In fact, it’s just as important to go to bed and to wake up around the same time as it is to get the 7-8 hours of sleep that most people need to get. Getting 8 hours of sleep each night won’t make you feel rested if you have an erratic sleep schedule. Once you’ve found your routine, your mind will become accustomed to your new energy cycle and will be able to work more efficiently.
People also say that 10 minutes of intense focused meditation can be equal to an hour of sleep. If you want to be a night owl but you still have to get up early in the morning, then you may want to look into meditation in the mornings. All you have to do is close your eyes, keep your body still, and focus on your breathing, letting all distractions fade away.
If you watch hours of YouTube videos and then attempt to go straight to bed, your mind will still be racing.
Your friends or family members may also be open to hanging out with you later in the evenings, since they know you’ll be staying up late.
If you’re in a creative field, such as painting, photography, design, or acting, then you may be able to create, practice, rehearse, develop photos, or get much of your creative work done in the nighttime. In fact, it may even be easier for you to do so because you’ll have fewer interruptions!
You can take advantage of this quiet, this time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, to do whatever it is you want to do. [2] X Research source You can get creative, do some homework, talk to fellow night owls, or just hang out in your living room and read a magazine. Take advantage of the fact that no one will disturb you and that you can do whatever you want without being slowed down.
You should look into your utility company’s peak and off-peak rates to see when you can use your appliances more cheaply. [4] X Research source
Think about it: where in your home would you most like to be during the day, when other people are in it? Take advantage of the alone time you have there. You can even do some yoga or do a giant puzzle in a room with a hardwood floor that is normally taken. Take advantage of the fact that you’re the king of the castle — when it’s dark out, anyway.
You may not be used to working with a pen and paper instead of your computer, but this may be just the thing that gets your creative juices flowing. If you tend to do your “work work” in front of a computer, this can also be a nice way to separate your creative work from your day job. Some business people actually recommend standing up at your kitchen counter at night, and thinking of it as an “idea bar” where you can generate new ideas, instead of sitting down as you normally do. [5] X Research source
You can set one night aside for a creative project, like starting a short story. You can even spend every night for a week, or a month, to really work on it. You can also set aside each night for a different aspect of your job. Just avoid multi-tasking as much as you can if you want to be efficient. Of course, this is good advice for working during the day, as well, but being a night owl makes it much easier to focus on one project at a time, so you should take advantage of that.
If you know other night owls, ask them where they hang out at night when they do go out. They may have some ideas for places to catch a late movie, cool bars or restaurants, or other ways that you can still feel like you’re part of a community even though you’re up late.
You should also know when your energy dips the most. If you feel the most tired around 2-3 pm every day, for example, then you can plan to go for a quick energy-reviving walk around then, instead of forcing yourself to slog through a pile of work. If you know you’re most productive around 10 pm, for example, and your friend asks you to catch a late movie then, you may want to put it off if you have a short story you want to work on in the evening. You want to be able to catch that creative lightning in a bottle instead of spending those productive times doing something you could do when you’re sleepy or tired.
Of course, if you’re a night owl, then you may be more likely to get in a late evening workout routine. Working out in the evening is okay, but remember that, contrary to what people believe, it actually gets your adrenaline pumping and makes you less, not more, ready for bed. If you do plan to work out late as a means to stay healthy, make sure you still leave a few hours between working out and bedtime. If you’re committed to working out late, then you can check out a late or 24-hour gym in your area. You may be compelled to run in the evenings, but try to do it with a running buddy or in a place where you will be safe, with many other runners doing the same.
Even if you don’t wake up until the sun has been up for many hours, you should get the equivalent of spending at least 10 minutes in the sun per day, with some of your skin exposed, if you want to stay healthy. Even if the sun isn’t out, it’s important to spend at least half an hour outdoors if you can, for your mental and physical health.
If you know other night owls with similar interests, try to talk to them at night, when you need a little break from work or creativity, so you can swap ideas. Whether you chat on the phone, online, or even meet up in person, it’s important to connect to people when you can. [8] X Research source Of course, it may not be possible to socialize with people you know every single day of your life. However, if you want to keep yourself from feeling isolated, make sure to step out of your house at least twice a day and talk to people, even if you’re just making small talk with the person sitting next to you at the coffee shop, or talking to the girl at the deli counter. Even the smallest human interactions can do wonders for your mental health.
You don’t have to get a standing desk or even work on your computer when you’re standing up. But, for example, you can stand up to do other things, like chat on the phone, or just to think aloud or generate creative ideas, instead of sitting down.
If you’re stuck with a schedule that requires you to wake up really early, then you need to seriously consider whether or not being a night owl is right for you. If you’re determined to make it work, though, then you should try to find a way to change your schedule so you could wake up later.
Aim to have just one or two caffeinated beverages a day. You can have enough to give you a little boost, but not so much that you become dependent on it. If you feel like you’re on a caffeine high for too much of the day, you can try replacing your usual coffee with a low-caffeine tea. It will make you feel less jittery and may also have less of an impact on your stomach. Avoid energy drinks as much as you can. While they may give you what is initially a strong boost of energy, they are very sugary and will lead to a major crash, later on.
