[Gabe1205]

As an early riser, I try to maintain a very structured routine every day to maintain emotional stability.

I am most productive in the mornings (it is 3 am as I write this), and I know that I have to take it easy by the early afternoon. That's why I get to work before everyone else.

The problem starts on those days when that routine is suddenly disturbed because I have meetings scheduled into the evening. (It seems as if the majority of colleagues work better during the second half of the day.)

It is hard to adjust to those days. My internal clock will not allow me to start my day later just because I know that it's going to be a loooong day, so I end up spending 14 hours at work, being mentally exhausted by the time the later meetings begin.

The next morning, I feel as if I have an emotional hangover, which directly affects my mood, even though I try to re-establish my normal routine as quickly as possible to shorten what I call my "recovery" time.

I do not think that most of my colleagues understand this. (If I could, and I do try, I would schedule all important meetings where I have to maintain mental acuity in the mornings/ before mid-afternoon.)

How do others cope with maintaining a personal routine and protect it from external factors? How do others return from "emotional hangovers" after that routine has become unhinged?

(By the time you are reading this I might be "done" with the day...)

Originally Posted by Gabe1205

As an early riser, I try to maintain a very structured routine every day to maintain emotional stability.

I am most productive in the mornings (it is 3 am as I write this), and I know that I have to take it easy by the early afternoon. That's why I get to work before everyone else.

I am the same way. When I can't go to bed at my regular time (8-9 PM) for whatever reason, I feel hung over too. I still get up at the same time each day (2-4:30 AM) and rarely take a nap. I just work despite the "hangover" and have found I won't die and can still function. This has happened to me so many times that it does not make me feel anxious.

Just remember, there are those in this world who do not function well in the morning so we have the advantage during the morning but not in the afternoon. I prefer jobs that start very early. I am so cheerful and energetic in the morning sometimes that it can be aggravating to people who are not yet fully awake. It is what it is. I don't expect to change.....

[randomer123]

I am a lot like this. My natural state: I'm wide awake at 5am, ready to go. Get tired around 8pm, get to bed by 10pm. Repeat.

I've rarely been allowed to do that now though. I'm surrounded by drunks and noise and of course everyone else stays up all night until 2-4am making as much noise as possible and then stay in bed all morning (sometimes they don't though).

This means I'm forced to stay awake until the early hours and it's so unnatural for me. I can't do anything, I'm absolutely useless after 9pm. And then in the morning I'm exhausted and trying to sleep longer doesn't help at all (in fact most of the time it makes me feel worse. And of course on some days that is not an option because I have to go out early in the morning (between 7.30-9) and I need to get up early to get ready.

It's always made me feel so odd, being so different.