The primary factor in the physiology that underlies our early bird and night owl behaviours is the circadian rhythm of body temperature. Though we usually assume that body temperature is constant except when we are ill, it, in fact, cycles approximately 1o C every 24 hours. It is highest during the day and lowest […]

Goes to bed at 12:30 a.m. or later Prefers to get up in the morning at 10:00 a.m. or later Takes a long time getting out of bed – wakes very slowly – is grouchy when required to get out of bed earlier than preferred Isn’t alert for some time after getting out of bed […]

“A person thinks that (early birds) are energetic and virtuous. And probably a pain! There’s nothing more infuriating then when somebody tells you that they got up at 4:30 (in the morning) and they exercised and they did this and they did that. It’s just irritating to a night person to hear that. I think […]

“When I think about night owls, I think that they’re party people – that they always want to be out and partying. I also wonder how they can manage on so few hours sleep because in most cases they are working and you’d be up until 2 or 3 in the morning and you still […]

Few large scale population studies have been done to accurately determine exactly what percentage of the general population has night owl, early bird or intermediate characteristics. Dr. Richard Coleman, a chronobiologist who has worked extensively in developing shift and night work schedules, maintains that only about 10 percent of the population are extreme owls or […]

Most people believe that night owl behavior is the result of a personality trait. You must be lazy or irresponsible or undisciplined. This is a misconception. Night owls may, in fact, demonstrate the traits noted, but these are not the reason for their night owl schedule preference. Night owls are night owls because they were […]