10 Nighttime Habits Causing Insomnia & Lowering Your IQ (Psychology Fixes)

Are you a night owl struggling with insomnia and wondering why your sharp mind feels foggy? A groundbreaking 2024 study from Imperial College London shows evening types often outperform morning people in cognitive tests like reasoning and memory—but only if bad habits aren't sabotaging you. In this video, psychology and neuroscience reveal 10 nighttime behaviors fueling your sleep issues and lowering your IQ, plus evidence-based fixes to reclaim your edge without forcing a schedule change.

Discover how chronic sleep neglect rivals alcohol impairment (Van Dongen study) and why doom scrolling wrecks your brain's default mode network. Break the cycle and optimize your nocturnal biology for better focus, creativity, and rest.

Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro: Night Owls' Hidden Cognitive Advantage
1:19 - Habit 1: Chronic Sleep Neglect
2:26 - Habit 2: Avoiding Time Alone with Thoughts
3:45 - Habit 3: Doom Scrolling Before Bed
4:56 - Habit 4: Reaching for Your Phone at Night
6:08 - Habit 5: Rigid Obsession with Perfect Sleep
7:22 - Habit 6: Magical Thinking and Sleep Superstitions
8:27 - Habit 7: Thinking You Can Outsmart Biology
9:37 - Habit 8: Ignoring Your Body's Signals
10:43 - Habit 9: Emotional Reactivity to Thoughts
11:59 - Habit 10: Blindly Following Viral Trends
13:24 - Conclusion: Audit Your Habits & Unlock Potential

📚 Sources:
Imperial College London (2024): Night owls & mental sharpness
Van Dongen et al. (2003): Sleep deprivation vs. alcohol
Cajochen et al. (2011): Blue light & melatonin
Kruger & Dunning (1999): Dunning-Kruger Effect
CBT-I Guidelines for Insomnia

⚠️ Disclaimer: Educational content only—not medical advice. Consult a professional for sleep disorders.
🔔 Subscribe to Nocturnal Mind for more psychology-backed tips on thriving as a night owl. Which habit hits home? Comment below, like if it helped, and share with a fellow insomniac!

#Insomnia #NightOwl #SleepHacks #Psychology #Neuroscience #HighIQ #CognitiveHealth #SleepPsychology #BrainHealth #InsomniaFix