Early Bird Gets The Worm? A Danish Perspective

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

Is the global proverb "The Early Bird Gets The Worm" still relevant in today's world? Camilla Kring's Danish initiative, B-Society, offers the world a fresh perspective. Says Kring, aligning our waking hours with natural rhythms can boost both health and productivity. This is her story.

Every morning, people worldwide are abruptly awakened by alarm clocks. Waking up early is seen as essential for success, carrying prestige. The earlier we rise, the more successful, energetic, and productive we are perceived to be, leading to more opportunities and success. After all, the early bird gets the worm.

But, upon closer examination, it appears the world is growing weary of the conventional perspective. More individuals and experts recognise that not everyone is naturally inclined to rise early, and success that isn't solely linked to early rising.

We are learning that waking up early isn't beneficial for everyone's health, as each person has a unique chronotype, or natural waking time. we are discovering that aligning with our natural rhythm can actually enhance productivity.

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 She has been working to change the outdated global perspective on the idea that the 'early bird gets the worm.'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. "A decade ago, chronobiology research was sparse," she told us. Today, it is scientifically proven that genetics play a large part in determining biological rhythms."

Early Bird Gets The Worm And A New Reality

But then again, you could argue that the world is designed for early birds. Well, the B-Society suggests that this doesn't have to be a fixed reality. In fact, through her initiatives and projects, Kring has demonstrated that a world with flexible start times is not only feasible but is already becoming a reality.

Since 2006, her initiative has been assisting schools, nursing homes for the elderly, companies, and workplaces globally in reaching this specific goal. The B-Society classifies early risers as A-persons and late risers as B-persons, advocating for a shift in viewpoint. Kring contends that the traditional 9 to 5 schedule is outdated and should be discarded.

Silent Struggles

Kring, who identifies herself as a B-person, believes she has articulated the unspoken challenges many B-persons face daily, the silent struggles they endure. Those who choose to get up later often feel unaccepted because they don't conform to common stereotypes about waking times, Kring noted.

Kring frequently comes across this in her line of work. "I've met many committed and insightful journalists who mention that editors tend to stick to the stereotypical depiction of A-listers as 'heroes'," she said, adding: "while casting B-persons as lazy individuals who arrive late to work and need to learn to wake up early."

Nevertheless, through her own research, she has discovered that varied start times in public life lead to healthier and happier workers, as well as more productive students and schoolchildren. "Consider the possibility of having control over your own time and the community's social schedule," she commented. "How would you handle this? I would personally give people as much freedom as possible to arrange their work hours. Additionally, I would get rid of many alarm clocks."

"I would provide people with as much freedom as possible to manage their work hours. I would also throw out numerous 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

The B-Society now has members in 50 countries. Many employers, as well as Danish politicians and ministers, support the initiative. Its successful outcomes are attracting attention from both Danish and international media.

"Rewarding A-persons, or morning-oriented individuals, made sense in agricultural communities, where productivity relied on daylight," Kring noted. "But why should an A-person have a competitive advantage in a knowledge-based society? Where an increasing number of work tasks can be solved with or without sunlight?"

In other words, why do we persist in waking up early when it's no longer essential? When, rather than sticking to the notion that the early bird gets the worm, we can accomplish success in our daily routines by waking up slightly later? When we might even enhance our productivity and health by doing so?

The Future is Without an Alarmclock

Experts state that over half of the world’s population resides in cities, and Kring is confident her model is adaptable to any city globally. She explains that this transformation will require time, as it involves altering mindsets, structures, and institutions, along with the complex interaction of family, education, employment, and traffic policies.

But, argues Kring, the effort would be worthwhile as such a change would greatly benefit many lives. "My battle cry would be for peaceful mornings to boost quality of life and increase productivity by aligning with our biological clock," said Kring. She concluded: "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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A solitary bird stands on a serene, icy surface, embodying the early morning's promise of opportunity.

Early Bird Gets The Worm

The saying "The early bird gets the worm" is a well-known English proverb promoting proactivity, diligence and hard work. It implies that rising early and beginning tasks early enhances the likelihood of success and obtaining the best opportunities, whether in the workplace, at school, or elsewhere in society. This proverb is recognised globally and has been translated into many languages. Conversely, those who rise late are often perceived as lazy and less successful.

According to reports, the expression originated in a 1605 book of proverbs by William Camden. Similar to how a bird that rises early has a greater chance of finding worms and a nutritious meal before other birds, individuals who begin their day early are more likely to seize the best opportunities. However, the question of whether this concept still applies in today's digital online world is now being asked more often.