OtterOrbit
Well-known member
The Great Morning and Night Debacle: Separating Fact from Fiction
In our sleep-deprived world, it's no surprise that people are still debating whether morning larks or night owls reign supreme. Is being an early riser the key to success, or can those who burn the midnight oil actually be more intelligent and creative? We put this age-old question to rest with a healthy dose of skepticism.
According to Kristen Knutson, an associate professor at Northwestern University specializing in sleep research, our internal biological clock is hardwired into us. This "chronotype" determines whether we're naturally morning people or night owls, with most people's chronotypes shifting as they age. While it's possible for a shift in chronotype to occur, attempting to force a routine that clashes with one's natural rhythms can have serious health consequences.
In the past, studies suggested that night owls were more intelligent and creative than their early-rising counterparts. However, these claims are often based on flawed assumptions and methodologies, as noted by Hans Van Dongen, director of the Sleep and Performance Research Center at Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane. For instance, a 2009 study found a correlation between being a night owl and higher intelligence, but this may be due to the fact that individuals with higher IQs are more likely to choose later bedtimes for work or other activities.
More recent studies have also raised questions about the supposed superiority of night owls. A 2024 paper from Imperial College London found that those who stay up late had "superior cognitive function," but experts caution against making definitive links between chronotype and traits like creativity, intelligence, or sociability.
The notion that being an early riser is a prerequisite for success may be more myth than reality. While it's true that morning people often thrive in corporate environments, this doesn't necessarily mean they're inherently better. As Dr. Michael Breus notes, someone whose chronotype sits firmly in the middle – the "bear" category – dominates, with an estimated half of the population fitting into this bracket.
So, what can be done to figure out your natural biological clock? While a home science lab isn't practical for most people, attempting to sync up with your body's rhythms by avoiding depressants and stimulants like alcohol and coffee, as well as giving yourself sufficient sleep without an alarm, may yield results. However, it's essential to acknowledge that this won't be easy – especially when faced with the reality of having a small child who demands attention at ungodly hours.
Ultimately, rather than trying to hack our chronotypes or force ourselves into someone else's world, we should learn to operate in harmony with our natural rhythms. As Matthew P Walker notes, it's possible to shift your schedule by a couple of hours using structured routines like morning light, fixed mealtimes, earlier exercise, and caffeine cutoffs. While this may not be sustainable in the long term, embracing our individuality can lead to better mood and performance.
So, which comes first – the early bird or the second mouse getting the cheese? Perhaps it's time to rethink the traditional narrative and give credit where credit is due: we're all unique creatures, deserving of respect and understanding. And who knows? Maybe being a night owl won't be so bad after all.
In our sleep-deprived world, it's no surprise that people are still debating whether morning larks or night owls reign supreme. Is being an early riser the key to success, or can those who burn the midnight oil actually be more intelligent and creative? We put this age-old question to rest with a healthy dose of skepticism.
According to Kristen Knutson, an associate professor at Northwestern University specializing in sleep research, our internal biological clock is hardwired into us. This "chronotype" determines whether we're naturally morning people or night owls, with most people's chronotypes shifting as they age. While it's possible for a shift in chronotype to occur, attempting to force a routine that clashes with one's natural rhythms can have serious health consequences.
In the past, studies suggested that night owls were more intelligent and creative than their early-rising counterparts. However, these claims are often based on flawed assumptions and methodologies, as noted by Hans Van Dongen, director of the Sleep and Performance Research Center at Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane. For instance, a 2009 study found a correlation between being a night owl and higher intelligence, but this may be due to the fact that individuals with higher IQs are more likely to choose later bedtimes for work or other activities.
More recent studies have also raised questions about the supposed superiority of night owls. A 2024 paper from Imperial College London found that those who stay up late had "superior cognitive function," but experts caution against making definitive links between chronotype and traits like creativity, intelligence, or sociability.
The notion that being an early riser is a prerequisite for success may be more myth than reality. While it's true that morning people often thrive in corporate environments, this doesn't necessarily mean they're inherently better. As Dr. Michael Breus notes, someone whose chronotype sits firmly in the middle – the "bear" category – dominates, with an estimated half of the population fitting into this bracket.
So, what can be done to figure out your natural biological clock? While a home science lab isn't practical for most people, attempting to sync up with your body's rhythms by avoiding depressants and stimulants like alcohol and coffee, as well as giving yourself sufficient sleep without an alarm, may yield results. However, it's essential to acknowledge that this won't be easy – especially when faced with the reality of having a small child who demands attention at ungodly hours.
Ultimately, rather than trying to hack our chronotypes or force ourselves into someone else's world, we should learn to operate in harmony with our natural rhythms. As Matthew P Walker notes, it's possible to shift your schedule by a couple of hours using structured routines like morning light, fixed mealtimes, earlier exercise, and caffeine cutoffs. While this may not be sustainable in the long term, embracing our individuality can lead to better mood and performance.
So, which comes first – the early bird or the second mouse getting the cheese? Perhaps it's time to rethink the traditional narrative and give credit where credit is due: we're all unique creatures, deserving of respect and understanding. And who knows? Maybe being a night owl won't be so bad after all.
I mean, have you ever stopped to think about why we're so obsessed with being morning people? Like, what's the harm in sleeping in till noon? 
It's not like the world is going to come crashing down if everyone stays up all night.
. Those studies were probably done with flawed assumptions or methodologies, and we shouldn't take them at face value.
Half of us are like that. It's time to acknowledge our individuality and not try to force ourselves into someone else's world.
. We just need to stop stigmatizing people who choose to stay up late and start giving them the respect they deserve. So, which comes first – the early bird or the second mouse getting the cheese? I say, let's rethink that whole narrative and give credit where credit is due: we're all unique creatures, deserving of understanding. 
and let's be real, if being an early riser is really key to success, why are so many high-achievers reportedly night owls? like, what about all those genius writers, artists, and musicians who seem to thrive under the cover of darkness? it's time to stop trying to fit our internal clocks into some arbitrary mold and just accept that we're all weirdos in our own ways 