Are Night Owls Unhealthy?

no it’s not bad, as long as your body is getting rest

There's some research at the margin about shift work having some negative health correlates at a population level of analysis, but I haven't seen anything that definitively clarifies the underlying mechanism (lack of exposure to natural light, possible reduced average sleep levels because of being out of synch with other people in one's life, who knows what else might be different for shift workers, vs. just "being a night owl").

Get enough sleep, eat right, try to keep the rest of your life in good shape (beneficial social connections, exercise, get outdoors in daylight regularly when you can, etc.), and you'll do better overall health-wise than the average first-world person, I predict.

I tend to be a night owl, and have been living that way for almost 12 years of retirement so far, but did have a day job during most of adulthood. I'm 63, so it hasn't killed me yet, and I'm in good health now AFAIK.

Night owl here with a non traditional work schedule. I too have read articles about working nights not being optimal for the body / but we adapt. I typically get home after 11pm and in bed by 1- day starts around noon. Weekends don’t exist for me so I don’t know what TGIF means lol

I believe so long as we are rested - that’s what matters. IMHO.

ExistingFish wrote: »

AnnPT77 wrote: »

There's some research at the margin about shift work having some negative health correlates at a population level of analysis, but I haven't seen anything that definitively clarifies the underlying mechanism (lack of exposure to natural light, possible reduced average sleep levels because of being out of synch with other people in one's life, who knows what else might be different for shift workers, vs. just "being a night owl").

Get enough sleep, eat right, try to keep the rest of your life in good shape (beneficial social connections, exercise, get outdoors in daylight regularly when you can, etc.), and you'll do better overall health-wise than the average first-world person, I predict.

I tend to be a night owl, and have been living that way for almost 12 years of retirement so far, but did have a day job during most of adulthood. I'm 63, so it hasn't killed me yet, and I'm in good health now AFAIK.

I think one of the problems that arise with shift work is when you can't get enough rest in a solid block. If you have a spouse who works a different schedule, or you have children (school starts when school starts, and kid's wake up regardless), or you have obligations during normal working hours as well as a later shift for work, etc.

ITA. And I'd bet people working shifts also have a tough time structuring their eating/exercise and probably eat a less than optimal diet if it isn't a top priority to that individual!

OP, I would say just control what you can control. Get enough sleep, eat a well balanced diet, stay active. Even if there is some vague health drawback to working nights, you'll still probably be better off from most with a traditional schedule who aren't prioritizing their health

Pretty sure IARC classifies shift work as a probable carcinogen - class 2A.
I don't know how much, if any of it, is the disruptions in rhythms versus the timing, but it definitely looks like not having shift work is better for a number of health outcomes.

Aside from the lack of sunlight and detachment from the majority of society...no. There's no physiological rationale.

There have been a number of studies conducted on shift workers, particularly police and front line emergency service personnel where a higher number of sick days are recorded on 3rd shift, followed by 2nd, with 1st shift having the lowest number.

While there is a correlation between a lack of sleep and a myriad of health issues. There is NO correlation (generally speaking) between WHEN you sleep and your health. As long as you get enough rest, there's nothing wrong with staying up late.

I really hope it’s not unhealthy 😂 I work normal hours but for some reason just can’t sleep! I suddenly wake up in the evening and then up half the night 😩