4 benefits of showing up early to work every day

Everyone knows that guy; he’s always at his desk before everyone else, making the rest of the team wonder if he slept at his desk.

How does he do it? Why does he do it?

Chances are, that early bird knows a few things you don’t.

Here are four top benefits to rolling into work bright and early every morning.

1. Skip the traffic

Sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic is a horrible way to start your day.

The longer you’re stuck, the more frustrated you likely get as you realize you’re wasting valuable time that could be spent in your office.

In many cities, the traffic gets worse as 8 a.m. approaches and doesn’t abate until well after 9 a.m. Even if you utilize public transportation, you’re more likely to deal with crowds if you wait around until peak traffic times.

I have seen this type of traffic issue motivate many coworkers over the years to switch to an earlier morning routine. If you can force yourself to leave the house early enough, you’ll miss all of that traffic. Instead of sitting behind the wheel of your car, you can be seated at your desk, getting some work done.    

2. Peace and quiet

Most offices are relatively quiet before 8 or 9 a.m., since many employees are on the way in. Instead of being interrupted every five minutes by a coworker with yet another question, you’ll be able to make a major dent in your latest project.

By the time the office starts filling with people, you’ll have already plowed through your to-do list, freeing you up to focus on the new emergencies that arise.

Even if you find your mind isn’t quite sharp enough in the morning to tackle your projects, you can still enjoy the quiet morning hours. You’ll be in the office early enough to enjoy your first cup or two of coffee while catching up on the news.

3. Impress others

If you’re interested in showing others your strong work ethic, being at work earlier than anyone else is a great way to do it.

If you’re an employee, your boss will see you as a hard worker who is so dedicated to your job, you’re at your desk, working hard, before everyone else. If you have employees, you’ll set the example that you’re willing to work harder than anyone.

If you’re really ambitious, stay later than everyone else, as well, although this type of behavior isn’t good for your work-life balance. If your work situation is flexible, you can use your early arrival as a great excuse to slip out a little early every afternoon. You’ll get home before evening rush hour starts and if someone needs you, you’ll be reachable by phone or email.

4. Catch the early calls

Depending on your line of work, being the early bird of your group can be a huge benefit. If a call comes in from a potential client or a customer calls needing assistance, you’ll have a great opportunity to save the day.

Watch out, though. Once your coworkers figure out that you’re gaining the edge by showing up early, you may have company.

Even if your work doesn’t stand to gain by being the first one on site each day, you can win. You’ll be better prepared for early-morning meetings, since you’ve been at your desk long enough to get acclimated. You’ll also be able to prepare a list of issues to discuss with your coworkers when they arrive, rather than showing up in time to deal with the lists they’ve created.

Whether you’re a morning person or not, there are definite benefits to moving your alarm clock forward a half-hour or more. That extra time will let you tackle work duties uninterrupted or simply have some relaxation time before things get chaotic.