To fight against being a night owl or not?

[AlexzandraLove]

I'm a night owl. I go to sleep late and wake up late. If I really have to get up early, I usually resort to the non habit forming sleeping pills.

What I'm curious to know is, is it worth it to change this habit if part of you feels bad about it even though you're more productive in that schedule anyway?

I'd really love to hear your thoughts or views on this, thanks!

[VinceG]

Originally Posted by AlexzandraLove

I'm a night owl. I go to sleep late and wake up late. If I really have to get up early, I usually resort to the non habit forming sleeping pills.

What I'm curious to know is, is it worth it to change this habit if part of you feels bad about it even though you're more productive in that schedule anyway?

I'd really love to hear your thoughts or views on this, thanks!

I stopped fighting it long ago. I sleep when I'm tired, and if I have to get up earlier than I normally do, well, I have breathing exercises that get me to tip-top shape pronto!

[AlexzandraLove]

Originally Posted by VinceG

I stopped fighting it long ago. I sleep when I'm tired, and if I have to get up earlier than I normally do, well, I have breathing exercises that get me to tip-top shape pronto!

Maybe it's best not to fight it, then...and hmm, maybe I should try those kind of exercises myself!

[Harmonium]

What kind of breathing exercises Vince?

[AlexzandraLove]

Originally Posted by Harmonium

What kind of breathing exercises Vince?

Yes, do tell us.

[AlexzandraLove]

I'd like to hear what more people have to say!

[janicelou]

There are many highly successful people who are "night owls" including Winston Churchill. You should not fight against what works for you.


If you have not read Think Face, Black Heart by Chin-Ning Chu, I recommend reading the book. A lot of "self-help" teachers try to hard to preach a very linear approach to success. Chin-ning Chu debunks a lot of this overly standard approach.

[janicelou]

Originally Posted by Harmonium

What kind of breathing exercises Vince?

I don't know Vince's breathing exercises but Tony Robbins recommends this in his Personal power 2 course.

1 count breath in
4 count hold
2 count breath out

so for example

5 seconds breath in
20 seconds hold
10 seconds breath out

*make sure you breath into the lower most part of your lung.


another breathing exercise i do when I am walking is ....

4 breaths in
4 breaths out

for example...

with my first 4 steps I breath in with each step.. by the 4th step my lungs are completely filled with air. then with my next four steps i breath out with each step.. so by the 8th step my lungs are completely empty of air..... then repeat. (this is based off of studies from M.I.T. which say that this ratio of breathing will improve your lymphatic system) It feels great when you do it.

[VinceG]

Doing these:
Science of Breath Index

A few deep, complete breaths, then a few cleansing breaths, and I'm good to go!

[AlexzandraLove]

Originally Posted by janicelou

There are many highly successful people who are "night owls" including Winston Churchill. You should not fight against what works for you.


If you have not read Think Face, Black Heart by Chin-Ning Chu, I recommend reading the book. A lot of "self-help" teachers try to hard to preach a very linear approach to success. Chin-ning Chu debunks a lot of this overly standard approach.

I didn't know that about Winston Churchill. But you're so right, why fight against what works for me? I guess I just don't want the moments to happen where I feel bad for it, you know?

Interesting, I'm going to get that book..thank you!

[OptimistPrime]

Yeah, I usually just go to bed when I feel like it. 90% of the time that's somewhere between midnight and 3:00am.

[AlexzandraLove]

Originally Posted by OptimistPrime

Yeah, I usually just go to bed when I feel like it. 90% of the time that's somewhere between midnight and 3:00am.

Yeah, same here...but it's between midnight and near 7:00am. Right now it's 4:22am, ha. I'm just gonna stop trying to fight it and see where it takes me. I shouldn't drive myself crazy and stress out.

[CoolBee]

Don't fight it if it works for what you have to do (eg turn into work at whatever time).

I was just thinking yesterday, who decided that "go to bed at 10pm and get up at 6am after 8 hours sleep" was more holy and righteous than "go to bed at 2am, get up at 8.30am and then have a 1.5 hour nap in the afternoon" (and therefore getting the very same 8 hours sleep) was 'lazy and decadent'.

If you have a young family maybe it gives you an hour or so to yourself that you can't get any other way, but if not, why do it?

I did experiment a few years ago with getting up 6am every day for a couple of months, I enjoyed getting home from work a bit earlier, but felt totally wrecked after that couple of months because I simply was not getting enough sleep as going to bed earlier just didn't get me the quality of sleep I needed.

[christianyethboth]

If you are getting decent sleep like say 8 hours a day and it doesn't interfere with other important responsiblities in your life, for example Work etc, then it should not be a problem. If you enjoy being a night owl and it makes you happy and it doesn't interfere with anything then it's fine.

[moimoi]

Well, I don't know.
In summer, when I'm on holiday (away from scool, work) I am also like a night owl. But during school time I need to leave it behind and get back to normal schedule. Eg. If I stay up very late, I will be dead tired during daytime that would hinder me in my job (teaching) so even though I like get things done/work on projects late at night, I schedule them for daytime throughout the school year to get enough sleep and yet be able to get up on time to get to work.

But if your worktime is flexible enough and makes you able to be a night owl, then it is also okay (and am a bit jelous of ya, hehehe)

[SatvikBeri]

Sleep when you're sleepy, wake up when you're not.

I found that I'm naturally a morning person, and that I had been holding a "night owl" schedule mostly because my friends did! And I am substantially more productive when holding my ideal sleep schedule, so going out of my way to conform to something else would just be silly.

