It’s always comforting to find out just how connected we really are when you find yourself identifying with complete strangers in regards to private, personal habits.  One common personal habit I have is staying up way too late.  I love the quiet solitude of knowing that my wee ones are sound asleep, content.  A wave of excitement washes over me as soon as I slap myself awake after reading the bedtime story, saying the last prayer, and finally turning off the light.  “It’s time for me!” I hear my inner voice shout.

So many of us seem to be night owls.

Despite my need for more sleep I stretch myself through the evening to simply enjoy reading or catching up on shows (ahem, have I mentioned I love to DVR Oprah?) or blogging, or, one of my favorites, talking to a friend for a few hours on the telephone.  Ah the joy of uninterrupted time.

It’s been on my to-do list for a few years now to have some lovely evening time but to also call it quits at a decent hour.  I seem to get a second wind around 10:30pm and I have discovered that I’m rather useless the next day if I ever stay up until 2am or beyond.  My more common retirement hour is midnight.  By the time I fall asleep it’s probably close to 1am.

Speaking of self-care, I know that I would be honoring my spirit more if I could reign myself in by 11pm.  Due to my desire to relish every evening moment, I’ve been paying a big price lately, at least once each week.  My body completely shuts down on me and I’ve been literally forced to turn in as early as 8 o’clock.

Are you burning the midnight oil too?  What is it going to take for us to send ourselves to bed at a more reasonable hour?