It’s pretty likely that I will always be a night owl.  I’ve gotten to a point where I can go to bed relatively early {11-ish} and wake up relatively early {7-ish} so my night owl ways aren’t getting in the way of life.

Even as a kid my mom {who is a true-blue morning person} would, on occasion, have to call it a night before me.  When I was older and had to study, write papers, or clean my room it would be late into the evening once I hit my stride {or even started}. I’ve just always had my own inner clock and it’s not always been in sync with those around me, but as I’ve gotten older it has balanced out.

Turns out there is plenty of research and advice on the subject: one study cited on NPR says specific genes identified in our brains are what drive our internal clock; another article from Psychology Today says people tend to have internal clocks that depend on what season they were born in; an article from Harvard Medical School explains the various factors {including genetics} that affect our wakefulness and sleep cycle.  There is an article on the USA Today website that gives suggestions for becoming more of a morning person, a.k.a a “lark.”{This site even throws in a “hummingbird” as a third “chronotype” of person}.  I’ve decided that in the end~ regardless of genetics, daily routine, physiological need for sleep, brain activity, or what you want~ it’s wise to listen to your body and stick with your clock.  Wise like an owl. {wink, wink.}

Are you a night owl, or a morning person?  Did you find that you used to be one and now you’re the other?