We are all morning or evening people. Scientists have established that our genes dictate around half of what they call our “chronotypes” — our natural preference for certain times of the day.I'm pretty much a morning person. I get up early and get going on things, and that works out well when I have to get up early for a trip or other activities.
Evolution has produced a range of humans capable of being alert to danger at every hour of the day. Our experience confirms these findings. We all know people who love to be at work bright and early, with a cup of coffee to hand and decisions to make, and others who would rather stumble through the day until reaching a state of relaxed clarity around dusk, when their minds are purring.
The problem is that those with the genetic gift of “morning-ness” tend to be more highly rewarded. Morning-ness is perceived as a sign of activity and zest, whereas evening-ness implies laziness and loafing. How often did we have to see David Cameron on one of his early-morning runs to get the idea that here was a leader of potency and vigour? How different would it have been if he slunk out of bed to work, then exercised at around 8pm? Could a Prime Minister be elected today who worked like Churchill, reading, writing and thinking in bed before getting out of it at noon?
History is full of great bores praising the virtues of early rising, but few have made the case for letting the day drift by until you kick into gear around happy hour.
Yet the research continues to mount, arguing that evening people have qualities which should be nurtured. They tend to be more creative, intelligent, humorous and extroverted. They are the balance to morning people, who are said to be more optimistic, proactive and conscientious.
My music work used to require a lot of late nights, which I could handle okay in my younger days, but not so much anymore. I start dragging if things go on too long.
I guess my creative self is getting old.
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I have known for a long time that the world favors early risers. When I was young, for instance, I took the SAT tests at the usual test hour, at the crack of dawn as it seemed, and with my test results I could not have run for public office even as a Republican.
One can be brilliant, but how on earth is one supposed to master a test when half asleep? And the test itself is DESIGNED by morning people. They think differently. They notice all the morning things, qualities of life in this universe that I know chiefly by report.
Nevertheless, I was ambi-chromatic last night. Faced with a boring task I shall not relate here, I stayed up all night long. I saw the dawn (very pretty) and heard birds singing at the appointed hour (quite mellifluous).
And now, well at 3:33 pm the next day EST, I am wasted.
Should I and others like me insist that the Supreme Court nominees reflect the sensibilities of our race?? Should we tip the Court in favor of the Night Owl segment of America?
Perhaps it's time, but I'll wager that Ms. Kagan regularly greets the dawn... and that tyranny will continue unabated.
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