Embrace your nocturnal nature and stop apologizing for being a night owl; your unique rhythm is a gift, not a flaw.
There are certain things in life that we shouldn’t have to apologize for, things that are simply part of who we are. For me, being a night owl is one of those things. I refuse to apologize for my natural circadian rhythm, for the way my body thrives in the quiet hours when the world is asleep.
It’s a constant battle. I hear it all the time: “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” The implication? If you’re not an early bird, you’re lazy, unproductive, and somehow less deserving of success.
But you know what? As a biohacker, I know that my productivity peaks in the evening hours. While the early birds are still snoozing, I’m firing on all cylinders, my mind sharp and my energy buzzing. My most creative work, my most profound insights, often come in the quiet hours around midnight. Usually after. Yes, you get more done before 9 AM than most people do all day, but I have more done by the time you’re waking up at 4AM to hit the gym than you may get done all day. You are gloriously rising early to start your day while I’m taking all those feelings of glorious accomplishment with me to my bed and snuggling down smiling in the sheets.
I’m a Late Evening Chronotype, which means my body naturally prefers to stay up late and sleep in. Only about 10% of the population shares this chronotype, which makes navigating a world designed for early risers a constant challenge. Structured work weeks, school schedules, and even social gatherings often clash with my natural rhythm. Let’s not meet for breakfast – unless I’m still up — but a late lunch is definitely do-able.
It’s not that I have anything against early birds. If your body clock aligns with sunrise, that’s great. But please, don’t judge me for my nocturnal tendencies. Don’t assume I’m lazy or unambitious just because my body prefers to work when the stars are bright in the sky.
It took me years to understand my own circadian rhythm, years of struggling to fit into a world that seemed to be built for early risers. But once I embraced my night owl nature—when I retired from a structured career!–I discovered a whole new level of productivity and creativity.
I’m not saying everyone should be a night owl, but I do believe we should all be respectful of our individual rhythms. We are all unique, with different strengths and weaknesses, different ways of working and living.
So, to all my fellow night owls out there: let’s stop apologizing for who we are. Let’s embrace our nocturnal tendencies and celebrate the unique gifts that come with being a creature of the night. The world needs our creativity, our energy, and our unique perspective. We are not lazy, we are not unproductive: we are simply wired differently. And that’s okay.
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