Lifestyle — Why People Who Stay Up Later Are Usually Smarter
by Rebecca Jones

"It is one of life's bitterest truths that bedtime so often arrives just when things are really getting interesting." -- Lemony Snicket

For those of us who find it difficult working during the scheduled nine to five workday and who often come across our best ideas at night, you're in luck.

In recent years, there have been several academic studies suggesting night owls are often more intelligent than those who wake up early.

The night has a special energy to it that only those with the stamina to stay up get to enjoy. If you're like me, your best ideas come when the distractions of the day are gone.

Your roommates are asleep, which means you get the place to yourself, and your mother is asleep, which means you aren't interrupted by her incessant texts. Your co-workers aren't bugging you about a project, and you have solid time to yourself, something many of us don't have enough of.

As the world gets quieter, your thoughts get more interesting. According to a study done by Italian researchers at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, those who work during the night are usually more creative thinkers.

After categorizing each person as a night, morning or intermediate type, they put 120 men and women of varying ages through a series of tests. They found night types tended to score higher in originality. They also found that age wasn't a factor, which is great news for all of us.

While you can reap many benefits from living a more nocturnal lifestyle, there are some major downsides. Night owls often procrastinate more, are more likely to experience depression and are reportedly more likely to be psychopaths. That's why it's important to get at least 7 hours of sleep every day to combat those negative side effects of living on a more unusual schedule.

For more on the benefits of staying up late, watch the video above, and if you're a night owl yourself, get ready to feel affirmed.

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Citations: Night owls are more creative (ABC), Study: Night Owls Who Stay Up Late More Likely Depressed (Bustle), Are You Getting Enough Sleep? (WebMD)