When is your best time of day?

February 26, 2008 by bobleckridge

twilight, originally uploaded by bobsee.

We are all different. One of the most obvious differences between us is temporal. Are you a morning person? Do you leap up out of bed on waking ready to engage with a new day? Or do you slowly emerge from a distant faraway Land of Nod, taking your time to gingerly explore the morning light?
Do you come alive in the evenings?
Are you a night owl?
Being aware of when you’re at your best and when you’re at your least effective can help you lead a better life by planning to do what you want to do as often as you can at the times which work best for you.
When is your best time of day for reading? And when is your best time for doing something creative?

Posted in from the dark room, personal growth, photography | 11 Comments

11 Responses

on February 26, 2008 at 10:22 pm | Reply davezawislak

In the winter, I become a night owl, with the early night bringing productive quietness, also conducive for reading.

In the spring, I am an early riser, getting my best exercise before the hustle and bustle starts, with reading best in the late morning.
on February 26, 2008 at 10:40 pm | Reply Paul

Early in the day is best for me. I’m more creative; I see things I probably wouldn’t when I tired in the PM or evening. The morning shines with possibility, hope, and opportunity.
on February 27, 2008 at 12:21 am | Reply mrschili

I tend to be the more morning person in our family. I get the girls thinking about waking up and head down to start breakfasts and make lunches while my husband cycles through the shower with Punkin’ Pie. We eat together, then I take Bean to the shower with me while Mr. Chili takes Punkin’ to school (the girls are on different schedules for the next two years… sigh).

I think I do my best stuff in the middle of the day (I joke that there are “early birds” and “night owls” but there are no “smack in the middle of the day sparrows”). Mr. Chili can function MUCH later into the dark than I can – as a matter of fact, when he was working from home, he’d do all his best stuff from 10-2. In the winter, I want to get into my jammies when the lights go out at 4:30…
on February 27, 2008 at 1:34 am | Reply Organic Mama

Lovely photo!

I think in any person’s life, our temporal setting is dictated by our circumstances. Now that my I have children who must get on the school bus at 7 am, I find the dawn not nearly as unwelcome and unpleasant as I used to when I was younger and NEVER saw the dawn.

That said, if I had to typify myself, I’d say I was a night owl, but that may be a function of the fact that I relish the quieter time that comes when my kids are in bed and I can get some work done!

Ultimately, I find I focus better at night and that if I am going to get my best work done, it’s in the evening.
on February 27, 2008 at 6:05 am | Reply katkmeanders

It varies with me. In general I’m a evening/night owl, but I can also get out of bed in the morning and go out and have fun for the day. I prefer the night though, and tend to be my most creative in the early evening and again about midnight. I find it more peaceful, there are less people out. If there are any people out, it isn’t hard for me to tell the ones to avoid from like minded souls. (I don’t mind very large crowds like at a State Fair, because I can fade into the background there. I also don’t mind being on stage. I just prefer to interact with people on smaller scales when possible.)

Usually I need a bit of time in the “morning” to get my mind in gear to create, but I can do household problem solving that comes up as soon as I open my eyes. I call it “morning autopilot” (even if it is late afternoon/evening) or “Don’t ask me to *think* first thing unless it is important/cannot wait!” I’m quiet, but usually not grouchy first thing when waking up, no matter the time of day. I just want a moment of two of quiet to soak in, then maybe some conversation or music. I usually allow about an hour to and hour and a half for me to get around if we have to go on a road trip, sometimes more depending on the season. This way I can have time to come awake, listen to some music while reading a bit (online or off) then get ready to go out for the day.
on February 27, 2008 at 3:00 pm | Reply TawnyHare

twilight is the most wonderful time – I try to take a walk out in the evening and watch the changes happening to the landscape and the sky and notice my perception change as everything turns to black. I love hearing owls hooting softly to each other as they wake up and in the summer, see bats start to flit around. Similarily the dawn is breathtaking, but I don’t get to see that outside as much as I should, I have to get kids ready for school.
on February 27, 2008 at 4:13 pm | Reply bobleckridge

What great comments, folks. Thank you!
It’s great to see such a range of difference even amongst the five of you who have commented.
Yes, I’m sure that we adapt to our circumstances. I think it’s quite a revelation to see what happens to your diurnal rhythm when on holiday for example. But I do think we also experience things differently at different stages in our lives.
I love the rising and the setting of the sun, like you tawnyhare, because of all the changes in the light and the colour. But I’m also an early riser who is completely awake on waking! And can easily drift into the small hours if I get hooked on something. Mid-afternoon and early evening are my tiredest times
on March 11, 2008 at 11:13 pm | Reply Creativity: a scientific viewpoint « Phil Wilson’s Mathematics Weblog

[…] moods, or environments, or activities encourage which kinds of creativity in you? (Bob has asked a similar question over on Heroes Not […]
on March 17, 2008 at 1:30 pm | Reply katkmeanders

Oh, I love to sit out in a quiet neighborhood and watch/listen to the world wake up! Make no mistake. It is just for me, anymore, this is the close of my day. *wink*
on September 24, 2008 at 9:04 am | Reply Arindam Ray

Early I was morning person but now I becomes day person.
on April 14, 2012 at 2:57 am | Reply Nabil

I can do my best at the whole night , and twilight . Therefore, I spend most of my day time hanging out with my friends or doing daily activities.Although I have leisure time at my day time , but mostly I prefer to do my duties at night and early morning .