Why Being An Early Riser Isn't For Everyone

[James81]

Originally Posted by ssandra

Maybe being emotionally unstable has something to do with the amount of daylight that night people are getting?

Here's a little something to think about:

Vitamin D and Depression

Currently, the only known source of vitamin D is exposure to sunlight.

[elucidate]

Are you sure? I could swear I saw D on vitamin supplement containers?

Originally Posted by James81

Here's a little something to think about:

Vitamin D and Depression

Currently, the only known source of vitamin D is exposure to sunlight.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by elucidate

Are you sure? I could swear I saw D on vitamin supplement containers?

Maybe...

But I do think that there is more to sunlight then just vitamin D. I believe that there is something fundamental "alive" about being in the sun or at least daylight.

I know that for me personally it does work. When I'm not in daylight for a while I feel bad and the second I set foot out of the door, that changes and I feel good again. Maybe power of suggestion, maybe something more

[Tanja]

Originally Posted by ssandra

Maybe...

But I do think that there is more to sunlight then just vitamin D. I believe that there is something fundamental "alive" about being in the sun or at least daylight.

I know that for me personally it does work. When I'm not in daylight for a while I feel bad and the second I set foot out of the door, that changes and I feel good again. Maybe power of suggestion, maybe something more

I'm the same.
We've had some lousy weather over here, this time last year it was sunny and warm, but so far this year it's been colder and cloudier weather than usual and I've had enough of it
And I've noticed that a longer ''sunless'' period affects me too.
Today has been one of the first sunnier days and I feel full of energy and just willing to do stuff

[Wispsy]

Do you happen to know this evidence?

[MW11]

Originally Posted by KaleidoskopicVision

It is just a half hour after 12pm as I start typing this post. This time of night, many people are fast asleep or trying to stay up and finish some important task......... My name is John and I am a night person.

There are many of us, including me. We're a minority, and we experience discrimination many-many times! Who do you think invented the "9 to 5" routine? Or the "8 to 4" routine? The early risers!

One problem is the early risers, and the fact that they're the ones on the high moral ground.

Another problem is that we, night people, are in the habit of not turning off our lights at 10 p.m. Probably because we know how much more we enjoy the night than we enjoy the day.

Another problem is that we, night people, are often in the habit of hiding indoors. This means our circadian rhythm is in a rut that never gets reset.

One explanation is that many of us are also Highly Sensitive People (HSP), and HSPs need up to 6 additional hours to decompress after the dust settled, and the others are already in bed.

One other explanation is that many of us, night people, are also introverts, therefore we need to be live at night, because we need time to be by ourselves, just to stay sane. And the time to be by ourselves can be guaranteed only when others are in bed.

One other explanation is that we inherited genes that makes us night people. The mechanism that produces our hormones is slightly abnormal; especially the hormone melatonin. When I was younger, I often noticed one of my parents got sleepy only when the sun began to rise. And, what a coincidence, this cannot be a coincidence; I get sleepy only when the sun begins to rise.

One solution is to be in an internet business, and then you don't have to be anywhere for a set number of hours.

One other solution is to know yourself... and then figure out how to make the best of your situation. What you want is to give your body what it wants. I keep noticing that I wake up at around 4 a.m. and unable to go back to sleep till the sun rises.... so maybe, just maybe I CAN become an early riser if I get up at 4:00 a.m. every morning, and go to bed at 8:00 p.m. every night.

One other solution is that you start your day with a nice walk in the bright day light. Preferably early in the morning. This usually resets your circadian rhythm and makes you a day person. However, this is not easy for us because we, night people, are often in the habit of living and working indoors, just about all the time.

I hope this helps.

[MW11]

Originally Posted by James81

Here's a little something to think about:
.....
Currently, the only known source of vitamin D is exposure to sunlight

The best source is the sun's action on the skin which forms vitamin D.

Fish and fish liver oils are rich sources of this vitamin.

Other food sources are liver, eggs and milk.

Supermarket milk is often fortified with vitamin D.

There are some wonderful vitamin D supplements, too, and in my experience, they do a world of good.

The RDA of vitamin D is 200-400 I.U. for adults. This level was probably set at a starvation level, i.e. when you give your body as little as possible. Don't be afraid to experiment on yourself. The benefits you will experience are unbelievable. Most of us need more than the RDA. Especially in Northern latitudes in the winter. Or if you work indoors, always, including all summers. FYI, I found I needed a minimum of 15 times the RDA.

[MW11]

Originally Posted by ssandra

Maybe...

But I do think that there is more to sunlight then just vitamin D. I believe that there is something fundamental "alive" about being in the sun or at least daylight.

I know that for me personally it does work. When I'm not in daylight for a while I feel bad and the second I set foot out of the door, that changes and I feel good again. Maybe power of suggestion, maybe something more.

