Active Nights May Not Be for the Birds (Night Owls)
By Tom Herrin
Many of us heard a lot of expressions used when we were young. Those in reference to whether someone preferred to be up early or stay up late were often related to birds. The "early bird" and "night owl" were two terms that may have been used to indicate what seemed to be a choice of lifestyle. It was sometimes believed that those who were ambitious got up early and went to bed early as well. On the other hand, the night owls may have been thought of as someone who had developed bad habits and didn't try hard enough to comply with the program. For many of us, there is much more to it than this.
Night People May Struggle with Day Schedules
The typical day schedule may begin before dawn. For those who prefer nights, this can be a real challenge. People who function better with later schedules often don't get going until well into the day. This is usually long after the sun rises. They may continue going long after the sun sets. Some of this is due to their circadian rhythm. This is the biological clock that tells them when to be active and when to wind down. In many cases, it is very difficult for them to conform to a normal day schedule. Trying to force change can create real problems.
Day People May Struggle to Understand Other Types
Most of us have been around hard-nosed day people. They are usually geared for the early shift. Many of them cannot relate to those who have trouble getting up early. They get up early, possibly exercise, and make every effort to arrive at work long before they start time. They may not have any understanding of why others can't follow the same schedule. Their clocks may wind down long before dinner. In order to have the best relationships, we have to try our best to learn more about our own clocks and those of other family members.
We May Need to Split the Difference
For any of us to adopt a schedule that is more closely like that of others in the house, we may have to find a way to make slow changes. Altering our internal clocks may be best done by making very small changes in our actual electronic clocks. Moving times a few minutes every few weeks may allow us to make some slow changes that may help bridge that gap. We just need to respect those differences.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Bluffton, S.C.