CacheCoyote
Well-known member
The debate between night owls and early birds has long been a contentious one, with proponents on both sides claiming superiority. But what does science say? Is it possible for our bodies to change from being natural morning larks to night owls, or is there an unshakeable link between chronotype and intelligence?
According to Kristen Knutson, an associate professor at Northwestern University, we all have an internal biological clock that controls numerous physiological outputs. Our "chronotype", a term coined by scientists, refers to our circadian preference - whether we're naturally more alert in the morning or evening.
While it's difficult to fundamentally change your chronotype, research suggests that age plays a significant role. Teenagers often have a later chronotype, while adults tend to drift earlier as they mature. Additionally, studies have shown that children born to early-rising parents are more likely to follow suit.
But what about the notion that night owls are inherently more intelligent and creative? One study found that evening-disposition was correlated with divergent thinking strategies - in other words, more creative minds. Another 2024 paper from Imperial College London suggested that those who stay up late had superior cognitive function compared to morning larks.
However, experts caution against making definitive links between chronotype and traits like creativity or sociability. Many of these studies have limitations, such as relying on self-reported data or studying adolescents rather than adults.
So what's the verdict? It appears that our bodies are wired in a way that makes us more productive and alert at certain times of day, but it doesn't necessarily determine our intelligence or personality. Being a night owl may come with its own set of challenges, from social isolation to health problems, while early risers face their own unique issues.
One thing is clear: trying to force a routine that's at odds with your biological clock can be detrimental to your health. As Knutson notes, "circadian disruption caused by desynchrony between our internal clock and the external world" can lead to serious consequences.
If you're determined to tweak your chronotype, experts recommend using structured routines like morning light exposure, fixed mealtimes, and earlier exercise. But be warned: it's unlikely that you'll stick to these habits forever.
So the next time someone tells you that early birds catch the worm, you can politely point out that there's more to being productive than just rising with the sun. After all, as Matthew P Walker notes, "the second mouse gets the cheese" - even if it takes a bit longer to get there.
According to Kristen Knutson, an associate professor at Northwestern University, we all have an internal biological clock that controls numerous physiological outputs. Our "chronotype", a term coined by scientists, refers to our circadian preference - whether we're naturally more alert in the morning or evening.
While it's difficult to fundamentally change your chronotype, research suggests that age plays a significant role. Teenagers often have a later chronotype, while adults tend to drift earlier as they mature. Additionally, studies have shown that children born to early-rising parents are more likely to follow suit.
But what about the notion that night owls are inherently more intelligent and creative? One study found that evening-disposition was correlated with divergent thinking strategies - in other words, more creative minds. Another 2024 paper from Imperial College London suggested that those who stay up late had superior cognitive function compared to morning larks.
However, experts caution against making definitive links between chronotype and traits like creativity or sociability. Many of these studies have limitations, such as relying on self-reported data or studying adolescents rather than adults.
So what's the verdict? It appears that our bodies are wired in a way that makes us more productive and alert at certain times of day, but it doesn't necessarily determine our intelligence or personality. Being a night owl may come with its own set of challenges, from social isolation to health problems, while early risers face their own unique issues.
One thing is clear: trying to force a routine that's at odds with your biological clock can be detrimental to your health. As Knutson notes, "circadian disruption caused by desynchrony between our internal clock and the external world" can lead to serious consequences.
If you're determined to tweak your chronotype, experts recommend using structured routines like morning light exposure, fixed mealtimes, and earlier exercise. But be warned: it's unlikely that you'll stick to these habits forever.
So the next time someone tells you that early birds catch the worm, you can politely point out that there's more to being productive than just rising with the sun. After all, as Matthew P Walker notes, "the second mouse gets the cheese" - even if it takes a bit longer to get there.
I mean, research says we cant just change who we are, but we can try to adjust to be more productive at certain times of the day which is pretty awesome. Some ppl might think being a night owl means ur more intelligent or creative, and that might be true for some people, but not everyone. Lets just agree to respect each other's sleep schedules and get along 
and they rely on self-reported data 
which is super sketchy 
. And what's with the correlation vs causation thing 
? Maybe night owls are just more creative 'cause they're introverts or something 
.
Most people are chronically sleep-deprived 
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What about adults? 
Did they account for stress, anxiety or depression when studying cognitive function? 
.
and another thing, where's the nuance in all this research? it's always "night owls are more intelligent" but what about the sociability aspect? don't people who stay up late have their own social lives too?! 
. I think the whole intelligence and creativity thing is super overrated, btw 
. And honestly, who says being a night owl is all bad? I've met so many awesome people in the middle of the night who are just as talented and interesting as anyone else 
. Like, we're not all meant to be morning larks or night owls, and that's okay! Our bodies are like, totally wired for certain things, but it doesn't mean we can't adapt or find what works best for us.
At the same time, I get it - being a night owl can come with its own set of challenges, and it's not always easy.
I mean, trying to get up at 5am every day is literally torture for me. Give me a good night of sleep and some quiet time to focus any day 
I mean think about it we're all wired differently & forcing ourselves into being super early risers just isn't going 2 work for everyone trust me i've tried 
but its def not a bad thing b4 u try 2 change ur routine btw being on time has its pros too like u get more done & feel accomplished lol
and yeah, trying to force a schedule can be super detrimental to our health 
so maybe instead of trying to change our chronotype, we should just focus on being chill and listening to our bodies 
Of course, there's still more research needed on this topic, but I think it's time to rethink the whole "early birds catch the worm" thing. After all, being a productive person has nothing to do with waking up at 5am every day. It's about finding what works for you and sticking to it. So, night owls, don't feel bad - we're not doomed to be our parents' chronotype after all! 
. Like, yeah we all have an internal clock and stuff, but can we really change who we are that easily? It seems like everyone's always trying to force a certain routine on themselves whether it's waking up at 5am or burning the midnight oil. Newsflash: it's not gonna work out for anyone in the long run 
like no one's born with a manual that says "tonight is for being creative and tomorrow is for being boring"
