Now's not the best time...

Growing up I was blessed to go through a homeschool educational experience. As to the type of homeschooling that can be done, I will save for another time. For the most part I was able to study wherever I wanted to in the house, (be that my bedroom, the kitchen, the family room, etc.) as long as the schoolwork was completed. I loved the freedom but I still had some trouble focusing while studying.

Fast forward to adulthood and going o college. At first I was a bit awed at the school room setting, but I quickly realized that I was most productive for homework during the late evening hours before the project/assignment was due.

At first I was a bit awed at the school room setting, but I quickly realized that I was most productive for homework during the late evening hours before the project/assignment was due.

It was almost an eureka moment. For a few assignments I tried an experiment. Some assignments I would spend all day working on, submit it and then get the results. Other assignments, same type but different topic, I would wait to complete it until after9-10pm at night and then submit it and get the results.

I was shocked. I would consistently score higher on the assignments that I completed in the evening hours verses the assignments that I completed during the day. Why? Why couldn't I be like everyone else, do the work during the day? Why do I do my best work way late at night, often hours to minutes before the assignment is due? and Why do I never learn to plan ahead better for the assignments?

I recall for one assignment I had to write a 5-page paper on the topic of early childhood education. Not a big deal. I loved the topic and it was for my major. I set aside a whole Saturday to get it done. Well. Suffice to say it did not go as planned. I literally spent the whole morning starring at the screen, mind blank, writing and rewriting about one page worth of information. I couldn't think. Finally I gave up in frustration.

I couldn't think. Finally I gave up in frustration.

Later that evening, close to 9pm I went back to the computer and tried again. It started out at the same point. Then like magic 9pm came and I found myself writing complete sentences. I completed the paper in about 30 minutes.

To this day I still seem to think better, or wake up more after 9-10pm at night. One could ask my family members. It's almost like watching Fiona from Shrek. 10pm comes and I start talking out loud more, asking deep questions and engaging people in discussions. This does not jive well for the rest of the family who are usually ready for bed or at least winding down.

All of this led me to come up with the thought that: Everyone has their own personal time of productivity, and you need to utilize it as much as possible. I don't think that it is always a matter of procrastination in regards to schoolwork completion. Sometimes it is a matter of when your brain works the best. I have always been a night owl. I love reading late, staying up late and interacting with people later at night. Other people in my life are early birds. While I am barely talking to anyone, they are busy chatting away and getting life started.

What I wanted to say in this blog at least, was that everyone has their own time to thrive and a time that they don't. For me morning and afternoons are not the best time for me to complete schoolwork or more thought provoking tasks, but after 9pm is. For other morning is their best time and the rest is not the best time. I think to help the children and young folks in our lives we need to help them find their time to thrive and exploit it for their benefit.

What I wanted to say in this blog at least, was that everyone has their own time to thrive and a time that they don't.

Obliviously, night owls need to learn to live with the rest of society and do most work during the day. But creating time for them to do meaningful work at a meaningful time helps children feel a sense of purpose and ease in their own temperament. People are not cookie-cut into existence. Not everyone learns, studies, or is productive in the same way. As caring adults we can help the children and young adults in our lives learn how to make the most of every opportunity.