I got a job that requires me to be in the office at 08:30 and I do it. I have no difficulty going to bed at 11:30 and being asleep by 12:30. I have no difficulty getting up at 06:40 and starting my day.
I can do all of these things because I am a responsible adult.
But I don't feel right. I'm not a morning person. I am most productive in the afternoon. Telecommuting from 10:00 to 18:00 would make the most sense for me but I understand that most employers simply do not have the flexibility to come up with custom solutions for everyone.
> I can do all of these things because I am a responsible adult.
You are saying that if anyone is not willing to do these things, they cannot be responsible adults. How rude and arrogant of you, if you really mean what you say.
There are people who have circadian rhythm issues and are able but not willing to pay the price paid in health for adhering to a given sleeping cycle. You say these cannot be responsible adults. That's what appalls me.
I don't function very well in the morning, regardless of how much sleep I get. I've experimented with all kinds of sleep schedules and durations. I've tried taking vitamins, melatonin, exercising before bed. I've tried using flux and not drinking coffee the day before or at all.
Non of this worked to make me funciton more in the morning. However, I can usually function very well at night, even if I'm tired. Even if I got little sleep.
The problem is, if I get up early and try to function, then I won't be able to funciton later either.
I do get up early and work a "morning persion" schedule, but its important to note that my employers rarely get my best work with this schedule.
You should ask someone who actually knows about that topic, e.g. any doctor that works with people with sleep problems, what they think of your statement.
I understand you are angry because of how I reacted.
See, you are talking bad about other people, people you don't know, whose stories you might not even have ever imagined. And denying someone to possibly be a responsible adult is very bad in my book. Look how society treats people who are not adult or considered irresponsible.
Having that in mind, I reacted rather direct and rude, but hopefully understandibly so.
Is there any science that suggests that people are hard-wired to be "early" or "late" people, and that there's just nothing one can do to change it? Legitimately curious. To me "I'm just not a morning person" seems like a pretty weak excuse for not being able to function as a professional because it's a little early in the morning, but maybe it's been shown that this is some intrinsic genetic trait that you can't control...?
It would be extremely unusual if all people had exactly the same circadian rhythm; some variation in sleep-wake cycles between individuals would be expected in the same way as a variation in height would be expected.
Wikipedia [1] says: "Normal variation in chronotype encompasses sleep–wake cycles that are from about two hours earlier to about two hours later than average." (Unfortunately the citation link is broken.)
I much prefer starting earlier and getting done earlier. A lot of this has to do with my schedule vs the babysitter's (my parents) schedule, but getting done at 3pm is a great feeling. Getting up at 4am (and starting work at 6am) isn't always fun, but I'm a bit of an early bird anyway.
Funnily enough I'm a musician too. But that isn't really relevant to the article. Of course you're a night owl if that's when the majority of your work takes place.
But the article was talking about working for a startup. If they want you to work 9-5 so that you can communicate with the team, then get an early night.
A closer analogy might be you telling a bandleader to shift the gig forward a couple of hours because you don't like going to bed too late.
It is not always about "not liking going to bed" at a certain time. Sleep is not something everybody can easily control. Not giving the body sleep when it asks for it can easily become a health risk.
Sure, if you continue going to bed at 2am and having to work at 9, then I can see how it can become a health risk. But if your body doesn't adjust after a week of going to bed at 11pm, then you probably should see your doctor.
> But if your body doesn't adjust after a week of going to bed at 11pm
That's not the problem. The problem is getting to sleep before 2am after having gone to bed at 11pm. My general answer has been 6+ alarms in the morning, lots of morning caffeine in the form of sugary energy drinks, and small-to-medium amounts of sleep deprivation to "fix" that issue (accepting a certain baseline level of exhaustion to enable me to fall asleep at 11pm.) It works, but it's far from optimal. I'm not going to whine about it on a day-to-day basis - that would be petulant - but I am going to feign mock horror and incredulity about the existence of morning people, if only for my own amusement. I'm not going to pretend it's not a thing.
Recently, I cut back to near-zero caffeine - as I've done many times before - and found myself naturally adjusting to a morning-biased, 24 hour schedule - for the first time in decades. This was such a startling change that I'm only half joking when I say I thought about seeing a doctor. But I imagine this is merely what life has been like for, say, the likes of you - all along. Perfectly natural. Nothing to panic about.
> found myself naturally adjusting to a morning-biased, 24 hour schedule
So have you stuck with this? Or do you prefer the excitement of not knowing?
I think I may - possibly through my own hyperbole - given the impression that I'm some sort of narcoleptic unicorn that can sleep on command, but really that's not the case at all. I've experienced plenty of trouble sleeping at various points in my life, but very rarely was it because I was 'a night owl' or 'a morning person', but more that I was stressed, or drinking too much coffee, or too much alcohol, etc., etc.
But, like you, I've got it under control mainly through common sense. At no point did I ever feel like it was my employer that had the problem because they expected me there at 9am.
For the past 2 weeks, at least. It is very strange.
> I think I may - possibly through my own hyperbole - given the impression that I'm some sort of narcoleptic unicorn that can sleep on command
No, but you've given the impression that you at least have it more under control than I've had it. I mentioned 6+ alarms earlier - this is not hyperbole, there have been times when it's been a regular thing, and on more than one occasion I have slept through them all. Rather embarrassing.
> But, like you, I've got it under control mainly through common sense.
I'm not sure what I've done qualifies as common sense. The amount of sugary energy drinks I've consumed (hating coffee) cannot in any way be considered healthy - I'm lucky my family isn't prone to diabetes, and that the headaches only last a couple days when going cold turkey. While my constitution can bare it, what I've done would probably kill others. The sleep deprivation is not healthy either. I've controlled it, yes - but at what cost?
> At no point did I ever feel like it was my employer that had the problem because they expected me there at 9am.
I don't see it as a blame thing. But I've had employers offer "core hours" that didn't start until 11am, and taken advantage of that as a nice common sense perk that balances the need for collaboration and people's different schedules in what's hopefully a win for both myself (better health and happiness) and the company (better productivity).
All other things equal between two job offers, and I will absolutely take the one with more flexible hours. And I will continue to do so even if I somehow end up permanently transforming into not-a-night-owl - because there will be times I get stressed, drink too many energy drinks, etc. etc. - and I would argue that this is the common sense choice for both me and for my employer.
And then doctor will say: it's normal, don't worry, just shift your working hours to match your cycle. ;-)
Typical programmer is introvert phlegmatic or melancholic.
Quote:
Respecting the Daily Cycle
The daily circadian cycle is divided into four six hour periods, with each one having a different nature and temperament. The temperaments of these different periods need to be respected.
The six hour period surrounding noon is the period of maximum light, heat and activity; its temperament is Choleric. Accordingly, one should remain active at midday, from 9 AM to 3 PM, and not sleep or nap during this period.
Conversely, the opposing six hour period surrounding midnight, from 9 PM to 3 AM, is Phlegmatic, being the coldest, darkest and most passive/quiet period of the day. Accordingly, one should be either sleeping or winding down the day's activities to a close during this period. For the sake of one's health, one should start winding down at 9 PM and try to get to bed by 10 PM or not long thereafter. Going to bed later than this aggravates nervous tension and fatigue.
The other two six hour periods between these two polarities are transitional periods, and surround sunrise and sunset, which are the transitions between daytime and nighttime. The Sanguine period, surrounding sunrise, is the period of awakening. The Melancholic period, surrounding sunset, is a period of a gradual tapering off of the day's activities and the shift to a more quiet, contemplative evening mode.
