Night owls and early birds have different personality traits

CBS News ^ | July 24, 2014 | CBS News

[Dallas59]

Whether you are an early bird or a night owl may not only determine when you prefer to sleep -- it can also affect your personality and quality of life. And it looks like night owls may have it tougher when it comes to their overall well-being and functioning in a predominantly 9-to-5 world.

In a recent study, researchers at the University of Barcelona, Spain, compared "morning people," those early birds who like to get up at dawn, and "evening people," night owls who prefer to stay up late and sleep in. Among the differences they found is that morning people tend to be more persistent. Morning types are also more resistant to fatigue, frustration and difficulties, which often translates into lower levels of anxiety and lower rates of depression, higher life satisfaction and less likelihood of substance abuse.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

In reading the works of HOMER, I noticed quite a few mentions of “Light, rosy fingered dawn”. Didn’t those people have TV to keep them up till midnight? ;-)

[PUGACHEV]

Being a night owl myself since early childhod, I’ve come to think that it is a personality trait with a definite genetic origin. Maybe it goes back to a time when humans existed in small bands of fifty people or so. There would always need to be some few who were comfortable staying up late to guard the cave entrance or the campsite. They were the night watch.

[super7man]

Nothing good happens after midnight. ;o)

[PUGACHEV]

"In reading the works of HOMER, I noticed quite a few mentions of “Light, rosy fingered dawn”. Didn’t those people have TV to keep them up till midnight.

Apparently, it did not take the invention of television to distract people into staying up past midnight. Look at "A Modern Midnight Conversation" by William Hogarth from 1730.

[Cementjungle]

I was always a night owl, and it was a struggle. Most of my career I worked on big software projects, and I normally stayed up until 2:00 AM working on work-related stuff from home. I was generally on call for things as well, and since we had offices (my last job at least) around the world, so I could get calls any time of day or night (weekends included).

In my early years I would set 2 alarm clocks, and for a number of years I had the mainframe programmed to call me as a backup alarm. Sometime even that didn't work.

Occasionally my bosses tried to give me grief about rolling into the office at 9:30 or 10:00, but they couldn't change my ways. Fortunately I was always able to get everyone at work to adjust to my schedule, and I got to finish out my career doing things my way.

[MortMan]

And it looks like night owls may have it tougher when it comes to their overall well-being and functioning in a predominantly 9-to-5 world.

It's all SOCIETY'S fault!!!!!! /sarc

[Flycatcher]

If you don’t mind my asking, how do you get to log so much time in the wild?

I'm a field biologist. I conduct bird surveys in spring/summer and then botany surveys in summer/fall.

But in winter I'm home doing data entry! And, yes, it's great to be home with the wife!!

[PistolPaknMama]

LOL!!

[Flycatcher]

Your post is so true! Our electronic gadgets (particularly TV) really do change our natural sleeping habits. Now that I’m home, I find myself getting a little soft too. I didn’t get up until dawn today! Getting lazy!

[Exit148]

I have this pasted on my computer:

“The Internet is in direct contradiction with bedtime. One of them has to give.”

I used to be a morning person. And then came the Internet. Sigh.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Among the differences they found is that morning people tend to be more persistent. Morning types are also more resistant to fatigue, frustration and difficulties, which often translates into lower levels of anxiety and lower rates of depression, higher life satisfaction and less likelihood of substance abuse.

So...according to this study, night owls are inconstant and weak, tire easily, easily frustrated and stymied, anxious and depressed.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

In very short order in the wilderness, you go to bed the moment the sun sets.

Sun goes down, pants go down. Sun goes up, pants go up.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

They were the night watch.

"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Who watches the watchmen?

[Exit148]

I was trying to remember the wording of the bedtime/computer contradiction, when I posted from my iPhone. Here is the exact wording:

“The concept of bedtime is entirely in contradiction with the concept of modern day computing. One of them has got to give.”

[Georgia Girl 2]

I’m a night owl and Mr. GG2 is an early riser. He gets out of bed and then I hear him in the kitchen chatting with the dog and singing a little song as he makes his cereal. I groan and go back to sleep for 2 more hours. :-)

[Politicalkiddo]

What are you talking about? I usually finish books around 4AM. ;) If that’s not good, I don’t know what is.

[SaraJohnson]

I’ve been both throughout my life.

Since I have been self employed for most of my working life, unless I have an appointment or deadline, it does not matter when I work and sleep. When I had young children, I had to be early to sleep and early to rise.

But what works best for me is to work when I get spurts or explosions of creative energy - day or night - and sleep when my mind is clam and my body tired.

[ladyjane]

Nothing good happens after midnight. ;o)

Better not post anything like that on a Friday or a Saturday night here on FR. Weekends are challenging for singles. LOL