The debate between night owls vs early birds has been around for centuries, and can be one of the biggest causes of relationship conflict. After all, there’s nothing worse for an early bird than seeing half the day wasted before their partner gets out of bed – and conversely, for a night owl to be woken up by a bright and chirpy person who seems to go to bed far too early.

While different people hold their opinions over whether it’s better to be an early bird or a night owl, science offers a different take. Recent research suggests that your chronotype – the time of day when your brain is sharpest – may depend on when you were born, or even on your genes.

Poll Results: Are You a Night Owl or Early Bird Personality?

But before we go into that, let's look at the result of our poll: "Are you more productive in the morning or at night?"

% who answered NIGHT:

• ESFJ - 16
• ESFP - 32
• ESTJ - 35
• ENFJ - 38
• ISFJ - 38
• ENTJ - 40
• ISTJ - 42
• ENFP - 52
• ISFP - 59
• ESTP - 59
• INFJ - 62
• INTJ - 63
• ENTP - 63
• ISTP - 67
• INFP - 69
• INTP - 84

Among the poll respondents, INTPs emerged as the most likely to be night persons, whereas ESFJs are likely to be up with the sun! If you'd like to partake in our next poll, follow our Instagram @bootheapp.

If you're a night owl, you may relate that you can focus better late at night. And if you're an early bird, you may be more productive in the morning.

Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. Some people are naturally wired to be productive at all hours. But it's worth considering when your brain will likely be at its best if you're trying to optimize your productivity.

Morning or Night Person: What Time Of Day Is Your Brain Sharpest?

Daniel Pink, the author of When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, argues that there are three types of people in the world: morning people, night people, and those in-betweeners.

Larks wake up early and are most productive in the morning. Owls stay up late and are more productive at night. And in-betweeners – well, they're somewhere in the middle. Research shows that morningness is more common in women than in men, and also in older people. In fact, while less than 1 in 4 people under 30 describe themselves as a morning person, two-thirds of people over 60 prefer to get up in the morning.

Morning person personality

There's nothing quite like waking up early and getting a jump on the day. Morning people tend to be more energetic and productive, and they often find that they can accomplish more in the morning than they can later in the day. But what exactly is it that makes a morning person? Studies have shown that certain personality traits are more common among morning people. For one, morning people tend to be more extroverted and outgoing than those who prefer to sleep in. They are also often known for being cheerful and upbeat, ready to take on the day as soon as they wake up.

They're also generally more organized and disciplined, which helps them to make the most of their mornings. They tend to be efficient and generally prefer to stick to set routines. Finally, morning people tend to be optimistic, which means they're less likely to let the stresses of the day get them down. If you're a morning person, you probably recognize some of these traits in yourself. And if you're not a morning person –well, maybe it's time to start waking up early and seeing what all the fuss is about!

Night person personality

Night people, on the other hand, tend to be more creative and relaxed. They often enjoy staying up late and sleeping in, and they may find that their best ideas come to them when the rest of the world is asleep. Night people are also the most likely to benefit from flexi-time arrangements with work. One study found that, while early birds like to start working around 8 am, night owls come into their productive time of day around 1 pm.

Night people are also often quite independent. They may prefer to work on their own projects or pursue their own interests rather than conform to societal norms. Some scientists even think that night owls are inherently more intelligent than early birds. They tend to be very intuitive. They may be able to sense things that others miss, and often have a strong gut feeling about something. So if you're a night person, don't be afraid to embrace your unique gifts!

What does science have to say?

As it turns out, there's some science to back up Pink's claim. One study found a close correlation between the time you were born (daytime or nighttime) and whether you naturally identify as a morning person or a night person. Their conclusion was that circadian rhythms might imprint in those first few hours of life, setting the trend for decades to come.

