I’m writing this at 12:26 in the morning. I’ve just finished writing several other pieces, spent time working on my Daily Theme tasks already, and I’m about to head off to bed after a really productive day.
That’s why I’m sick and tired of people saying that night owls aren’t productive.
Whether it’s imperative to align your body clock with the magic hours of sleep or night owls simply not existing, there is a stigma against night owls and their ability to not just be productive but to sustain productiveness throughout the day.
I’m a productive night owl. Have been for nearly all of my life. And I want to break that stigma and help night owls be just as productive as their early bird counterparts.
If you’re a night owl then reply to this email and let me know. I’d love to hear from you because I know I’m not the only one that’s sick and tired of this.
See you later,
Mike
P.S. I’ve already developed a short email series for night owls, so if you’d like to receive that just click here and you’ll be good to go.
I’m Mike Vardy, and I help people build a better relationship with time — not by controlling it, but by working with it. Through my writing, courses, and community, I explore how intention and attention shape a more meaningful life — one rooted in the original idea of productiveness over productivity.
Hello Reader, I discovered Chris Dalla Riva the same way I discover a surprising number of meaningful things these days: by scrolling through TikTok. Not doom-scrolling, not distraction for distraction’s sake—just wandering through that unpredictable digital bazaar where brilliance and absurdity sit shoulder to shoulder. Depending on the hour, my feed swings between thoughtful essays, clever creators, and Sora-generated fever dreams of cats caterwauling at customers from behind fast-food...
Hello Reader, A quick note to share a few things I’m part of this week that you might enjoy. Tuesday November 18th: I’m hosting a live conversation with Stacey Harmon about where Evernote is headed—new ownership, new tools, and what all of this actually means for the way we take and use notes. Join in on LinkedIn or on YouTube. Wednesday November 19th: Erik Fisher and I are back with our Productivity A to Z (Volume 2) livestream. It’s open, unscripted, and you can learn more about the...
The Lantern by Mike Vardy Vol. 1, Issue 38| November 15, 2025 Hello Reader, Lately I’ve been noticing how haste hides well. It doesn’t always look like rushing—it often looks like helping. Like wanting to get the next idea into someone’s hands before it’s ready. Like tightening the prose just a little too much so it “lands.” Like turning a living concept into a system before it’s had the chance to breathe. In my work, I’ve learned that haste makes waste isn’t about losing time—it’s about...