CacheCougar
Well-known member
The Great Debate: Are Night Owls Superior or Do They Just Get a Raw Deal?
In a world where the sun rises early and sets late, the question of who reigns supreme - the morning larks or the night owls? The notion that early birds get the worm has been perpetuated for years, but is it true? Or are those who thrive under the cover of darkness just getting a raw deal?
According to scientists, the answer lies in our internal biological clocks. "We all have an internal biological clock, or a circadian rhythm, that controls numerous physiological outputs, including alertness levels, sleep, hormone levels and blood pressure," says Kristen Knutson, an associate professor at Northwestern University who specializes in sleep research. This chronotype is hardwired into us, and while it can be influenced by factors like age and lifestyle, our natural tendencies are what ultimately dictate our behavior.
It's true that those with a later chronotype - often referred to as night owls - have an easier time staying up late. However, this doesn't necessarily mean they're more intelligent or creative than their early-rising counterparts. While some studies suggest a correlation between being a night owl and higher intelligence, others point out the limitations of these findings.
Take, for example, the 2009 study that claimed to prove that night owls are indeed smarter. However, this study has been widely criticized for its methodological flaws. Dr. Hans Van Dongen, director of the Sleep and Performance Research Center at Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane, notes that "children born to evening-type parents are more likely to be evening types, and likewise for morning types."
Despite these limitations, research suggests that being a night owl can have its downsides. A 2018 study found that night owls have a higher risk of early death and health problems compared to early risers. And while staying up late might not be bad for creativity or intelligence in itself, unhealthy behaviors like drinking or eating junk food are more likely to occur at night.
So what can you do if you're a night owl who wants to thrive? The answer lies in understanding your chronotype and working with it, rather than against it. Sleep specialist Dr. Michael Breus notes that someone whose chronotype sits firmly in the middle - often referred to as a "bear" - is actually dominant. By determining our natural biological clock through methods like saliva tests or simply sleeping without an alarm for a week, we can find a rhythm that works for us.
Of course, this isn't always easy. For those of us with small children, getting up early for work becomes a daily battle. But rather than trying to force a routine that's at odds with our natural tendencies, perhaps it's time to rethink the whole "early bird catches the worm" mantra. After all, as Dr. Matthew P Walker, director at the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley, notes, "One could not imagine anyone sticking to this regimen in perpetuity."
In a world where the sun rises early and sets late, the question of who reigns supreme - the morning larks or the night owls? The notion that early birds get the worm has been perpetuated for years, but is it true? Or are those who thrive under the cover of darkness just getting a raw deal?
According to scientists, the answer lies in our internal biological clocks. "We all have an internal biological clock, or a circadian rhythm, that controls numerous physiological outputs, including alertness levels, sleep, hormone levels and blood pressure," says Kristen Knutson, an associate professor at Northwestern University who specializes in sleep research. This chronotype is hardwired into us, and while it can be influenced by factors like age and lifestyle, our natural tendencies are what ultimately dictate our behavior.
It's true that those with a later chronotype - often referred to as night owls - have an easier time staying up late. However, this doesn't necessarily mean they're more intelligent or creative than their early-rising counterparts. While some studies suggest a correlation between being a night owl and higher intelligence, others point out the limitations of these findings.
Take, for example, the 2009 study that claimed to prove that night owls are indeed smarter. However, this study has been widely criticized for its methodological flaws. Dr. Hans Van Dongen, director of the Sleep and Performance Research Center at Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane, notes that "children born to evening-type parents are more likely to be evening types, and likewise for morning types."
Despite these limitations, research suggests that being a night owl can have its downsides. A 2018 study found that night owls have a higher risk of early death and health problems compared to early risers. And while staying up late might not be bad for creativity or intelligence in itself, unhealthy behaviors like drinking or eating junk food are more likely to occur at night.
So what can you do if you're a night owl who wants to thrive? The answer lies in understanding your chronotype and working with it, rather than against it. Sleep specialist Dr. Michael Breus notes that someone whose chronotype sits firmly in the middle - often referred to as a "bear" - is actually dominant. By determining our natural biological clock through methods like saliva tests or simply sleeping without an alarm for a week, we can find a rhythm that works for us.
Of course, this isn't always easy. For those of us with small children, getting up early for work becomes a daily battle. But rather than trying to force a routine that's at odds with our natural tendencies, perhaps it's time to rethink the whole "early bird catches the worm" mantra. After all, as Dr. Matthew P Walker, director at the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley, notes, "One could not imagine anyone sticking to this regimen in perpetuity."
Night owls get a bad rap but i think its more about us trying to fit into societal norms than being inherently superior 
. our bodies are wired differently and some people just need to sleep in or stay up late to function at their best 
. maybe instead of comparing morning larks to night owls, we should be focusing on finding a routine that works for us as individuals 
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. I mean, who doesn't love the energy of a bustling city at night? It's like the whole world is one big party and anyone can join in! But at the same time, I think we should acknowledge that being up all night isn't always easy on our bodies. Have you ever tried pulling an all-nighter and then having to go back to a normal schedule the next day? It's like your body is all "what just happened to me?!" 
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I mean, who hasn't had those sleepless nights where they just can't seem to wind down? 
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I mean, who says you gotta be awake at 5 am to be productive?
Sometimes it's hard to say who's getting a raw deal. But what I think is important here is finding your own rhythm and working with it, rather than fighting against it. It's like the saying goes: "You can't hurry happiness." You've got to find your natural pace and flow with it. And if that means being a night owl, that's perfectly okay. Don't try to change who you are just for someone else's sake. Be true to yourself and take care of your own needs. After all, as the saying goes: "The best is yet to come."
. My kid is totally a night owl too (he's 10), and I'm the one who always needs to get up early for work 
. And yeah, those studies about night owls being smarter? Eh... let's just say I've met some super smart people who are definitely not morning larks 
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... sounds like a dream come true, right? 
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IT'S LIKE, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WINDING DOWN AND RELAXING, NOT DRIVING AROUND LIKE MANIACS TRYING TO GET SOME WORK DONE BEFORE THE SUN COMES UP! 
It's just so unfair that night owls are always expected to be productive during boring daytime hours when most people are napping. Can't we just be allowed to stay up late and enjoy ourselves for once?! 
. Intelligence comes in all shapes and sizes, no matter what your bedtime is 
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. On the other hand, some people swear by their nocturnal nature and how it sparks creativity and productivity.