Comments on: Larks, Owls and Hummingbirds

By: PI

PI — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:29:32 +0000

I am a lifelong owl. Even as a small child, I would not fall asleep until late at night. I recall my father letting me sit up and watch Twilight Zone with him. If I was awake at 2 or 3 am, I would read a book by flashlight. Although I learned to be function as a lark when in the military, I have always reverted to my preferred schedule whenever the opportunity arises: get up at about 11 and go to bed at 2 am. Now, my work requires a presence by the “standard” morning start time. If I stick to a schedule, I can do it, but mentally I am at my sharpest in accordance with my “natural” rhythm, and feel most productive from about 2 pm until 9 pm.

By: JD

JD — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:14:38 +0000

@ Gina

I think it’s great that you really know your pattern and you have ways for adapting to make the most of it. I think some people never get to know what their best is, because they don’t know their best sleep pattern.

By: Gina Fredenburgh

Gina Fredenburgh — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:51:36 +0000

By: JD

JD — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 05:43:49 +0000

@ Patricia

I was so happy to find a smiling owl I just had to use this pic.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:11:05 +0000

I just know that sleep is extremely important to me and especially when I am involved in the healing process – I think my cells and mind correct themselves during the night sleep. I wake up without an alarm about 6:30am and humingbird through a full day and am ready for bed by 9:30 or 10 – I just can not think or read or concentrate any more.

I loved the picture on this one…the owl is smiling in satisfaction I think – so it can not be the one calling outside my window most nights!

Thank you for your nice work and words

By: J.D. Meier

J.D. Meier — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:40:17 +0000

@ BunnygotBlog

Thank you. I’ve found that the same quiet I used to rely on at night, I can find early enough in the morning. I’m more flexible now than I used to be.

By: BunnygotBlog

BunnygotBlog — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:31:38 +0000

I use to be an lark until I started my business then I turned into an owl now I am a mixture. If no appointments I work or stay up as long as my husband does he is defiantly an owl.

Interesting article J.D. keep up the great job.

By: JD

JD — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:31:58 +0000

@ Nadia

I don’t think I’m an owl or lark, so I think I fall into the hummingbird bucket too (with more owl in the winter and more lark in the summer.)

@ JB

From the science, it sounds like if you’re a lark or owl, it’s baked in. So it sounds like while you can fight the pattern, you might get better results working with the pattern.

@ Fred

I get the impression the hummingbird is flexible. I noticed when I was camping for a month, I felt my best when I was more like a lark. I’m always my most creative as a night owl though.

@ Vered

That’s actually a good point. I know scenarios where larks and owls don’t mix well in the morning.

@ Dr. K

It sounds like you’ve built quite the range of flexibility. Just when I thought it was OK to be a hummingbird, now I want the ultimate flexibility of an owlarkingbird

@ Jannie

I have a feeling that if you aren’t sure what you are, it’s probably a hummingbird. I suspect that the owls and larks are obvious. For example, some people I know wake up brutally early and they are in their zone. They have always waken up brutally early. Others I know are part vamp. They only come out at night.

@ Louisa

I used to suck at sleeping. Now, I’m really good at it. I guess practice makes perfect

@ Juliet

I was curious about it too, since I know my pattern changed quite a bit. I suspect it’s only obvious for the true lark or owl scenario.

@ Daphne

It sounds like you’ve found your ideal sleep pattern and that’s great. I think that’s the key … figuring out our own best sleep patterns and leveraging them.

@ Alik

You reminded me how you can either stretch the day into the next, or you can get a jump start. It sounds like you’ve mastered getting a jump start on your day.

@ Avani

I think the key is to find your best patterns for creativity and productivity. I used to think I was more creative at night, but it might just be that it’s a different ambiance. I need to test some more. So far, I’ve always been more productive earlier in the day.

@ Hilary

I like how you connected it back to eating patterns too. I used to think what I ate didn’t matter, but it really does impact my performance.

By: Hilary

Hilary — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:17:19 +0000

Hi JD .. I’m a larking hummingbird – and always have been: can’t take late nights ever since a young ‘lady’! I work much better at this time of day and it’s a struggle at night.

Finding our own time space is important – ie what suits us as a human body – we are different. If I eat breakfast I feel terrible, if I eat a big breakfast or a non-salad lunch I feel terrible .. and the same with sleep – I miss so much.

I love your owl .. thanks -Hilary Melton-Butcher
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By: Avani Mehta

Avani Mehta — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:50:40 +0000

Used to be a lark. Now am like an owl. I think productivity should be tied with when are you most productive after waking up rather that precise timings. That is, if you are productive the first half of your waking day, you should be a lark and if it’s second half then owl.