ARE YOU A MORNING OR A NIGHT PERSON?

Over the course of our marriage, like most married couples, Libby and I developed routines that worked, but they represented compromises for both of us. Having those routines actually is the thing that makes things work – whether we are talking about home or a place of employment. Our personalities were such that we weren’t too rigid about those things, but we went to bed at roughly the same time each night and had a similar schedule when eating family meals, doing food shopping, etc.

In recent months, however, as I’ve been on my own, I’ve learned how productive I am later in the day. It’s been somewhat rewarding as many of my colleagues at BetterAge are on the West Coast, so there really are no negative consequences to me being unavailable to them when it’s morning in the East before they are awake, and they are appreciative of the fact that they can reach me when it’s evening in the East.

That way, I can ease into the morning and do things that don’t require intensity on my part like food shopping, occasional medical and dental appointments, and household tasks. By the latter part of the morning, I am ready for exercise, recording podcasts, and having appointments with private patients and clients. Colleagues at BetterAge know that I’m always available for meetings in the afternoons, and Monday-Thursday I typically work well into the evening. It’s a schedule that wouldn’t work for everybody – especially if you are a morning person or living with someone who is. On the other hand, I would be miserable if I jumped out of bed and started exercising right away. I know; I’ve tried it.

In addition to finding my productivity “sweet spot,” I’ve discovered another benefit of having a late work schedule. I now watch almost no television – aside from Jeopardy. You’d be surprised what it can do for your mood if your schedule leaves no time for watching either national or local news.

While I would gladly exchange my late day productivity for a few more years with Libby, I somehow feel that I’m honoring her memory by leading as productive a life as I can. I also recognize that the real world doesn’t allow every person to have a schedule that honors the rhythms of their bodies, and I know that I would have a harder time maintaining my schedule if I needed 9 hours of sleep instead of 7 or less.

But I suspect that most people can stay alert to when you seem to be most productive and you may be able to possibly shift some daily activities so that you do them earlier or later – depending upon if you are a morning or night person.