I am naturally a night owl. I have done a job which was a mixture of day and night shifts and always thrived on the night ones, was half asleep on the day ones. When I switched to a different job which was purely night work, I found it thrived in it.
I do a day job again now, but up until recently it would be a case of being up late at night, waking up just in time for work perhaps squeezing a quick dog walk in, taking a break to shower, have a coffee, and then needing to nap after work before getting on with the gym/chores/whatever else I had to do. While I do sleep at night, I wake up every hour/two hours. I have been this way since childhood.
I am single and childless, so although it has been an issue for me, it hasn't affected anybody else.
Anyway recently I had had enough of myself and decided to try to go to sleep a lot earlier and get up at 06:00 ish-going to the gym in the morning, walking the dog and doing other things before starting work.
I am still however needing to nap in the afternoon. Going to bed early feels very odd and like I am missing something. Getting up early feels odd too-being at the gym at 07:30 feels so strange-like I am a completely different person although I do like it in a weird way.
I start flagging at about 15:00. Luckily my work is flexible enough that it hasn't caused an issue. I'd like to be 'normal'! Will my body ever get used to it?
It doesn't help that every few weeks I help a friend out who runs a nightclub-so then I am up until 07:00-although I do feel good going to sleep at that time-like that's what Iam somehow 'meant' to do!
And if I go on any type of night out at all I have to nap beforehand-still the case now and has been since beginning day work.
I don't know if anyone can relate or has any tips?
I am in good health, early 40s, slim no health conditions etc