What is Austin Kleon's Body Clock Type?

Austin Kleon is a Morning Glory (Definite Morning). Here’s why.

Intro

Austin Kleon is a celebrated New York Times bestselling author, artist, and speaker renowned for his insightful books on creativity in the digital age. His works, including "Steal Like an Artist," "Show Your Work!," and "Keep Going!," have resonated with millions by demystifying the creative process and encouraging a practical, accessible approach to artistic living. Kleon is famous for his ability to blend profound wisdom with relatable anecdotes, offering guidance on how to foster a sustainable and joyful creative practice. He's relevant to discussions on wellness and productivity because his own life and work exemplify the power of intentional routines and self-awareness in navigating the demands of a creative career and family life, making him a compelling figure for understanding optimal daily rhythms.

Austin Kleon's Daily Routine

• 5:30 AM — Wake naturally, avoid snoozing. Hydrate with water, and engage in gentle stretching or mindful breathing to ease into the day and prepare the body for activity.
• 6:00 AM — Deep creative work: Dedicate this quiet, uninterrupted time to writing, drawing, or brainstorming. This is Austin's peak focus window, aligning with his Morning Glory chronotype's natural alertness.
• 8:00 AM — Family breakfast and light exposure: Enjoy a nutritious meal with family, fostering connection. Step outside briefly to absorb natural morning light, signaling to the body it's daytime and boosting mood and alertness.
• 9:00 AM — Administrative tasks and planning: Address emails, manage his blog, or plan his day's less demanding tasks. His morning creative burst is over, making this a good time for organized, analytical work.
• 11:00 AM — Mid-morning walk and reading: Take a brisk walk outdoors to refresh the mind, get more natural light, and break up sedentary periods. Combine this with listening to an audiobook or reading for inspiration.
• 12:30 PM — Mindful lunch: Prepare and enjoy a balanced lunch, taking a true break from work. Engage in mindful eating to support digestion and recharge for the afternoon.
• 1:30 PM — Less intensive creative work or research: Engage in tasks that require less intense focus, such as editing, reading for research, or organizing creative materials. This leverages the post-lunch dip for less strenuous activity.
• 3:30 PM — Collaborative work or errands: Schedule calls, interviews, or run necessary errands. This period allows for interaction with the outside world after his focused creative blocks.
• 5:00 PM — Family time and movement: Transition to family activities, helping with dinner preparation or engaging in playful activities with children. Incorporate light movement to release any lingering tension from the day.
• 6:30 PM — Dinner and conversation: Enjoy a relaxed dinner with family, focusing on connection and conversation rather than screens. This helps to wind down the day socially.
• 8:00 PM — Wind-down routine: Begin preparing for sleep by dimming lights, avoiding screens, and engaging in calming activities like reading a physical book, journaling, or listening to quiet music. This signals to the body that sleep is approaching.
• 9:30 PM — Prepare for sleep: Head to bed in a cool, dark, quiet room. Aim for consistent sleep and wake times to reinforce the natural circadian rhythm, ensuring adequate rest for another productive Morning Glory day.

Austin Kleon's BodyClock Analysis

Austin Kleon's Body Clock Type has been determined as a Morning Glory (Definite Morning) based on his publicly shared routines and work habits. He consistently emphasizes the importance of waking early to engage in his most demanding creative work—writing and drawing—before the distractions of the day begin. This preference for early morning solitude and peak mental acuity during these hours is a hallmark of the Morning Glory chronotype. His disciplined approach to leveraging the quiet dawn hours for deep focus aligns perfectly with this classification. For context, Owaves identifies five distinct Body Clock Types, each with unique energy patterns and optimal times for various activities: The **Morning Glory (Definite Morning)**, like Austin, thrives on early starts, experiencing their highest energy and mental clarity in the early morning hours. They are typically structured and consistent. The **Sunflower (Moderate Morning)** individuals also prefer mornings but have a slightly more flexible energy curve, maintaining good focus through the late morning and early afternoon. The **Hibiscus (Intermediate)** type is the most common, displaying adaptability to both morning and evening demands, with their energy often peaking mid-day. The **Peace Lily (Moderate Evening)** individuals find their energy and creativity surge in the late afternoon and early evening, often feeling sluggish in the mornings. Finally, the **Moonflower (Definite Evening)** is the true night owl, struggling significantly with early mornings and performing at their best late in the evening or even at night. Austin's consistent advocacy for an early start to his creative day firmly places him in the Morning Glory category, where his routine is perfectly tailored to his natural biological rhythms.

Owaves Body Clock Types (quick reference)

• Morning Glory (Definite Morning)
• Sunflower (Moderate Morning)
• Hibiscus (Intermediate)
• Peace Lily (Moderate Evening)
• Moonflower (Definite Evening)

Lessons from Austin Kleon's BodyClock

Understanding one's Body Clock Type is not just an interesting self-discovery; it's a fundamental pillar of optimizing energy, enhancing productivity, improving mood, and safeguarding overall health. When we align our daily activities with our natural circadian rhythms, we reduce internal friction, minimize stress, and unlock our full potential. For Austin Kleon, recognizing his Morning Glory chronotype has allowed him to meticulously craft a routine that maximizes his creative output during his natural peak hours. By dedicating his early mornings to deep, focused work, he harnesses his innate energy patterns, leading to consistent productivity and sustained well-being. His success is a testament to working *with* his biology, not against it. Readers should care because this principle applies to everyone. Imagine a life where you feel naturally energized during your most important tasks, where sleep comes easily, and where your body and mind are in harmony. Discovering your own Body Clock Type is the first step towards this more fulfilling existence. You can begin by observing your natural energy fluctuations: When do you feel most alert? When do you naturally prefer to wake and sleep? Tools like sleep diaries, self-assessment questionnaires (often found on wellness apps like Owaves), and simply paying attention to your body's signals can help you identify your type. Once identified, you can adapt your work schedule, exercise times, meal patterns, and social engagements to complement your unique rhythm. Key lessons readers can adapt from Austin Kleon's example include prioritizing deep work during your personal peak energy windows, embracing natural light exposure in the mornings, creating a consistent wind-down routine in the evenings, and most importantly, respecting your individual biological differences. By doing so, you can cultivate a life that feels more natural, productive, and profoundly balanced.

Learn more: Discover your chronotype with Owaves

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