Yes, there is more to sunlight than just vitamin D. Sunlight is a brigh, warm light that is also a full-spectrum light. The full spectrum makes a huge difference. Our eyes pick up the full spectrum, and immediately transmit that info to the brain. That's why you may feel kind of bad when you're indoors. And that's why the second you set foot out of the door, your mood changes and you feel good again.

[Tigerlily]

I'm a night owl and don't plan on changing. I'm mentally sharper and more productive late at night, in contrast I'm sluggish, irritable and inefficient in the morning.

[Hern]

After suffering the daytime lifestyle of mainstream society for many years I was exiled to the night shift. Here in exile I discovered my problem. If I sleep in the day and I am awake at night I feel rested. If I sleep at night it does not matter how much or little sleep I get I still wake up feeling like a zombie.

Most of my 14 years of military service was at night thank goodness. It is here that I was tested and proven I can see well above average at night. Odd because this is normally associated with color blind people. When the U.S. Army tells you "We own the night" they mean it.

Lazy? Every job I have had on night shift was more demanding (and productive) than day shift. One factor in this I believe is the lack of stuperfiers (oops supervisors) to prevent you from doing your job. I always found it amusing that a shift with 1/3rd the staff and only one member of management can out work the day shift.

Moving to a city that never sleeps? I thought Tokyo was. I lived there for three years and yes on the night shift. No trains or public transport running late night. So, check your travel methods. But going to Ropongi at night and drinking until 5 am when the trains start again impresses everyone.

I say, accept who you are and if someone has a problem with who you are tell them where to go and what to do when they get there. I am a night person. I am awake when most are asleep. My world is quiet. I have no need for expensive sunglasses or beach towels.

One question on this subject. I have noticed that night people tend to be less materialistic. Has anyone else noticed this. And one other item, has anyone ever found a study on people who have worked in underground facilities for extended periods of time? Like nuke silo personnel and that sort of thing. I worked shifts underground for over five years and I never could get information on the subject from military doctors.

[Mounds]

I think a more effective routine is sleeping 7 hours a night. Apparently that's the healthiest for your body and if you work a 9-5 job, it gives you a full 9 hours of spare time a day.
I have the same thing with sunlight. After a few days of overcast, I start to feel some malaise.

[flux]

Some great insights here. Here are some experiences of my own, and a question.

Having lived and embraced both a night-owl and early riser lifestyle, I find it hard to believe that any one person is locked-in. Creativity is no more powerful at night. The same focus and inspiration can be achieved during the day. There are countless variables that effect an individual's sleep pattern. Likewise, there are a million ways to justify any situation. I've never been convinced that this is simply a matter of genetics.

The solitude of the night can be somewhat deceptive. Do you simply enjoy the peacefulness of being alone? Or, is it the escape from societal pressures - which you can easily achieve during the darkest hours - that calms the nerves.

One thing I've always wondered is...why do so many night-owls that strongly identify with their chosen sleep pattern have such an attitude towards early-risers? There's often an underlying bitterness to the rest of society.

[russianrocket]

Originally Posted by flux

Some great insights here. Here are some experiences of my own, and a question.

Having lived and embraced both a night-owl and early riser lifestyle, I find it hard to believe that any one person is locked-in. Creativity is no more powerful at night. The same focus and inspiration can be achieved during the day. There are countless variables that effect an individual's sleep pattern. Likewise, there are a million ways to justify any situation. I've never been convinced that this is simply a matter of genetics.

The solitude of the night can be somewhat deceptive. Do you simply enjoy the peacefulness of being alone? Or, is it the escape from societal pressures - which you can easily achieve during the darkest hours - that calms the nerves.

One thing I've always wondered is...why do so many night-owls that strongly identify with their chosen sleep pattern have such an attitude towards early-risers? There's often an underlying bitterness to the rest of society.

because they feel that the rest of society seems them as odd, and not part of society. And they feel that society and the entire world is built to handle day people, so they are then left out of normal living.

That goes with just about every other thing out of the normal. They always feel bitter towards others who don't see their way, as they are usually heavily out numbered.

[flux]

Originally Posted by russianrocket

because they feel that the rest of society seems them as odd, and not part of society. And they feel that society and the entire world is built to handle day people, so they are then left out of normal living.

That goes with just about every other thing out of the normal. They always feel bitter towards others who don't see their way, as they are usually heavily out numbered.

I can understand that...but doesn't it seem like a ridiculous downward spiral? So if I felt like an outcast for being a night-owl, and I held a bitterness to the early-risers (an implied perpetuated bitterness, starting from the early-risers judgment and continuing the cycle), how would the night time really give you any peace?

From an alternative perspective; how much would Steve be able to really enjoy polygamy if he looked down upon monogamous relationships with great disdain?

[stewartM]

Originally Posted by Mounds

After a few days of overcast, I start to feel some malaise.

You should never move to England, it's been overcast here since early May!

[growwithstacy]

I was a night owl until I had children. Now I can barely make it past 10pm and I get headaches if I sleep past nine on the weekends! I never would have believed that I would be like this. I remember one day in college sleeping until 3pm!