Plenty of worms to go around

By LYNNE CONLAN

Executive Director, Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce

They say: “The early bird catches the worm.” I say: “Let him keep the slimy thing.” 

So, are you an early bird or a night owl? And does it matter? Ben Franklin had an opinion on the matter: “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” Guess he wasn’t a night owl. 

Let’s figure out who comes out ahead in this age-old battle. One study from the University of Heidelberg got the following results: Early birds show higher levels of cooperation and are more agreeable. They are also more persistent, and are perfectionists, conscientious and proactive. However, these early risers also lean toward indecision and procrastination. The study pegs night owls as novelty seekers. And they have a risk for addictive behaviors like drinking and smoking, and are more impulsive. These Heidelberg folks seemed to favor early birds. 

So, I moved on to another study conducted by the University of Barcelona, Spain. They credit early birds with being more persistent and less likely to experience fatigue, frustration and difficulties, while searching for stability. Night owls were found to be smarter and are go-getters. However, they tend to indulge in extravagances, and are impulsive and novelty-seeking (here we go again).

Let’s try one last study. As you can probably surmise, I’m a night owl and just need a good word about me and my fellow birds of the evening. I turned to a site called fact hacker — I would believe anything they have to say, wouldn’t you? They claim night owls spend more money, but agree they are smarter in the areas of reading, writing and math. However, early birds plan out their lives better, including their spending habits. And while they aren’t as book smart, they are more likely to be street smart. And on top of it all, early birds tend to live longer, slightly healthier lives. 

Believe me, night owls. I tried to fight for our honor. In our defense, we are not lazy when we hit the snooze button twice or three times each morning. Mornings just aren’t our thing. Diet Coke save me, please. But remember early birds, when you’re crawling into bed at an ungodly early hour, we’re revving up for a night of work or play or both. Just leave us alone — especially before 10 a.m. 

But whichever side of the clock you land on, keep one thing in mind: Early birds are creative during night hours while night owls are more creative in the morning. Yep. Both types have bursts of creativity during their “off” times. 

In the end, it really doesn’t matter whether you’re a night owl or an early bird. If you miss that slimy worm first thing in the morning, there are always plenty of worms to go around later in the day — if you really want them.