Wrong to be a Night Owl?

[SUEzie]

I have sleep meds I can take if I need to do it.

My problem really isn't not being able to sleep (at least not lately.)

I am an extreme Night Owl.

My "normal" bedtime is 3-4a.m.

This is normal for me - always has been, to some degree or other.

However - it puts me "out of synch" with most of the rest of the people I know (except the ones who work night shifts.)

It doesn't really bother hubby - because I am always up in time to feed & walk the dog, get housework done, and dinner ready.

I don't have kids, so it's not messing with their schedule.

I just don't usually get up until around noon.

If I make plans with friends, I make them in the afternoon, or at night.

I know that sounds "lazy" - but I do get stuff done - I just do it at different hours than almost everyone else I know.

I go to a 24-hour grocery store, shop for stuff I need mostly online, etc. - so stores being closed isn't really a problem .

But - some members of my family think it's weird - and make teasing, or even nasty comments about it.

I guess it's really nothing to be weirded out about.

I just have a different "sleep cycle" than most of the people I know.

But - it does make me feel "different" much of the time.

I never really know what to say to my family or whoever thinks it's a bit weird, except - " It's just the way I am."

Anybody else have this problem ? Or can you offer any feedback, even if you don't?

- suzie

[Kodos]

Heh, completely normal. Lots of people are night owls. If it's not interfering with your life, I wouldn't worry about it.

I feel better at night - say, after 11 PM. If free of societal demands, my schedule would completely invert - up all night, asleep during the day.

It's possible you may have delayed sleep phase syndrome. Not that it's bad.

A recent study concluded that night owls are smarter than morning people.

[deeschmee]

For me I have the opposite problem-Im in bed at around 9-10 and most of my friends are going out then! I am one who needs ALOT of sleep and always has.

Ive determined in my mind that my schedule is more important than making someone else happy. Im comfortable with this aspect of myself. Those who truly care will understand, those who dont-well

thats up to you! You are certainly not alone.

[withing]

Ha! tell your friends and family that you're sleeping the same amount of hours that they are and you're awake the same amount of hours that they are and there are people all around the world just like you (sleep wise). As a matter of fact if it weren't for people like us (me, I used to sleep from 5am to noon now it's midnight to 7am) there would BE no term "Night Owl" so they can put that in their pipe and smoke it. If it weren't for night owls, no one would work second shifts or swing shifts. I used to love working swing shift. Awwwww, so relaxing to be asleep when I wanted to be asleep than to conform to everyone else's sleeping hours. Believe me, it took a long time and a lot of work to get to my present sleeping schedule...

[Azk]

There's nothing wrong with it, especially as you aren't really required to get up at an early time to get kids to school or go to work.

(Yes, I have night owl tendencies myself. I'm excited for school to resume because I've finally managed to arrange a year where my first class is at 1PM.)

As for the medical Delayed Sleep Phase "Syndrome" - it's making a disease out of how some people just are.

However, since some of us night owls do have to get up early, the best sleep med is either melatonin or something that hits the melatonin receptors (ramelteon, agomelatine). I have zopiclone prescribed prn for sleep, but for me it's a potent anxiolytic with little effect on sleep.

[Indigo 'n dye]

I am both a night owl and a very early riser. My current bedtime is between 2-3AM and I am up and ready for the day by 5:30AM. I usually, but not always, have a siesta period in the afternoon before our main meal of the day.

Frankly, I think some of us simply have sleep patterns that are different than the majority and those differences are treated as problems. And, as many of us know, once a difference becomes a problem it requires more and more intervention.

Good luck! Indigo

[ChemistryExperiment]

I've actually been diagnosed with delayed sleep phase syndrome. I would love it if I could take all my classes in the wee hours of the morning and then sleep during the day. It makes me the happiest. I will probably end up in a career where I can stay up all night and sleep during the day. Its just the way I'm made. I hate when my parents make comments on it. They say things that are hurtful for no reason. It IS aggrivating and annoying. Keep your head up. Seriously, if your family feels the need to comment for some stupid reason, its probably them trying to make themselves feel better on some level.

[flyingcar]

I am the same way. During the school year I usually go to sleep at around 3 or 4 and get up whenever I have to go to class (which is usually at noon or later). When I don't have to go to school or do anything else I often stay up until 5 and wake up at 2 or later (I seem to require more sleep to feel fully rested than most people). Like you, that just feels natural to me. Lately I've been having a really hard time getting to sleep regardless of what time I go to bed. Over the summer it would often take me until 6 or 7 to actually fall asleep and then I would wake up at 4 or sometimes 5. It's pretty messed up. My parents were okay with me sleeping until 1 or 2, but sleeping until 4 or 5 really bothers them. It bothers me too, especially now that I'm back in school and need the rest so I can go to class. The other day I wasn't able to get to sleep all night, nor was I able to nap the rest of the day. I was finally able to get to sleep that night, though. I really hope that doesn't happen again - I felt absolutely terrible.

So if there's anything positive to take away from all that, it's that you should be glad that you're able to get up at noon.

[luv2run]

I know this is an older post, but found it very helpful! I am a night owl, too, which freaks my Pdoc out a bit. I don't go to bed until 2-3am, and usually only sleep about 3-4 hours a night. I've done this since in high school, so for me, it's normal.

You know what seems weird? Those other managers at my work that get to work at 6am after waking up at 4am. I mean -- come on -- how is THAT not strange? lol.

Sadly, thanks to society, I always have to be at work early -- but don't mind the lack of sleep. (I do mind the nightmares, but that's another story.) Some nights, I won't sleep at all (but usually that means I need to "catch up" by the weekend, which isn't healthy). Everyone in my life knows I'm a night owl. I just like how quiet everything gets when the world around me is asleep. It's the family joke, but always in a fun way.

My Pdoc and T think I need more sleep, but they know I won't take sleep meds. It's not like I walk around tired or cranky -- why mess with something that's worked for 20 years? That's my opionion. Glad there's a few other night owls out there with me. Besides, as I tell work, it's easy for me to take those late night International work conference calls compared to the rest of my team. See? There *are* some benefits....

[mompcork]

I have sleep meds I can take if I need to do it.

My problem really isn't not being able to sleep (at least not lately.)

I am an extreme Night Owl.

My "normal" bedtime is 3-4a.m.

This is normal for me - always has been, to some degree or other.

However - it puts me "out of synch" with most of the rest of the people I know (except the ones who work night shifts.)

It doesn't really bother hubby - because I am always up in time to feed & walk the dog, get housework done, and dinner ready.

I don't have kids, so it's not messing with their schedule.

I just don't usually get up until around noon.

If I make plans with friends, I make them in the afternoon, or at night.

I know that sounds "lazy" - but I do get stuff done - I just do it at different hours than almost everyone else I know.

I go to a 24-hour grocery store, shop for stuff I need mostly online, etc. - so stores being closed isn't really a problem .

But - some members of my family think it's weird - and make teasing, or even nasty comments about it.

I guess it's really nothing to be weirded out about.

I just have a different "sleep cycle" than most of the people I know.

But - it does make me feel "different" much of the time.

I never really know what to say to my family or whoever thinks it's a bit weird, except - " It's just the way I am."

Anybody else have this problem ? Or can you offer any feedback, even if you don't?

- suzie

I am the exact same way! Society demands that we sleep when every one else sleeps (aside from working the graveyard shift) I just feel more comfortable going to sleep 2-3 am and waking at 11 am or so. I have to fight my body to sleep when my husband sleeps.

I'm sorry your family is making nasty comments. I hate confrontation, but in that case I'd just straight out ask them why they're being cruel about something you can't help.