[AlexzandraLove]

Originally Posted by christianyethboth

If you are getting decent sleep like say 8 hours a day and it doesn't interfere with other important responsiblities in your life, for example Work etc, then it should not be a problem. If you enjoy being a night owl and it makes you happy and it doesn't interfere with anything then it's fine.

Thank you so much, yeah you're right. See, sometimes it does for me but sometimes it doesn't. It's a mixture of both. I guess I better work on the times that it does and eliminate those from my life.

[AlexzandraLove]

Originally Posted by SatvikBeri

Sleep when you're sleepy, wake up when you're not.

I found that I'm naturally a morning person, and that I had been holding a "night owl" schedule mostly because my friends did! And I am substantially more productive when holding my ideal sleep schedule, so going out of my way to conform to something else would just be silly.

This is true. I'm in the process of trying to find employment but the problem is my sleeping schedule! I'd rather find a job at night, like a hotel over night or something like that...

[AlexzandraLove]

Originally Posted by moimoi

Well, I don't know.
In summer, when I'm on holiday (away from scool, work) I am also like a night owl. But during school time I need to leave it behind and get back to normal schedule. Eg. If I stay up very late, I will be dead tired during daytime that would hinder me in my job (teaching) so even though I like get things done/work on projects late at night, I schedule them for daytime throughout the school year to get enough sleep and yet be able to get up on time to get to work.

But if your worktime is flexible enough and makes you able to be a night owl, then it is also okay (and am a bit jelous of ya, hehehe)

That's a good way to discipline yourself during school time, actually...but I think my issue is that I currently lack in self discipline...I could use a bit of work in that area. And I'm definitely talking about the days where I find myself going to sleep at 6 am and instead of waking up at 11 or 12..for whatever reason...I end up waking up somewhere between 5-8pm. :X That IS a problem. If I can eliminate that part somehow, then I guess all my worrying and feeling bad will go away.

[Andrew Brunelle]

Quite simply, don't fight your true nature. Don't be something that you're not. I currently am employed on the night shift. 11a-7:30p. And am thinking of starting a business soon, where I'll most likely work deep into the night. You should simply do what comes natural and not fight, unless it is something you feel you need to do.

[AlexzandraLove]

Originally Posted by Andrew Brunelle

Quite simply, don't fight your true nature. Don't be something that you're not. I currently am employed on the night shift. 11a-7:30p. And am thinking of starting a business soon, where I'll most likely work deep into the night. You should simply do what comes natural and not fight, unless it is something you feel you need to do.

You're so right, thank you so much for saying that. I find when ever I do sleep early and get up early, it feels forced and I'm not as productive that way. What you have just told me also feels like it applies to other areas of my life right now. I rather not waste time finding a not so great job, for example, but I kind of have to or I risk not being able to live in NYC anymore. A night shift job would be ideal for me in that respect right now. May I ask what you do? Maybe it could help me.

And I rather stay a night owl and be productive in my own schedule as well and not randomly feel those feelings of guilt for doing so, either.

[ENTP]

You can't be any more of a night owl than I am.

In fact, I'm such a night owl, I'm really a "morning person" again.

As in, I go to bed anywhere from 4:00am to 9:00am. I **** you not.

I'm personally trying to fix this because it makes day-to-day living downright impossible when you operate opposite to everyone else's sleeping patterns. Hard to speak to clients, can't go shopping, can't even order takeout, can't take care of daily errands, etc etc.

[Princeoftart]

For me, I would choose to adjust it back whenever my sleeping hour runs "off the track". I would feel really tired the next day if I wake up after 12pm. Maybe I was born to be a morning person...

I like the weather and the view of morning. It just gives me a very comfortable feel. I would recommend you to change your habit back. Relying too much on pills might not be a good idea. Health is an important issue to anyone.

Sometimes you just have to coordinate with what is considered "normal" by most people. If your work or your school requires you to wake up in the morning, you have to do that. Important meetings or discussions might happen in the morning too... If you can't adjust your habit back, it may yield adverse effect... Unless you go for night school or work for night shift...

Anyway it's just my opinion

[Zorr]

I spent most of the last three years staying awake until 7am and then sleeping during the day and I've got to be honest I was the most depressed I've even been. I've spent the last 2months sorting myself out, going to sleep at 11-12pm getting up at 7-8, got a job and my own place! I've got to say i've never been happier. I think sunlight is a good thing and sleeping through it is not a good idea!

[gene2009]

I go to bed somewhere between 1am and 4 am. I've had this habit for the last 5 years. I tried to break this habit many times. But no result.

[NatalieHill]

My problem is that I wake up at around 6 no matter what time I go to sleep. So I find reading is much better for making me drowsy than watching movies or being online.

[brendannz]

I used to have a bedtime of 4am, and I would try and get an early night at 3am,

and I think that was pretty unhealthy, and had me feeling a bit out of touch with reality.

But now, I still tend to be nocturnal, and go to bed at midnight generally or 11pm for an early night.

But I'm also very productive at night time. I find when the sun is out, I want to run around, or at least walk around and enjoy the day, I've just got all that energy. but at night time, I calm down and relax a bit, and that's my productive time.

I'm quite happy with this, and if I've got stuff on during the night like tomorrow night, I try and get most things done during the day.

I'm mostly self-employed.

Ask yourself if being a night owl is healthy for you, and only you, and not whats normal..