When I was in the Air Force, I worked 12 hour night shifts from 7pm to 7am and it was great! I felt like it was made for me and although I don't stay up that late, I still do my best at night. Growing up and going to school was so difficult to me because I couldn't fall asleep until around 1am and would have to wake at 530am. It really hindered me and I would fight sleep during the school day.
Just because the majority may perform best during the morning doesn't mean that everyone does. I have learned that I do the most, perform the best - when I don't fight against my body. I also perform best at 9 hours of sleep but definitely no less than 7. Studies have shown that you must have at LEAST 7 hours of sleep to stay healthy. That is the amount of time your body needs each night to heal properly.
Take into account my church's schedule. We have service at a time that most school-age children go to bed. Then we don't get home a lot of times until 930-10pm. How could I possibly put my child in public school and have her waking up before the sun even thought of coming up when she can only get to bed by about 11 or so? Homeschool just works better for her because her age needs at least 10 hours of sleep a night. You do the math.....most kids I know are so sleep deprived and the parents wonder why they do so poorly in school. Also, when we return to Bible College in a few years (if that is God's will for us)......we won't get home from class and picking up our child until midnight. So how could I possibly follow the "mold" of the "go to bed at 9 and wake up 4 or 5" crew? I can't unless I want to not go to church at nights and forget Bible College LOL. I could go on less sleep but that has proven to hamper your immune system, which makes you end up sickly and don't forget the grumpy part. You hear some brag about how early they get up, it seems to be a badge of honor or something but show me what you do with it. You don't hear a lot of bragging about "I woke up at 10am this morning!" But.....seems like waking up at 4am is something others love to share with everyone. Am I the only one that notices this!?
Then you will have the super spiritual person that says "Well, so and so in the Bible woke up when the sun came up". Come on folks let's get real. If we use that, then let's throw in the Proverbs 31 woman who burned the midnight oil ok? Or let's say that the Bible shows MEN waking up early but women staying up late. You could go on all day with silly stuff like that, let's just follow our best time according to our bodies. My brain goes into high gear at night and yours may shut down then, who cares!? Just perform at your time and I will perform at mine, amen?
So what does a night owl do that doesn't fit in the mold? Go with it! Since I took my husband's advice and just quit fighting my body......I can sleep at night, wake up about the same time every day and I get SO much done! I can homeschool, keep the house clean, do crafts, blog, church activities and spend over an hour in my Bible every day and time praying. Sure, I get the occasional look or criticism from others about how late I stay up or how late I wake up but you know what? They need to eat their own bread lol AND if they look at how much I accomplish - they will have no room to look down on me for my sleep schedule. I know a few friends that hide their sleep schedule from others because they are ashamed but I say don't be! Night owls unite and its time to stand up for ourselves!
