Productive At Night by Kirsten

Productive At Night by Kirsten - January 2019 Scholarship Essay

Throughout high school, I gained a special skill due to my circadian rhythm which I have found to be helpful during my college career. This skill is not my punctuality or my study skills, but rather my night owl tendencies. As a night owl I have learned I do well when accomplishing tasks at night and at hours when most others go to bed. My night time productivity has become extremely helpful in college. Since my energy levels rise at night this allows me to be more productive due to the quiet, my greater levels of concentration, and my flexibility.
A significant factor in my night time productivity is the quiet. As a first-year college student, I live in the dorm rooms on campus. The dorm rooms live up to all the nightmarish rumors. The shared bathrooms are disgusting, students roam the halls crying, and the dorms are extremely loud. Whether it is two in the afternoon or eleven in the morning, one of my neighbors will decide that it is an appropriate time to listen to rap music at the highest possible volume and repeat the songs at a thunderously loud volume until they leave for their next class. This cycle is endless and the thought of quiet often seems to be a far-off dream. Yet around nine or ten o’clock at night, depending on the day of the week, the loud neighbors wind down and a calm quiet envelops the dorm. During this time, I have found it extremely productive to finish all the work I have due for class in the upcoming days. Night time allows me to be productive because I can settle in and finish my work in the quiet with no distractions engulfing me.
My night time productivity is also attributable to my ability to feel energized and have greater levels of concentration. In the evening, it is much easier for me to sit down and concentrate on the particular tasks I must accomplish for my classes. My biological ability to become energized in the late evening hours is an extremely important asset which is contributing to my success in college. It is not uncommon to have to endure long hours studying into the night whether for a test or a massive pile of assignments. In these situations, being a night owl has been very beneficial. I have noted that my early bird friends lack the ability to concentrate when the sun goes down. During that time period they often want to quit studying and start relaxing before bed. This differs significantly from me as I receive a massive burst of energy at this time which allows me to finish my work. When the sun goes down it allows me to put a clock on the study time I have and gives me a boost in concentration to finish my work in a timely fashion. I become productive at night because night time is when my concentration levels peak and distractions subside.
The last factor in my ability to be productive at night is due to my flexibility in schedule. As a night owl I can function on little sleep and still show up to class ready to participate and learn the next day. This is vital to being productive at night, because even if I am tired and the energy I have starts to dissipate as the morning approaches, I still have remaining stamina. My flexibility in my sleep schedule allows me to finish my tasks irrespective of a low amount of sleep. It is virtually impossible to navigate college without having to periodically endure some all- nighters. I have observed others who were not able to do so and who have experienced mental breakdowns. Yet because I am a flexible night owl, I have avoided the same fate. I can continue my work even as morning approaches and although it is not healthy or recommended, I will be successful in class the next day with little to no sleep. I become productive at night because I know I have a flexible sleep schedule and my tasks will be accomplished whether I have slept or not.
Although I have been advised that it is not healthy to sleep in on mornings and go to bed late, I am happy to be a night owl. I love to work alone when the rest of the world is asleep, and I enjoy being able to sit down, focus, and finish assignments all at one time. A flexible sleep schedule has helped me adjust to all types of obstacles and work. Being a night owl helps me succeed and allows me to flourish on my own time.