Are you Nocturnal?

Owl-Light · #1 (**permalink**) 19-10-2006, 10:57 AM

I'm trying a bit of an experiment here. It occured to me that most animals have daily periods of peak activity as determined by their species, but we human animals all seem to be different. Why is that I wonder?

For example I'm wide a wake just before dawn and just after dusk get very nesty and am ready for sleep before anyone else I know. I'd say I'm pretty much a crepuscular animal myself with highest enegry just before dawn and during the early morning. Parhaps that makes me Matinine really (not sure but I think I'll click that one, its still part of the overall crepuscular classification).

My partner is just the opposite, he finds it very difficult to get up in the morning, experiences a real dip in energy at dusk then ping! he's wide away till 1 or 2 in the morning!

I thought I'd try a poll on the subject to see what other people here experience in terms of peak energy times during the 24 hour cycle. So are you Diurnal, Nocturnal or Crepuscular (like me)?

paulthomas · #2 (**permalink**) 19-10-2006, 11:05 AM

Interesting question.

I hate getting up in the dark and don't like late nights so I'd say I'm probably Diurnal

Susie · #3 (**permalink**) 19-10-2006, 11:06 AM

I am just like your partner and you sound like my old man.

Earth Hart · #4 (**permalink**) 19-10-2006, 11:38 AM

For me it depends on what season, usually I'm crepuscular but at other times I walk through the night, from dusk 'till dawn. I like doing the odd ghoster, 36hrs, at the festivals, like Samhain, Winter Solstice, Imbolc, Vernal Equinox, Beltane, Summer Solstice, Lughnasadh & the Autumnal Equinox. These are my special times of the year, when the Mead flows long into the night

honeybee · #5 (**permalink**) 19-10-2006, 01:34 PM

there was some research a while ago, apparently there are two types of people, those who are good in the mornings and those who are not! I'm the latter although I prefer to get up early and get more done, I hate getting out of bed! I think if you believe in horroscopes it depends on what time you were born as to which hour of the day your sign governs. I'm a lot more alive from about 8-11 at night.

Owl-Light · #6 (**permalink**) 19-10-2006, 01:56 PM

I'm not really a horroscope sort of gal, but I'd like to know more about the study you mention if you can locate the details.

honeybee · #7 (**permalink**) 19-10-2006, 04:55 PM

it was a year or two ago and i really can't remember the details, will see if i find more. I think some people can talk a lot of mumbo jumbo about stars but i think if worked out scientifically it has a lot of truth in it...i'm defo typical of my sign

if you consider the influence of the moon on the tides / lunatics then other planets / stars may influence us.

Ollie · #8 (**permalink**) 19-10-2006, 07:27 PM

Suppose I fit into the Crespuscular bracket, definitely an early bird but also a late night one as well. I put this down to twenty odd years of shift working being used to being awake at all hours.
Roger

honeybee · #9 (**permalink**) 19-10-2006, 07:34 PM

yeah my dad has always got up for 5.30 for work so he finds it difficult breaking that habit. My partner's step-dad was a bus driver and is always up at 5 am even on a day off.... no thanks, warm, cosy bed please

Tormentil · #10 (**permalink**) 19-10-2006, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ollie

Suppose I fit into the Crespuscular bracket, definitely an early bird but also a late night one as well. I put this down to twenty odd years of shift working being used to being awake at all hours.
Roger

I had 30 years of shift working too. In those days I'd be all 5.

Now I'm more diurnal. Definitely not matinine.

Airehead · #11 (**permalink**) 19-10-2006, 09:07 PM

My mother was strongly nocturnal, but I am not. Apparently it is not hereditary, unlike having a lot of hair on the back and none on the head.

Wild-Woman · #12 (**permalink**) 20-10-2006, 04:47 AM

As you can see I'm a morning person. Mind you, when I arrive home from work, usually 4ish, the worst thing I can do is sit down with a cuppa, the urge to sleep hits me then. So I keep going till about 9 then that's it. If I did nap, I can keep going until about midnight.
Think I should siesta like the med countries.

mrs fish · #13 (**permalink**) 20-10-2006, 05:01 AM

Early to bed early to rise here too

Owl-Light · #14 (**permalink**) 20-10-2006, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

As you can see I'm a morning person. Mind you, when I arrive home from work, usually 4ish, the worst thing I can do is sit down with a cuppa, the urge to sleep hits me then. So I keep going till about 9 then that's it. If I did nap, I can keep going until about midnight.
Think I should siesta like the med countries.

Interesting, 9 PM is my natural bedtime too, but I usually get sleepy as soon as it gets dark unless I'm engaged in something that keeps me mentally very focussed.

Siestas are just the ticket. If you watch bird activity, they're up early and very active, then by lunchtime they all disappear for a few hours, presumably to take a nap. Then they're back at around 3:30 for a top up on food and a good chat until dusk, after which its roosty time. Kinda like me really