Night Wolf : By Choice or Chronotype?

The clock strikes 1 AM. Here I sit, staring at my laptop, fueled by the belief that discipline is the key to greatness. But earlier today, someone casually dropped this gem: the best time to write is at 5 or 6 AM because the mind is freshest.

Now, I can’t help but wonder—am I on the path to greatness, or just chronically misaligned with the universe’s schedule?

Indian culture holds Brahma Muhurta—or Amrit Vela, if you prefer—in high regard, urging us to rise with the sun. The early hours are said to bring clarity, focus, and a divine sense of purpose.

But ever since I was a child, I’ve always found my focus sharpest in the silence of the night. Because let’s be honest, no matter how early I wake up in an Indian household, even at 5 AM, I’ll still bump into a family member who’s already up at 4:30, ready with 10 questions.

As I grew older, and the pressure around me grew—how I was wasting away my life—I tried to become a morning person. Spoiler alert: I failed miserably every single time. 

Then, I did what any sane person would do—I Googled, "Why am I like this?" And Google delivered. Turns out, there's actual science behind it—my moonlit productivity isn’t a bad habit; it’s wired into my biology and determined by my chronotype.

A chronotype is your body’s natural inclination to sleep and wake at certain times. You’ve probably heard it casually referred to as being an early bird or a night owl.

There are four sleep chronotypes:

The Lion – The early riser who’s ready to rule the world at 5 AM, crushing their to-do list before you’ve had your coffee, and probably snoozing by the time you’re on your third task.

The Bear – Sleeps when it’s dark, wakes up when it’s light, and crashes like a panda post-lunch.

The Wolf – They stay up late, binge-watch shows, scroll endlessly, and despise mornings with a passion. If you hit snooze 27 times and can’t function before 11 AM, you’re most likely a wolf.

The Dolphin – Sleep rebels who overthink at 3 AM, wake up randomly, and function in pure chaos.

Now it all makes sense—I’m a wolf. No wonder I’m obsessed with the moon. My Instagram bio even says "selenophile" (don’t judge me). The quiet of the night, the fact that no one’s watching, texting, calling, or expecting a reply—that’s what makes the night the most productive time.

Moral of the Story: If you're a wolf, stop trying to roar like a lion.