There’s this idea floating around that successful people wake up at 5am, crush a workout, journal, and meditate before most people even open their eyes. And if you can’t do that — if you’re basically a zombie before 10am — the assumption is that you just need more discipline.
That’s not really how it works.
Your chronotype — whether you naturally lean toward mornings or evenings — is a complex trait shaped by multiple genes. It’s not one magic gene, either. Researchers have identified dozens of genetic variants linked to whether you tend to rise early or stay up late. Some of those genes, including ones with circadian (your body’s internal clock) roles, show up in large-scale studies — though scientists are still working out exactly which ones are most important. This isn’t a small thing — one genetic study from Massachusetts General Hospital involved nearly 700,000 people and found that chronotype influences mental and physical health in real ways.
What does this actually mean for you? It means the time of day when you feel sharpest, most focused, and most capable isn’t random — and it’s not something you can just willpower your way out of. If you’re an evening person forced to do your hardest homework at 7am, you’re working against your own biology. Flip that, and you’re working with it.
Environment does play a real role — things like season, where you live, and whether you’re in an urban area can nudge your rhythms. But the underlying preference? Research suggests it’s substantially shaped by genetics, even if it’s not entirely fixed.
So the practical move is simple: figure out when you actually feel mentally sharp — not when you’re told you should — and protect that time for your hardest tasks. Save the easy, low-brain stuff for when you’re running on fumes. It won’t make every day perfect, but it’ll make a real difference.