Is it unhealthy to be a "night owl"?

[HEyHEY]

I have been working a shift that ends at 11:30 alot lately. So I don't go to bed until like two AM.
Then I sleep in.
And on my days off I'm staying up late too.
I like the daytime, but lately I feel better at night... you know, happier and more awake.
It doesn't seem healthy to me, what do you think?

[Ariana Celeste]

1. Welcome to 2nd shift

that's how me and the man have lived for the last couple years, a 2nd shift schedule. not unhealthy at all as long as you are still getting the same amount of sleep, it's just at a different time of day.

:hi:

I tell ya, I love the 2nd shift life- my evening is so quiet, with barely anyone on the road, and an empty store to do my shopping. Peaceful. can sit on my porch and enjoy the night. :loveya:

[SeattleGirl]

2. Being a life-long night owl, I'd say no, unless

you have a job that starts in the morning. I'm lucky in that I can make my own schedule, but have had jobs in the past where I had to be at work early in the morning. Ick! I'm at my best after 9:00 pm in terms of being awake and such.

"Early to bed and early to rise" doesn't cut it anymore. We live in a 24/7 world.

[KitchenWitch]

6. Did you enjoy the ballgame today?

I know the M's lost, but did you at least enjoy being there?

[SeattleGirl]

11. I did! It was a really good game, even though they lost

Saw some good hitting and some good defense. Kinje Johjima, our new catcher, hit a homer his second time at bat. And one of our other new guys also hit one. Beautiful! Ain't baseball great!

[KitchenWitch]

12. I love it

I have to TiVo the early part of the Twins game tomorrow night (eastern Time Zone) because my daughter has dance lessons.

[ghostsofgiants]

3. Hasn't affected my health any.

[JohnKleeb]

4. Nah

I think its normal, my schedule requires me to be awake relatively early in the day but I usually rest or sleep when I get home which is at the absolute latest 12:40. I like the night too, it feels more comfortable and being an introvert means I can be alone too.

[enigmatic]

5. nope

I've been one all my life; when I was partying hard in my 20's I didn't even get up and start throwing up until 1pm:)

[KT2000]

7. I hope not

Since working at home on my own business, my going to bed time got later and later. Sometimes I don't go to bed until it starts to get light and the birds wakeup (nice sound to fall asleep to).
usually try to get in bed by 4 AM though.
The only problem is that people think I am lazy because I'm not up early in the morning.
The truth is I have more energy at night. Mornings are sluggish for me - till about 2 in the afternoon.

[hfojvt]

8. I have heard that studies have shown that it is unhealthy

to work a 3rd shift schedule
However, I think part of that is all of the switching that people do - on their weekends, they go back to sleeping at night (sometimes their families kinda force them to).
Logically there should be no impact if you flip your schedule, you will just be sleeping like they do in China.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

9. Nope.

I go to work in the late afternoon and get off at midnight, then go home and don't sleep until 6 in the morning.

[NMMNG]

10. It can be

I've been working the "graveyard shift" for a little over four years now and it's really wearing on me, particularly since I do it seven days a week. For several years I've had great difficulty sleeping during the day to the point that I need a sleep aid to do so. Lately no matter how well I sleep during the day I perpetually feel tired during my waking hours. My migraines, which had improved significantly when I began treatment, are nearly as bad as they were before I began treatment, and my mental health fluctuates.

Then there are the studies:

A 1999 study found night workers at risk for myriad problems including a rate of peptic ulcer disease eight times higher than normal, increased cardiovascular mortality, chronic fatigue, excessive sleepiness and difficulty sleeping. Shift workers were likely to increase body weight because of abnormal eating habits and lack of exercise. They had a higher divorce rate, worse rates of substance abuse and depression and were more likely to view their jobs as stressful. (among other things)


A 2000 study suggested that night owls might have a higher risk of heart disease


Recent studies even suggest night workers may be at higher risk for certain types of cancer.

Working the "graveyard" shift increases risk of colorectal cancer

Night Shift Increases Cancer Risk and Beware of Daylight Savings Time

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

13. I don't think so.

My body does it naturally. Unless, there's a warm beach where I can snorkel & tan, I pretty much behave like a vampire. I live in the Northeast, so that means, I pretty much always behave like a vampire. I'm healthy. Good physical shape/health. Slightly neurotic and definitely ADD, but I don't think it's related at all.