However, recent research has identified another driving factor for whether you are a morning person or a night owl: your genes. A 2016 Nature study has found 15 separate genes that are more prevalent in morning people. Seven of these genes are located near genes that control our circadian rhythms and sleep-wake cycles, suggesting that the genes controlling when we fall asleep may be inherited along with genes that code for the "early bird" personality traits.

So if you've always wondered why you can't function without that first cup of coffee in the morning or why you find yourself wide awake long after everyone else has gone to bed, it might just be in your DNA.

The biological differences between night owls vs early birds don't stop there. Physiologists have identified several physical changes in our bodies that gear us up for engaging with the world each day, including an increase in body temperature, and the ability to notice sights and sounds happening around us. These changes occur at different times for early birds and night owls, which explains why early birds can jump out of bed ready for the day, while night owls can quite literally not hear what you said to them if it's too early in the day.

Apart from your genetics, there are a few reasons why your brain might work better at night. One possibility is that your brain is less distracted by external stimuli at night, which gives it a chance to focus more on internal tasks. Additionally, your brain can access memories and information more effectively during the quieter nighttime hours.

Another explanation for why your brain might work better at night is less competition for resources. During the day, your brain competes with other organs for energy and oxygen. But at night, when those other organs are resting, your brain can allocate more resources towards functioning.

Whatever the reason, it's clear that our brains are designed to function differently at different times of the day. So if you're looking to optimize your productivity, it's crucial to take into account your natural rhythms and schedules.

What are some tips for being productive at night?

If you find that you're most productive at night, there are a few things you can do to make the most of those hours.

• First, try to create a quiet and distraction-free environment for yourself. This will help your brain to focus on the task at hand.
• Second, make sure you're well-rested before you start working. This will help to ensure that your brain is functioning at its best.
• Third, take breaks as needed. Getting up and moving around will help to keep your energy levels up and prevent you from getting too bogged down.
• Fourth, try to avoid working for more than a few hours at a time. Our brains can only focus for so long before they start to tire. So if you want to maintain your productivity, it's important to take breaks and give yourself time to rest.

Of course, everyone is different, and you may find that you work better under other conditions. But if you're looking for a starting point, these tips can help you to make the most of your nighttime hours.

Disadvantages of being a night owl

There's a reason why parents have always been telling their kids to go to bed early – it turns out that there are some real benefits to getting a good night's sleep:

• According to a study of 669 people in 2017, people who stay up late tend to be less conscientious and more impulsive than those who go to bed earlier.
• Because of our diurnal society, night owls are at risk of not getting enough sleep before school and work, which can lead to health problems. These can include insomnia, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. If you are a night owl, it is important to take steps to protect your health by maintaining a regular sleep schedule and eating a healthy diet.
• They're also more likely to have lower grades and be absent from work or school more often. So if you're looking for a way to improve your grades or performance at work, one of the best things you can do is make sure you're getting enough sleep.
• If you’re in a relationship with a morning person, you may both experience more conflict and lower relationship satisfaction than if you were in a relationship with someone of the same chronotype. However, there is a silver lining: new studies have also demonstrated that if you can make this mis-matched partnership work, the relationship will be stronger and more resilient in the long-term.

How to Make the Most of Your Natural Early Bird or Night Owl Tendencies

So, what does this all mean for you? If you're a morning person, you should try to schedule your most important tasks for the morning hours. If you're an owl, you should save your brainpower for the evening. And if you're in-betweeners, you should try to find a balance between the two.

What time of day you find most productive may also come down to trial and error. By experimenting with different schedules, you can find the best time for you and your brain. There is no magic formula that will work for everyone, so it's important to experiment to find what works best for you. If you're unsure where to start, try getting up an hour earlier and see how you feel. If that doesn't work, try staying up an hour later. Just remember to be patient and give yourself time to adjust to any new schedule. With a little trial and error, you'll eventually find the perfect time of day for you.

Night owls and early birds both have their strengths and weaknesses. However, you can use this knowledge to your advantage by studying during the time of day when your brain is working its best. What time of day do you work best?