Tuesday, January 6th, 2009...12:30 am
Embracing the Night Owl
I am not a morning person. I have never been a morning person. I dread getting up in the morning because often it comes with grogginess and sometimes pain. I know of people who can jump right out of bed the second their alarm goes off. Not me. The sound of my alarm buzzing makes me feel like committing first degree murder of my alarm clock. I can never “jump” out of bed. I typically have to lie in bed for half an hour to an hour waiting for my brain to catch up to my body. Then, after rising, I will often stumble around the apartment, cursing the furniture and the cat under my breath. However, for some reason, the worst part of waking up is how the people in my life react to the hour I actually do arise. I have often been told that I never go to bed “at a decent hour” and that I get up long after “the rest of the world.” This has always made the waking up process even more grumpy. Then, I found this article presented by Wired Magazine called “3 Smart Things About Sleeping Late.” After reading this, my first thought was “Finally! Science backs up my late night/late morning habits!”
My sleep schedule may not fit the “norm” – whatever that may be, but it works for me. At night is the time that I become the most clear, calm, creative, and even happy. The city streets outside become quiet, the apartment becomes still, and I can have “me time.” What I love most about that article is that it suggests that creative types are more prone to be Night Owls. I can totally see this as being true. Most of the crowd I run with love the "night life" just as much as I do. And not a single one of us is a morning person.
So, although I may not fit what others deem as “reasonable” – I now feel justified enough to embrace my inner Night Owl. Hoot on my friends! Sleep will find you when you are ready. And if you’d like to do yourself a favor – kill that stupid alarm clock!
We are total opposites (except in humor – we’re both kinda warped)! I function best in the morning, and I mean “morning”! Like about 2:30 am, which is when I’m writing this! I start work about 3 and I’m totally catatonic by 4 or 5 pm. I catch a lot of “What!?” and “You’re crazy!” for it, but that’s just how I’m wired. I, personally, think a person should know what works best for them and work with it, if you can! You know when you’re most productive, so it doesn’t matter if anyone else get’s it, or not! Have a nice sleep!
I used to stay up really late (4-5am) and wake up between 9-10am, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve started going to bed earlier (10-11p) and waking up much, much earlier in the morning (4a). I trick my body into thinking I’ve stayed up late with the benefit of getting some decent sleep beforehand. I end up being more productive in the early morning hours because I don’t have to deal with the distractions that typically come during normal operating hours.
We’re all different. We all sleep differently. You’ve got to do what works for you.
I’m with you all the way, I hate the mornings. I’d much rather work thru the entire night and get way more done than have to get up early and try to force my brain into gear.
[...] name: Design by Firgs Blog URL:http://designbyfirgs.com/blog/ Content samples, Embracing the night owl On the forth day of Christmas – Scan lines texture for download On the ninth day of Christmas – [...]
[...] name: Design by Firgs Blog URL:http://designbyfirgs.com/blog/ Content samples, Embracing the night owl On the forth day of Christmas – Scan lines texture for download On the ninth day of Christmas – [...]
I wrote a post on a past generation of my blog much like this a few years ago. I’ve got diagnosablyno less than three sleep disorders, and what you’re describing is “delayed sleep phase onset.” Everyone else calls it a disorder; you probably call it a way of life that works quite well for you. I’ll look for my post in old backups and Twitter it to you. — @billifer