The following is a visitor-submitted question or story. For more, you can submit your own sleep story here, or browse the collection of experiences and questions other visitors have shared here.

I AM NOT A LARK!!! JUST A POOR OWL

by Jackie Garrett
(Aberdeen, NC, USA)

I am 80 years old and I have had this forever... I can't remember when I didn't have it, I remember I used to scrub my floors and do the wash... all at night when I "came alive." When I have to get up early for something I am so worried that I can't sleep. Then I end up not sleeping at all and then it's Zombie time...Yet when that night rolls around here I am still awake and ready to paint or sew or computer like right now.


The worst part is people don't believe you thinking you are lazy or weird and say "oh you can change its just a habit. Well I have never been able to become a "LARK" I am destined to be an "OWL" for what is left of my life. So finally I found a place to share, with people who understand.

Kevin: Indeed you have Jackie, indeed you have. Remember, if you're going to remain an owl, you do not have to be a *poor* owl. Try to set up a lifestyle for yourself that still lets you get enough sleep, just not at the same time most other people are sleeping. This may take some equipment such as blackout curtains (Amazon), but reducing the amount of "zombie time" can still be done.

Good luck in doing so!
Kevin

Comments for I AM NOT A LARK!!! JUST A POOR OWL

Click here to add your own comments

Jan 25, 2012
 My Sympathy NEW
by: Anonymous

Your story rings such bells with me.
Jan 25, 2012
 My Sympathy NEW
by: Anonymous

Your story rings such bells with me.
Feb 23, 2012
 Night owls NEW
by: Naïssa

Hi Jackie,
I just want to share my sympathy. I read you are 80 years of age... I can't imagine myself wondering so long 'what is wrong with me?'. I'm 37 years old and I have been asking myself for years that I was crazy. I too find it difficult to cope with the judgement of others that we are lazy and that it is all a matter of discipline.
I hope you have made peace with our shared condition and that you now may find joy in the night.
Best wishes and good luck!
Mar 05, 2012
 Another owl, but sometimes wannabe lark. NEW
by: Bonnie

Dear Jackie, I'm 68 & have had this sleep delayed onset for most of my life. I've always loved the QUIET of the night, but have many memories of cleaning, baking, sewing, painting (furniture) & reading (my favorite!) late, late, late at night.

While I was still working, this was a hellish struggle. I'd been diagnosed w/depression & numerous other conditions, but noticed that after nine hours sleep & a nap, that I was cheerful (not indicative of depression). The last few years I worked, I kept getting more and more chronic illnesses & was put on more and more medications. I'm guessing at least 50% of my 'problem' is just not fitting in with most of the world. So glad to hear I'm not the only 'Sr.' with this issue.
Mar 21, 2014
 Can empathize..... NEW
by: Perkdiggity

I am so happy to have found this forum. I am 45 and have been dealing with my unconventional sleep pattern for most of my life. Like so many others have noted, I am my most vibrant and productive in the middle of the night. I have for the most part been able to structure my life so that I am able to sleep from 4am til noon, which is my perfect time. I recently graduated with highest honors with degrees in both accounting and computer science. I was able to complete my degrees by taking evening and online courses, which allowed me to do the majority of my course work during the wee hours.

Despite what I see as clear evidence to the contrary, i still have to deal with some people insisting that I am lazy! How incredibly ridiculous! After reading so many messages, it is clear that I am not the only "lazy" yet highly productive owl out there! Hearing how psychologically damaging all of this judgement has been to some of you really pisses me off. How dare the "first shift" crowd pile their uninformed judgements on us just because we are different! We should all become more militant about what is clearly natural for us!

On a more practical level, I find myself happiest when I can work second shift or in a deadline rather than fixed hours type position. I am currently working as an accountant. I am able to schedule my client meetings in the late afternoon or evening and spend the wee hours doing the actual work. When clients request an earlier meeting time I just tell them I am already booked and suggest a later time. They are none the wiser that I am really snoozing peacefully in my blackout curtained nest while they are hitting their first coffee break of the day! I hope to find a position in programming that allows me to work at home so I can set my own schedule the majority of the time.

There are many suggested treatments to try to "cure" this disorder. I wish the best to those of you who are desperate to find a cure for yourself. Aside from the criticism of those that don't understand, I am perfectly fine with my "shifted" schedule. I find the middle of the night soooo incredibly peaceful. The added bonus is I always feel super busy and popular trying to fit a day's worth of errands and socializing into the afternoon/early evening hours! I may call lunch what my friends call dinner, but sharing a meal is social either way. Then they go to bed and I get to work!

Best wishes all. I hope you are able to find a life that fulfills you in every way.
Nov 04, 2022
 I am a night nurse!
by: Kat

I am 65 and have been a night owl my whole life. As a result I am tired most of the time, except for the years I worked permanent nights and it was slightly acceptable to sleep during the day. I was usually the perkiest nurse on the night shift, and I never drank coffee! My grandmother, and Aunt had the same condition. I do my best work at night…I love the dark, the quiet, the lack of people. I have always wanted to write…I can’t think of a better occupation for someone like me!

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Thoughts On Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome.



Enjoy this page? Please help us pay it forward to others who would find it valuable by Liking, Sharing, Tweeting, Stumbling, and/or Voting below.

About This Site

Welcome! This site is continuously being created by students of Dr. William C. Dement's Sleep And Dreams course at Stanford University.

We made this site as a call to action for people all over the world to live healthier, happier, safer, and more productive lives by learning about their own sleep. We have faith that reading the information provided on this site will motivate you to be smart about your sleep deprivation and strategic about your alertness in order to live life to your fullest, most energetic potential.

In fact, we challenge you to do so! What do you say, are you up for the challenge?

A Note On Visitor-Submitted Questions:

Publishing sleep stories and questions from our visitors is meant to create a forum for open and proactive dialogue about an extremely important portion of our lives (one that occupies 1/3 of it and affects the other 2/3) that isn't talked about enough. It is not meant to substitute a trip to the doctor or the advice of a specialist. It's good to talk; it is not good to avoid consulting someone who's profession it is to help you with this kind of stuff.

If you are in any way concerned about your sleep health, don't wait for an answer on here, and don't necessarily rely on them. See a sleep specialist in your area as soon as possible.

More Questions:

Ask | Answer

The Stanford Sleep Book

Stanford Sleep Book Picture

Dr. Dement's pioneering textbook has been the core text for Sleep and Dreams since 1980, but it has just recently been made available to the wider public for the first time.

In it you'll find a more detailed account of the most important things you need to know about sleep, alertness, dreams, and sleep disorders. Studies, statistics, plus plenty of Dr. Dement's classic anecdotes painting the history of sleep medicine.

Preface | Intro | Contents | Get A Copy

More Sleep Resources

The Zeo

Track Your Own Sleep With Zeo

A revolution in personal sleep tracking, the Zeo is a wireless headband that transmits your brainwaves in realtime to a dock (pictured here) or your smartphone. The result? You can wake up and see exactly what stages of sleep you were in during the night! Unprecedented personalized sleep knowledge.

Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer's Guide

Sleep Paralysis Treatment Book

Ever woken up paralyzed? A surprising number of us have, believe it or not. But few know the actual causes of this phenomenon, and fewer still how to exert control over it. Dream researcher and sleep paralysis expert Ryan Hurd shares breakthrough insights into how to do just that.

Important Disclaimer

Please Note:

The information found on this page and throughout this site is intended for general information purposes only. While it may prove useful and empowering, it is NOT intended as a substitute for the expertise and judgments of healthcare practitioners.

For more info, see our
Terms of Use.