Society. She has been working to change the outdated global perspective on the idea that the 'early bird gets the worm.' Additionally, she is an expert in 'applied chronobiology.'

"Ten years ago, research in chronobiology was sparse," Kring tells Perspective Living. Today, we know that being out of sync with your biological clock has a negative impact on your health, education and career. Therefore society should support all our biological rhythms, and not just one. I want to increase the awareness about the discrimination of B-persons (late risers) in today’ societies."

Early Bird Gets The Worm: A New Reality

Be all that as it may, the world is set up for early risers, and there's little we can do to change that, right? What's more, there's nothing wrong with a bit of structure and self-discipline to begin our days early, and imagine the chaos if everyone began their day at school or work at different times!

Reimagining our Economies

Well, argues the B-Society, our life structure doesn't need to be so rigid, and society doesn't have to prioritise early starts over other options. In fact, through her initiatives and projects, Kring has demonstrated that a world with flexible start times is not only possible and already emerging but beneficial for everyone, even easing traffic congestion.

Since 2006, her initiative has been effectively helping schools, elderly nursing homes, companies, and workplaces worldwide achieve this particular objective. The B-Society, which identifies early risers as A-persons and late risers as B-persons, advocates for a change in perspective. Kring argues that the traditional 9 to 5 schedule, suited to farming economies, is outdated and needs to be reimagined.

Silent Struggles

Kring, who identifies as a B-person and a late riser, believes she has articulated the unspoken difficulties many B-persons face daily, emphasizing the silent struggles they endure. According to Kring, those who choose to wake up later often feel unaccepted because they don't align with typical waking time stereotypes.

"I managed to express a feeling that many B-persons had suffered in silence," she explaines. "It was a feeling of not being accepted, and a sense of obligation to conform to the prevailing belief that not being out of bed by 6:30 A.M. and at work by 8 A.M. equated to laziness."

"B-persons are compelled to battle against their biological clocks," she goes on; "to adhere to social norms that dictate school must start at 8 A.M., and that one morning work hour is equivalent to two at night."

"When B-persons discovered the B-Society," she continueds: "they felt acknowledged and validated. They felt understood and realised that there was nothing wrong with them."

"When late risers discovered the B-Society, they felt acknowledged and validated. They felt understood and realised that there was nothing wrong with them."

A and B people: Stereotypical Images

In her field, Kring frequently encounters the traditional portrayals of early and late risers. She states, "I've interacted with numerous dedicated and perceptive journalists who note that editors often adhere to the clichéd image of A-listers as 'heroes'," and adds, "while portraying B-persons as lazy individuals who show up late to work and need to learn to wake up early."

"Each time, I've responded that dreams are achieved when we are awake," Kring continues. "I'm a B-person. I'm also a disciplined individual who accomplishes the goals I set for myself. I earned a Master of Science in Engineering at 24, a PhD at 27, and I've been running my company, Super Navigators, since 2005. I do most of my work in the afternoon and evening, and I would be miserable if I had to clock in at the same workplace at 8 A.M. every day!"

Through her research, Kring has found that diverse start times in public life result in healthier, happier workers and more productive students and schoolchildren. "Imagine having control over your own schedule and the community's social timetable," she remarkes. "How would you manage this? Personally, I would allow people as much freedom as possible to set their work hours. Additionally, I would get rid of many alarm clocks."

"Imagine controlling your schedule and the community's timetable. How would you manage this? Personally, I would allow people the freedom to set their work hours and eliminate many alarm clocks."

Two elegant swans glide across the calm waters at dawn, prompting reflection on whether the "early bird gets the worm" proverb retains its significance in today's world (image Femke van Iperen).

A Different Type of Society

"On January 15, 2007, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten featured a front-page article titled 'Showdown with the 8 to 5 Culture' discussing the B-Society and the struggle for B-lifestyles," Ms. Kring continues. "This article sparked a media frenzy, and throughout the year, I conducted at least three interviews each week about the B-Society with media outlets worldwide."

"Through the B-Society," she goes on to explain, "I identified a need that extended beyond Denmark, and the B-Society now has members in 50 countries." The initiative is backed by numerous employers, as well as Danish politicians and ministers. Its achievements are drawing interest from media outlets both in Denmark and internationally.

In agricultural communities, morning-oriented individuals and tasks were favoured due to daylight-dependent productivity. However, things have changed, so, why maintain early wake-up times when they may not be necessary? By waking up later, if it suits us better, we might enhance both productivity and health, argues Kring, explaining: "We have become knowledge farmers, still unconsciously valuing early risers and overlooking B-persons who don't fit the early schedule."

The tale of the early bird continues to endure, with society often regarding early risers as exemplary, linking waking up early with virtuous behaviour. Kring notes that this preference is reflected in moral sayings from France and Italy, providing global examples: "À qui se lève matin, Dieu aide et prête la main" (God helps those who rise early); "Chi dorme non piglia pesci" (He who sleeps, catches no fish); and "早起的鳥兒有蟲吃" (the early bird catches the worm)."

The Future is Without an Alarm Clock

Experts indicate that over half of the world's population lives in urban areas, and Kring is confident that her model can be implemented in any city globally. She acknowledges that this transformation will require time, as it involves changing mindsets, structures, and institutions, along with the complex interaction of family, education, employment, and transportation policies.

However, Kring argues that the effort would be worthwhile, as such a shift would significantly improve many lives. "My rallying cry would be for peaceful mornings to enhance quality of life and boost productivity by aligning with our biological clock," she says. And concludes: "A biological rhythm is not a choice; it's inherent. And I will continue advocating for equality between early risers and night owls."

"My battle cry would be for peaceful mornings to boost quality of life and increase productivity by aligning with our biological clock. And I will continue advocating for equality between early risers and night owls."

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About Camilla Kring

Camilla Kring established the B-Society on December 27, 2006. It now boasts members across 50 countries. Camilla Kring revolutionises corporate culture by enabling employees to manage their work and personal lives effectively. She achieves this through her consultancy, Super Navigators ApS, and the Life Navigation concept. Life Navigation includes practical and creative tools focused on time, goals, energy, and spaces, all designed to enhance productivity and quality of life.

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Professor Russell Foster

In his book Life Time: Your Body Clock and Its Essential Roles in Good Health and Sleep, Professor Russell Foster discusses how modern society's 24/7 demands frequently compel us to live contrary to our natural, genetically determined 24-hour circadian rhythm. This misalignment is more than a minor inconvenience; it is a major contributor to serious health issues and his research lists infection, cancer, obesity and Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke, mental illness, including depression and paranoia as related to this.

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A solitary bird stands on a serene, icy surface, embodying the early morning's promise of opportunity.

Early Bird Gets The Worm

The proverb "The early bird gets the worm" encourages proactivity, diligence, and hard work, suggesting that starting tasks early increases the chances of success and seizing the best opportunities. Recognised globally and translated into many languages, it implies that early risers are more successful than those who wake up late. The expression originated from a 1605 book of proverbs by William Camden. Just as an early bird finds worms before others, early risers are more likely to find opportunities. However, its relevance in today's digital age is increasingly questioned.