Yes, yes, success does not depend on which foot you got out of bed with, but when you deigned to make your first “discovery of the century.” So says CityLab editor Eric Jaffe.
His 7 scientific discoveries about owls and larks made a splash after being published in Ideonomics, business ideas, and self-development publication.
Of course, we all believe that the division into owls and larks is very conditional, and our sleep schedule is highly dependent on the type of work, season, and so on. But, nevertheless, this classification has stood the test of time and, despite small deviations, is universal.
Even if you have to get up at 6 in the morning, but you work more productively at night, going to bed with difficulty after midnight, then you are not a lark, but an owl.
Larks versus owls: who is richer
Epidemiologists from the University of Southampton conducted a curious study in 1998, studying the evolution of the so-called larks and owls. Among the volunteers, there were 356 larks (laying down before 11, getting up before 8) and 318 owls. And scientists have found that owls earn more and are more likely to own cars than larks. But no difference was found in cognitive ability and physical health.
Larks versus owls: who is smarter
Psychologists Richard Roberts and Patrick Kyllonen decided to study the chronotype of 420 people in connection with mental abilities. Volunteers were given intelligence tests that tested proficiency, math, reading ability, working memory, and processing speed. Owls slightly outperformed larks on most measures of intelligence, but the biggest difference was in working memory and information processing. Interestingly, the results were not even affected by the fact that the tests were carried out in the morning.
Larks vs owls: who is better in bed
A 2012 study on sexual temperament is again in favor of owls. German psychologist Christoph Randler measured the chronotype and sexual behavior of 284 men. It turned out that both larks and owls have sex equally often, but owls have more partners – even after adjusting for age, extraversion, and a tendency to stay up late. But here, larks have a strong advantage for the fair sex – owls are less likely to be faithful than larks.
Larks versus owls: who doesn’t smoke or drink
Larks versus owls: who is happier
And here the lucky owls fail in the form of “social jet lag”: owls are forced, according to most schedules, to wake up early and give all the best during the day, which turns into emotional disorders. Two psychologists from the University of Toronto confirmed this by studying the chronotypes of more than 700 adults and their moods. Early risers were found to be more positive.
Larks versus owls: who is lazier
People of the “evening” type are more likely to procrastinate – they tend to explain the postponement of things by a more comfortable work schedule in the evenings. And, in general, larks are more disciplined and conformist than owls. This confirms a 1997 study led by DePaul’s Joseph Ferrari. It has been observed that owls tend to avoid completing tasks that are in front of them.
Larks versus owls: who works better
Psychologist Christoph Randler, along with colleagues in the course of the study, came to the conclusion that larks are more persistent, conscious, accommodating, proactive and collaborative.
To summarize…
If you are a lark:
- You tend to be more conscientious. “Morning people” are mostly conscientious, says the author of one large-scale study. Such people tend to be thorough and systematic, with good self-control and goal-oriented behavior.
- You are also more responsive and persistent.
- You are a provider. There is a positive correlation between getting up early and the need for achievement.
- You are probably not a procrastinator.
If you are an owl:
- You are open to everything new.
- You have more creative thinking.
- You like to take risks, but you pick up bad habits quickly. Scientists also say that your fearlessness can contribute to the development of addictions such as smoking. According to studies, owls drink more alcohol and smoke more cigarettes compared to larks.
- You have a tendency to procrastinate.