I've taken to waking up at 6 to get a couple of hours of solid "brain work" before I start the day
I guess each person has a different time of best performance, the problem is when you get a job in a office without flexible hours.
Edit: grammar
Since I've forced myself to go to sleep no later than 11, I've realized that hey, I actually am a morning person.
However despite a few years of this routine I still find myself more productive at night than I am in the morning (or even during the day, unfortunately).