My tribe is filled with night owls, want to join?

Oh, how I’ve longed to be that incredible woman who can rise in the early morning. She dresses, has her hair coifed, and says with a smile “It’s easy, I open my eyes and am ready to tackle the day in no time at all!” If you think you’ll hear that statement from me, you are mistaken. You also won’t find me waking early to workout, as much as I’d like to. Don’t get me wrong; I have nothing against those that can wake early. I applaud you. I wish I were you.

My husband pulls me out of bed each morning because he knows I’ll remain under the covers if given a choice. He ensures I stay standing by making the bed the minute both of us are out of it. Yes, I am lucky and spoiled. The facts are simple when I wake, the order of operations goes: open eyes, drink coffee, breathe. There are no variations.

It is a rare day if I wake at 5 AM.

If I do, I admit I hold my head up and say, in my head, to anyone and everyone I pass “I’ve been awake longer biatches!” That one day a year is the best because I have accomplished something huge before breakfast. As a result, society says I am queen for the day. When I start my day earlier, I stand taller, hold my chin up, and wear a smirk. I vow to repeat the early morning routine from that point on.

Alas, it does not last, and I am still not a morning person.

I can’t say that I haven’t tried to be an early riser throughout the years. Past efforts include early bedtime, multiple alarms, alternate alarm locations, appointment to text a friend, call a friend, meet a friend, show up to a class, or pay a friend for not showing up. I tried an alarm app that has me do math problems. It all sounds well and good until the buzzing starts to increase in speed and volume. This early wake-up method is genius, but it had me racing out of bed and to the bathroom, so the rest of the family didn’t hear it. If you guess I’m not a morning person, try adding the stress of loud math and a hopped up crabby lady is a certainty.

Early morning and me = no bueno.

Here’s the thing: why do people talk in glorified terms about early risers? Why are night owls synonymous with an irresponsible human being? For years, I’ve beat myself up for not being an early riser. Not any more.

It appears I have a biological disposition to staying up late, but I’m not a criminal. Night owls, neither are you. When everyone else is sleeping at night, I am finishing up work on the computer, reading a book or writing. This time of the day/night is my quiet, productive time. I thrive on the stillness, silence, and calm that the middle of the night brings.

Two of the many night owl benefits.

Night owls are more creative than early birds. I come up with my best thinking at night. The advertising industry is notorious for late starts (9A) and late nights. Musicians, artists, and writers can make the same claim.

Night owls get more out of a gym workout later in the day. My day is the most active starting at 3P. I have more energy and drive at the 7P swim workout than any other time of day. Plus, I can attest that the night swim practice is the most fun!

There is a ton of research out there addressing the question of early birds vs. night owls, and who is better. No one is better; we’re just different than one another. As long as you get enough sleep and your sleep patterns aren’t detrimental to your health, I say go for it.

As far as I can tell, I have been a night owl for fifty years. Who knows if sleep patterns change with age, I may become an early bird and change tribes. For now, please understand when it is 1 AM, and I am going to bed, I will be saying “I’ve been awake longer than you, biatches!”

Anyone with me?

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