“Why are you still awake?”
It’s 11:30 PM, and I receive a message from a friend who struggles to sleep. For some, especially parents of young children, the idea of being up past 10 PM is perplexing. But honestly, I find the notion of waking up at six in the morning without a compelling reason to be equally strange. Staying up late isn’t fundamentally different; it’s merely a reflection of our unique internal clocks.
Since childhood, I’ve identified as a “night owl.” I cherished weekends, not just for the absence of school but for the freedom to stay awake as late as I wanted. Many nights, I would outlast my parents, engrossed in late-night television. As I matured, that late-night freedom became a cherished time for connecting with friends or diving into a good book. Now, those hours are sacred, a time for self-reflection and relaxation.
Early mornings? Not my forte. It’s not just my preference for night; mornings are simply tough. Ideally, I wouldn’t rise before 9 AM, a luxury I often enjoy as a freelancer with the ability to set my own schedule.
“But you’re a parent, doesn’t your child wake up early?”
Actually, no. My child is an even bigger night owl than I am. Transitioning him from late-night adventures to a more reasonable bedtime took time, but he has never embraced that 6 AM lifestyle. On the rare occasions he wakes up that early, we both end up exhausted and take a nap together. Now that he’s older, he often entertains himself quietly in the morning while I catch up on sleep, proudly announcing, “I played quietly for you, Mommy!” He, too, considers anything before 8 AM to be early.
For me, nighttime is invigorating. There’s something magical about watching the world settle down while I embrace the silence. Night owls connect with each other; we perceive life through a different lens. It doesn’t make us odd or nocturnal creatures; it simply indicates our preference for being awake during different hours. The late-night ambiance allows me to unwind and focus on what truly matters—usually my work.
During the day, I often feel overwhelmed by everything I need to accomplish. Did I remember to pay that bill? When do I need to start dinner? But in the quiet of the night, those distractions fade, allowing me to concentrate. If I were to wake early, my thoughts would still be caught up in the tasks awaiting my attention instead of focusing on the moment.
I admit, I sometimes envy early risers—their ability to rise with the sun and tackle the day with enthusiasm. I recall a time when my young nephew woke me at an ungodly hour, insisting, “The sun is awake, so you have to be too.” I could only groan and pull the blankets over my head, though I couldn’t dispute his logic. I enjoy the sunrise, but I’d rather appreciate it while I’m still awake from the night before. For me, waking early makes the day feel endless. I’ll glance at the clock and think, “How is it only ten? It feels like I’ve been awake for ages.” In contrast, at night, I can sit down at 10 PM, and a glance at the clock reveals it’s already midnight.
People often ask how I balance work and single parenting so effectively, and I credit my late-night hours. The stillness of the night enables me to achieve so much more. My boss is accustomed to receiving emails from me in the wee hours because that’s when I’m most productive. I’ve set aside the day’s stresses and am only lightly stepping into the next.
That’s my secret: I accomplish tasks while the world sleeps. Yes, I might sleep in the next morning, but the pressing responsibilities don’t loom over me as I navigate the day’s smaller errands, like grocery shopping or laundry. So, no, I’m not lazy, nor am I a superhuman; I simply operate on a different schedule.
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In summary, night owls function on a different schedule, using late-night hours for productivity and introspection. This lifestyle allows us to manage our responsibilities effectively, dispelling the stereotype of laziness often associated with late risers.