How Does Night Owls vs Morning Larks Work?

Night owls and morning larks are like two types of clocks inside your body, one says "sleep now," and the other says "wake up now." Some people’s clocks tick faster in the evening, so they're more like night owls, who love staying up late. Others’ clocks tick faster in the morning, making them morning larks, who jump out of bed as soon as the sun shines.

Imagine your body has a tiny timer that tells you when to feel sleepy and when to feel energetic. This timer is called your internal clock or circadian rhythm. It’s like having a friend who reminds you, "Time for bed!" at night and "Time to go!" in the morning.

• If your body's timer says "Time for bed!" late at night, you're probably a night owl.
• If it says "Time to go!" right when the sun comes up, you're more of a morning lark.

Just like some kids get excited when they see their favorite toy, some people get excited by the idea of staying up late, and that’s totally normal!