Why do successful people like to wake up at 4 am?

Apple CEO Tim Cook typically wakes up at 3:45 AM, is always the first to arrive at the office and the last to leave.

Most people who wake up at 4 a.m. do so because of the nature of their work, such as farmers, flight attendants, mail carriers, or currency traders. But some do it because they want to.

Russ Perry, 33, lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is the founder of the graphic design company Design Pickle. He says that the time between 4 and 6 a.m. is when he is most organized and productive.

Every time the family welcomed a new member, the couple had to wake up a little earlier. By the time their third daughter was born, their alarm clock had been set to 4 a.m.

Every morning after waking up and praying, Perry starts by handling emails, reviewing company finances, and then heading to the gym. He returns home at 6:30 and has breakfast.

Although experts say answering emails early in the morning can be stressful, Perry finds it helps him feel less anxious and gives him a sense of being one step ahead. As a result, by around 10 pm Perry is completely exhausted, but he still has no intention of giving up the habit.

Tim Cook has a habit of waking up very early. Photo: WSJ

Many successful people also have the habit of waking up early. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, wakes up at 3:45 AM, is always the first to arrive at the office and the last to leave. Sallie Krawcheck, CEO of Ellevest, says that 4 AM is when she is most productive.

Some people choose to work early in the morning to avoid distractions from technology and social media. Others work from home beforehand to get their work done in case they suddenly receive new orders. Still others want to take advantage of the quiet of the early morning.

"When you have a quiet space, you won't be distracted by other people, and you'll be more efficient and productive," says psychologist Josh Davis, Director of Research at the NeuroLeadership Institute.

People are often distracted by office distractions such as background noise, email notifications, phone calls, Facebook, etc. "Working at 4 a.m. will free you from these annoyances," Davis noted.

Peter Shankman, a 44-year-old New York businessman and speaker, often goes for a run at 4 a.m. The streets are deserted at that time, allowing him to run and think about ideas without worrying about bumping into anyone. By 7 a.m., he returns home, opens his computer to answer emails, work, or write.

To be able to wake up early, he had to go to bed at 8:30 p.m. "By then I was exhausted, but the good thing was I wouldn't have time for silly things like late-night snacking anymore."

Karen Schwalbe-Jones, manager of Harmony Studios gym in West Hollywood, has been waking up at 4 a.m. for 13 years, ever since her son was born. The 48-year-old wants to dedicate her early mornings to working out before starting work.

Schwalbe-Jones admitted that she also had to make sacrifices. "This lifestyle means I rarely get to see friends. Right now, it's the best option for my family, but I still hope that one day I can go out for dinner without worrying about coming home late."

According to VNE