Early Bird or Night Owl?

I am an absolute Morning Person and have always been so.  If I could work 7am - 3pm every day or better yet, 6am - 2pm, I would be the happiest person on earth.   For me, afternoons are sluggish and evenings are totally nonproductive.  Forget trying to exercise after work.  When I'm done for the day, I'm done.  Dishes to do after dinner...well, they most likely will end soaking until the morning.

Your chronotype may very well be predetermined by your genes.  According to Steven A. Brown of the Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Zurich, Switzerland,  "One of the big surprises was that so much of our daily behavior was genetically encoded." Brown said.  "The idea that skin cells are telling us anything about our behavior was, for me, quite fascinating," he added.

According to recent Huffington Post article ("7 Things Morning People Do Differently" by Sarah Klein) there are 3 types of people: Morning People, Night Owls, and Day Types.  These are known as chronotypes and can dictate certain characteristics.  Guess what?  Morning people are believed to be happier, have better grades, be more productive (obviously in the morning), are less depressed and generally nicer than other chronotypes.  Love it! 

Okay, now for the flip side.  Morning people aren't a lot of fun once the sun goes down.  They are rarely the life of the party because it will most likely be way past bedtime.  Night Owls are said to be more intelligent that Early Birds according to an article by Satoshi Kanazawa in the Scientific Fundamentalist.  IQ may play a role when a person is more comfortable going to bed:  the higher the IQ, the later the bedtime.  Lastly, Night Owls may need less sleep to function as well or better than Early Birds.  

Then there are the Day People.  Yes, that's the majority of you out there that wake up with the sun (or shortly after) and then sleep an average 7.5 hours starting sometime in mid to late evening.  You are the ones that keep this world running.

So can you change chronotypes?  There are many websites that say you can try but equally as many that say you are what you are.   Sleep experts say that keeping the same wake-up time every day is an important strategy for avoiding insomnia.  So forget trying to change.  Embrace it and seize the day (or night)!

Is Organization the Key?

I know where my keys are.  My to-do lists at home and work are up to date.  I keep a generalized schedule for cleaning my home, washing clothes, and getting groceries.   I know what I will be wearing and what I'll be eating all week by Sunday night (and yes, my clothes are sorted by color).  My budget is tracked weekly and bank accounts checked daily.  My work schedule is as organized as possible for the short and long term allowing for those never-ending last minute additions and changes.

Is this a sign of OCD or have I realized that staying organized fulfills a great need for peace?   When I feel peace I am content and happy.

When I get that little feeling of something not quite right, I immediately try to identify it, then find a resolution quickly so I can move on to bigger and better things.  On my first grade report card, my teacher commented that I "do my work quickly and well, but then tends to get up and socialize".  I like to get the work done, have pride in it, but then want to finish so I can play.   Nice to know I have stayed consistent!

Is organization the key to true happiness?  For me it is.  I truly enjoy planning ahead and trying to cover all angles.  I love the logical process and predictable outcome.  I am proud when something comes out well because of all the preparation and thought put behind it.  Will there be bumps in the road?  Absolutely, but that's all put in the planning process.  By allocating time to deal with additions or anomalies they become a welcome challenge instead of the straw that broke the camel's back.

I think most people naturally think better when there is no clutter - not only in their physical space but in their mental space as well.  Keeping counters, desks, and rooms clutter-free allows room for creativity.  Keeping minds clutter-free allow the imagination to come to life.  Material items get in the way so I donate and throw out unneeded items often.  Keeping something "just in case" is not part of my vocabulary.

People often ask my how I am always so calm.  I am a true believer that there's really no need to sweat the small stuff.  Unless it's a true catastrophe, why waste time worrying when a creative solution and well-thought out plan will resolve almost anything.  There are people who cannot make a decision leaving them in limbo, cluttering their minds with unfinished business.  Others simply worry constantly, leaving them paralyzed with fear about possible outcomes.

Before you get disgusted with me, please know that I worked hard to get to this place.  Yes, I enjoy the planning process but I enjoy everything I do.  Really!  I try to find joy in everything, even the most mundane tasks.  It's a mindset that can be learned.

Have I had turmoil in my life?  Yes, and plenty of it.  I've had close family members with cancer (one terminal), both children diagnosed with autoimmune diseases and other physical ailments, family members with anxiety disorder, a truly horrendous divorce with an abusive ex, my own physical issues resulting in several surgeries, you name it.  I am a single mother and responsible for my child at home both financially and emotionally.  I work harder (and I think smarter) than ever.  My son is working toward becoming an EMT before college so he can contribute to his tuition.  We have downsized to the point where we are comfortable and able to save for the future, but still proud of our home.

So, do I sit on my butt and have a Netflix binge?  Do I spend a whole day in bed reading or playing with my dog on the beach?  You bet I do and it's totally guilt free - because it's all in the schedule.