How important is time of picking herbs?

I know all the guides tell you the best time to pick herbs for preserving is in the morning, after dew has dried but before sun is hot. Trouble is, I'm never home in the mornings. So would it really make much difference if I picked them lunchtime or early afternoon or evening instead? Some of my herbs are in fairly shaded beds too, so I wouldn't have thought they had too much direct sun on them. I'm mainly thinking here of mint, thyme, sage, oregano, parsley, maybe chives and bay.

I always pick mine just before I use (cook) them. YUM!!!

The excuse for needing time off work ' because I had to pick herbs at the optimum time' would be a first though 

Could always get up earlier.......     

I think    the picking times advised are supposed to be when the plant has the most essential oil in its leaves so is at its peak for medicinal use.

I don't think it will matter at all for the greener herbs like parsley, chives and mint and to be honest, the fresher the better for these, so pick when you need them.  Can't see that even for the woodier aromatic ones like sage and oregano, it would make that much difference.  Mine are outside the kitchen door, so they go from garden to pot, via a quick shower under the tap,  whenever they are needed  

I was more wondering about gathering them for drying.

Before the plants are too old and approaching "woody".