[How About This Book] The Hours of "Larks" and "Owls" Move in Opposite Directions

Global Futurist Daniel Pink
Insights on the "Science of Timing"
Classifying People as Early-Morning "Larks,"
Slightly-Later "Third Birds,"
and "Owls"?Three Distinct Types
Peak Times for Analysis and Decision-Making Differ
Even the Same Task Yields Different Efficiency,
Performance, and Results Depending on Timing

There is a saying, "Life is all about timing." Even when doing the same task, efficiency can vary greatly depending on when it is done. A single step taken today might become three steps tomorrow, and if you fail to strike while the iron is hot, you miss the opportunity for improvement. Renowned futurist Daniel Pink draws attention to the "science of timing," which is about mastering your time rather than being ruled by it.

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According to the author, people can be broadly categorized into three types: larks, third birds, and owls. Larks are early risers whose analytical and decision-making abilities peak in the early morning, while their insight improves as the day goes on. Third birds tend to wake up a bit later than larks, with their analytical efficiency peaking in the late morning and their insight sharpening in the afternoon. In contrast, owls maximize their analytical and decision-making skills in the late afternoon and evening, while their insight is relatively higher in the morning hours.

The author explains that about 80% of these tendencies are innate. Those born in autumn or winter are more likely to be larks, while those born in spring or summer are more likely to be owls. These patterns also change with age. Children tend to be lark-like, shift toward owl-like tendencies during adolescence, and revert to lark-like patterns in adulthood. On average, men are more likely to be evening types, and women morning types, but after the age of 50, gender differences almost disappear.

The author stresses that knowing your own type is crucial for improving work efficiency. To do this, he recommends setting an alarm at 90-minute intervals for a week and asking yourself three questions: ▲ What are you doing right now? ▲ How mentally alert are you (on a scale of 1 to 10)? ▲ How much physical energy do you have (on a scale of 1 to 10)?

Generally, the daily rhythm can be divided into three stages. Larks and third birds follow a "peak-trough-rebound" pattern. Composer Tchaikovsky would wake up at 7-8 a.m., start his day with reading and a walk, and then focus on composing for several hours starting at 9:30 a.m. After lunch and another walk, he would resume work at 5 p.m. and finish his day at 8 p.m. Writer Joyce Carol Oates also maintained a similar pattern, writing intensively in the morning and balancing rest and work in the afternoon.

In contrast, novelist Flaubert, an owl type, followed a "rebound-trough-peak" rhythm. He would wake up around 10 a.m. and spend a leisurely morning, read or rest in the afternoon, and begin serious writing after dinner, starting at 9 p.m. The author emphasizes that finding a personal daily pattern that maximizes your abilities, and for leaders, flexibly adjusting work styles to match team members’ rhythms, creates significant differences in productivity.

Regardless of individual differences, there are certain "time windows" that are more efficient for specific activities. For example, jogging after fasting for more than eight hours since waking up is most effective for burning fat. "When fasting, the body uses fat stored in fibers to supply energy. If you exercise after eating, you use energy from recently consumed food. Generally, exercising before breakfast burns about 20% more fat than exercising after a meal."

The book also highlights the importance of rest. In 2011, sociologists analyzed parole decisions by the Israeli parole board and found that 65% of favorable rulings were made in the morning. As noon approached, the approval rate dropped, only to rise again after lunch and fall once more in the late afternoon. The author explains, "When and how much rest judges took had a significant impact on their decisions," and "Rest serves to lift you out of your lowest points." This effect is not limited to legal judgments but can also apply to financial decisions, college admissions, and other major choices.

In this context, the author recommends a "napuccino"-a nap after a cup of coffee. "It takes about 25 minutes for caffeine to take effect in the bloodstream, so it’s best to drink coffee right before lying down. (Omitted) Taking a nap for 10-20 minutes significantly increases alertness and cognitive function and eliminates drowsiness. Since it usually takes about seven minutes to fall asleep, setting an alarm for 25 minutes later is ideal."

The book also offers various tips for making better choices. For example, when deciding the order of presentations, it is advantageous to go first if you are up against a strong competitor or if there are few competitors. This is because people tend to remember the first piece of information better, allowing you to benefit from the "primacy effect" and "narrow bracketing" effect.

The book’s reader-friendly structure, filled with interesting case studies and practical methods, is also impressive. In psychology, the "Zeigarnik effect" explains how unfinished tasks linger longer in memory. The author’s reading tip-if you doubt you’ll finish a book, leave it with the context open rather than closing it completely-can motivate you to pick it up again.

When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing | Daniel Pink | Alki | 268 pages | 19,800 won