Abhinav Shrivastava, the admitted night owl, is at his best when the world is sleeping. He, too, has fully embraced the nocturnal life, channeling a newfound productivity and creativity in the dark, witching hours of the night. Research suggests that approximately 16 percent of the population shares this inclination, with many nodding off between 2:30 AM and 7 AM. This article looks at the lives of night owls, such as Shrivastava, their inborn temperaments, and the social obstacles they encounter.
Shrivastava enjoyed the night, drawing from his uncles. Unique among professionals, as photojournalists they flourished during the magic hour—the stillness of the hour after dark. This familial tie to night work continues to inform the way he sees himself today. While his parents — both early risers and academics — woke at 4 AM to begin their days, Shrivastava takes pride in his internal clock, which often keeps him awake until dawn.
The Science Behind Night Owls
As any sleep experts can tell you, some people are jackknifed to be night owls. Melbourne sleep physician Dr. David Cunnington reckons only one-in-1,000 people are truly biologically geared to be nocturnal. Not surprisingly, he notes, most people have a hard time transitioning back to a day-oriented schedule. Stress, depression, and trauma can complicate this adaptation, sometimes greatly increasing the barrier to adjustment.
“When people don’t respond to treatment, very often it is because of other factors,” – Dr. David Cunnington
Our research, and other work, has revealed biological factors play a dominant role in determining who is a night owl. These traits, along with other factors, determine sleep preferences. A study conducted by our own Professor Shantha Rajaratnam with 116 night owls uncovered specific biological markers that play a role in this inclination.
According to Professor Rajaratnam, the typical circadian period length in healthy human adults is about 24.2 hours. A small percentage of people will have a length of cycle of 24.5 hours, or even as short at 24.8 hours. Their clock is working to make it later and later.
“Sleep just hasn’t been prioritized until very recently,” says Dr. Junge. He argues that society should change to be more friendly to night owls.
Living by the Body Clock
For mathematician Abhinav Shrivastava, university life turned out to be a radicalizing experience. He wrote without obstruction, just him in the flow capitalizing on his homegrown energy. It’s a boon for a radical like him, who loves living and working deep into the night. His dog, Cosmo, ensures he gets started bright and early at 6 AM, usually waking him in the afternoons.
Curatorial Assistant Rosemary Joyce considers herself one of the night owls. This stubbornness started as a child, when she notoriously had a hard time waking up for school. Staying true to her circadian rhythm in every aspect of her life has undeniably changed her overall happiness.
“A lot of people who work in sleep tend to have some form of sleep disorder or another,” – Rosemary Joyce
Joyce’s experience reflects a broader trend among night owls: the challenge of fitting into a predominantly early-bird society. Dr. Cunnington acknowledges that she estimates that up to 20 percent of the population in Western societies take on irregular working hours. This change opens up new worlds to night owls, whose productivity often peaks after dark.
The Impact of Modern Life
While the advent of tech has eroded many of the advantages that night owls once enjoyed, it’s opened up new opportunities. Increased screen time, Professor Rajaratnam cautions, could unwittingly produce many more night owls. As we all have different sensitivities to light, individuals can more or less readily shift their internal clocks.
“There are 50-fold differences in people’s sensitivity to light, so some people can be shifted to an earlier time zone with less light than others,” – Professor Shantha Rajaratnam
As society evolves with technology, many night owls argue for greater flexibility in work and school schedules to accommodate their natural tendencies. Dr. Junge is a passionate and vocal advocate for the calls to action. She argues that acceptance of our night owls as commonplace can help us shift toward healthier lifestyles.
“We may be creating more night owls,” – Professor Shantha Rajaratnam
