Research has shown that night owls can remain focused on tasks longer and better than their morning counterparts.
A study conducted by the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan showed that those with a tendency for staying up late exhibited more creativity.
According to reaction tests by AsapScience, one hour after waking, early birds and night owls perform equally. Ten hours after waking, however, night owls perform significantly better than morning people in similar tests.
Night owls tend to be more prone to a general sense of mental instability, where depression is the most common trait. This is often due to a phenomenon called social jet lag, when your biological needs don’t match with societal norms.
With fewer activities at night, you can spend your time bonding with other night owls, be it by bouncing off ideas with each other or diving deep into personal talks.
A big disadvantage for night owls is that family and social life gets disrupted. This is basically because they're following a routine that's the complete opposite.
A night owl might be exhausted from the night before, and struggles to think of ideas the next day. They might stare blankly at a screen or canvas, unable to harness their creative potential.
Morning people might hit the ground running early, but they are also more likely to mentally tire sooner than those that head for bed late at night, staying mentally alert for longer.
Though both night owls and early birds perform similarly toward the beginning of their work days, night owls are able to stay productive for longer.
A study from the University of Madrid tested the various skills of 1,000 teenagers, and found that those considered to be night owls scored the highest on the inductive reasoning portions of the test. Inductive reasoning is a way of thinking that creates conclusions based upon a group of true facts.
Every sigh and footstep gets amplified. You don’t want to wake up your roommates or family members when heading to the kitchen for a midnight snack.
As the brain is programmed to sleep at night, when that gets disturbed or changed it will make the body feel tired. This can lead to stress and irregular heartbeats. Working late on a computer can also lead to eyestrain.
The night can be lonely, especially if friends and family are early birds. There might be things to share, but that has to wait for at least another eight hours.
For night owl parents, their circadian rhythm might be the strength they didn’t anticipate, especially when dealing with newborns at night. Night owl tendencies will also prove to be an asset later in parenthood, when illness and other demands of the child strike.
This might sound counter-intuitive, as some would argue that sleep accomplishes this goal more effectively. But for a night owl, they need to unwind before bed, be it by reading or doing a late night yoga.
While the early risers are ready to call it a night, the fun continues for night owls, as they likely have the energy to meet friends late into the evening.
There has been extensive research done on the intelligence of late risers. A study at the London School of Economics and Political Science found that the brightest students had both later bedtimes and wake times, while those students with low-to-average intellectual ability went to bed earlier and had an earlier wake-up as well.
As the streets are empty and social media slows down, late nights are the perfect time to unwind with a book or catch up on some work.
If you're a night owl who's feeling a bit too tired, try to stick to the same sleep schedule, even on weekends and days off. Also, consider how technology is affecting your sleep cycle.
Sources: (Healthline) (The Healthy) (Insider)
One study from the University of Alberta tested the leg strength of night owls and early birds at different times throughout the day. It found that the strength of morning people remained stable throughout the day, while night owls showed a burst of strength in the evening.
While freelancing night owls enjoy the quiet hours of darkened solitude that allow them to do their work in peace, they’re not so lucky when it comes to nonwork activities, especially if they have to deal with things that are not on their schedule.
Night owls may adapt, but at the expense of their comfort. And even if they can function, it won't be at a peak performance. Be ready with plenty of coffee!
When it comes to work, night owls can meet urgent, early morning deadlines without having to wake up first thing in the morning.
First things first, a night owl is someone who naturally stays up late and feels their best later in the day. They have a hard time staying alert during the day, and have generally more energy at night.
When it comes to work for a freelancing night owl, they get a lot more done without all the daytime distractions. They can also take on more jobs, as they'll be working for longer hours.
As the world runs around a morning person’s schedule, night owls welcome changes in their usual habit to accommodate this lifestyle.
Night owls wake up early when they have to, so on a day off they tend to spend an extra hour or two (or four...) in bed. So breakfast dates and morning hikes are a foreign concept!
There are two kinds of people in this world: the early birds, and the night owls. And while early birds get the more positive rep, night owls have their own distinct advantages as well.
Want to discover the pros and cons of being a night owl? Then check out this gallery!
Staying awake well into the night and having to wake up early for work can be a big issue for nigh owls, which can put them at risk of sleep deprivation.
Pros and cons of being a night owl
Do you know the advantages and disadvantages?
LIFESTYLE Habits
There are two kinds of people in this world: the early birds, and the night owls. And while early birds get the more positive rep, night owls have their own distinct advantages as well.
Want to discover the pros and cons of being a night owl? Then check out this gallery!