And Just Like That, I'm No Longer a Night Owl

I woke up at 7 a.m. this morning, 4:30 a.m. yesterday (I had a 7:30 a.m. meeting, in my defense), and 10 a.m. the day before. I don't see myself going to bed very late tonight, so it's looks like my whole night owl phase is over. This is actually good, as I am going to Las Vegas this weekend to visit family, and I don't think my parents would appreciate it they never saw me because I was sleeping whenever they were awake. This schedule is also good because I do feel more productive and I am getting more done. This whole thing started because I had a job interview a week ago at 10 a.m., and even though I didn't get the job, I've been nervous and energized ever since then and haven't really done back to the night owl schedule. Also, this past weekend was pretty hectic since I had guests over, and you don't really want to sleep until 2 p.m. when you have guests over. You need to be awake and welcoming when you have guests.

I Didn't Get the Job :(

It was a great job, and it sucks I didn't get it, but I do think it was a blessing in disguise. I interviewed for a director of marketing position with a content marketing company, and it's a position I really shouldn't be qualified for at 25. But, I was considered qualified for the position, and even though I didn't get it, the interviewer did say that I would have done a great job in the role if I had been chosen. It's still a confidence boost and a huge testament to my skills and what I'm capable of. It's hard to get this kind of feedback when I'm self-employed, and although I'm not actively looking for a full-time position, I will consider another one if the right opportunity comes along.

However, everything will be fine. I've picked up quite a bit of new work lately, so it would have sucked to turn around and tell those people I can't do their work anymore because of the new job. Still would have liked to be director of marketing, but it's not as if I don't have anything going for me now or anything to go back to. I can keep doing what I've been doing, and I can do it knowing that I'm really good at what I do and am capable of directing the marketing of a major marketing brand.

I'm Working On My Poker Before I Go

I haven't played too much poker over the past several days because I've been focusing on my work and getting as much done as possible. It's tough to get work done when you're out of town, especially in Las Vegas. Not only are there a ton of distractions, but getting Internet in your hotel room is expensive. But, I am trying to get some poker time in before I go, as I don't want to go to the table and have the last time I played be over a week ago. One thing I am working on is getting comfortable quickly when I am outside of my comfort zone. Part of the reason why it was so tough to play live back in March was that I as out of my comfort zone and second guessing myself sometimes. I know I am a better player than I was in March, so I think I will do better this time around. I won't let any of the regulars scare me this time!

Embracing Being a Night Owl

I do have a 10 a.m. phone interview tomorrow for an incredible marketing position. I'm nervous, partly because I should be in bed now and I haven't been in bed at this hour for months. I'm not sure if I'll be able to sleep. I don't want to be sleep deprived for the interview, since tomorrow is a very busy day. But, I do think everything will work out. If I do get this position, I would be able to embrace my night owl schedule and lifestyle because this is a work-from-home position (one of the many perks of the job).

What the Night Owl Lifestyle Actually Entails

It really just involves starting and ending the day at different times, although being this different makes it hard to do some of the normal things in life, like review coffee shops and get to the bank. But, it also means that when you do work, you can ensure that you are working at your best. You are working during the hours that are comfortable for you, and you are also working during quiet hours, when you don't have to compete with many other distractions. The night owl lifestyle is constrained by society in that many things aren't open at 10 p.m., but it also means that you forced into a a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule, or any other work schedule that you didn't choose or design yourself. Few people have such a luxury, but if you're able to do that (and be disciplined enough to work without a boss or a set infrastructure), then it's likely you can be more productive that before.

A Client Actually Approves

I had a client notice my night owl schedule last week, which was a relief because I always wondered if they noticed the messages coming in at odd hours of the day. Now, I know at least one client has noticed and has said that he is willing to keep it in mind in the future for scheduling. So far, this client hasn't been disappointed with my work, even though I'm completing it in the wee hours of the morning. That's what should count anyway: that the work was done well. The time it's completed shouldn't matter, unless the deadline has passed. Having this happen is also great because it's nice knowing that one client doesn't see this as a big deal or as something that has to get in the way of getting good work done.

Night Owls Can Be Successful Too

The early bird gets the work, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

It seems like the attitude is that only early birds can be successful, or will be more successful, than night owls. It's kind of like the bias toward introverts, where society and workplace favors characteristics that are more associated with extroverts than introverts, even though introverts aren't necessarily worse at their jobs or unable to contribute or anything like that. But, night owls can be successful too, with their own set of tips and tricks to work during the late hours. Although it seems like the night owls in this article just don't sleep very much at all. The point of being a night owl isn't to sleep only five hours a night (even though there are a few people in the world who are that way), the point is that we sleep during different times of the day. That can't be all bad, can it?

I'm a Night Owl. I Said It.

Ever since I've changed direction with my business and have needed to salvage what I can from the content-marketing-agency wreckage, I've turned into a night owl. I feel so accomplished if I'm awake by 10 a.m. The stereotype is that night owls are lazy, unprofessional, undisciplined, and don't spend much time doing anything when we are awake. In fact, there are successful night owls who just happened to be productive and accomplished when everyone else is sleeping.

My mother would probably say that when I wake up so late that "half the fricken day is gone." Half of her day maybe gone, sure. I am sleeping when she is working hard, yes. But she's in bed by 9 p.m. At 9 p.m., I'm ready to put in another four to five hours of work, maybe more if I get on a roll and stumble upon something big, like I did last night. Besides, night owls aren't as bad off as some may think. New research from the University of Madrid found that night owls are better at inductive reasoning and problem solving, abilities associated with more prestigious occupations and higher incomes.

Society Isn't Kind to Night Owls

It's really not. Most workplaces that offer a night shift aren't awesome jobs (you know, they're not necessarily professional jobs that require a degree or special training). Most businesses aren't open late at night, although that is changing somewhat (I could walk across the street to the grocery store at 11 p.m. if I wanted to. But, I live in the inner city, so I'm not going to do that). Even the "disease" associated with being a night owl, delayed sleep phase disorder, is defined as, "a circadian rhythm sleep disorder affecting the timing of sleep, peak period of alertness, the core body temperature rhythm, hormonal and other daily rhythms, compared to the general population and relative to societal requirements."  Being a night owl is a disorder because it's different from what everyone else does and what society wants. Yay.

It doesn't help that both of my parents are morning larks and proud of it. They've never been fond of the idea of staying up late and sleeping during the day. They see these activities as all those stereotypes previously mentioned. Although, I admit, there were times where my brothers and I stayed up late to go out and to play video games and such. But, alas, we were teenagers when we did all that stuff. Well, maybe the stay up late to go out kind of stuff. My brother works the night shift in Las Vegas. My parents still complain that he sleeps til noon and that the kids do too. I grant, the whole family will have some trouble when the kids start going to school. But when my brother gets home at 1 a.m. it's not all that realistic to expect him to wake up at 6 or 8 a.m.

I Enjoy the Privacy of the Night

My fiance is in bed by nine or 10 because he starts work at 6:30 a.m. (he has less than two weeks on this job though, so this schedule is ending soon). I like that after he goes to bed, I feel like I have the apartment to myself and that my time and space is unrestrained. There are fewer distraction at this hour, and I don't feel worn out or dragging. I feel ready to work and able to pursue new ideas and to come up with new ways to think about things. It's a great time for creative pursuits, and in my line of work, it's all about the creativity.

Fortunately, Lab1500 is going to have 24-hour access soon. I'm excited.