Vamp Life

Why I write emails at 1 am

Hi Cringers,

I’m writing this at 1 am on a Thursday because this is how I operate.

I’m a night owl, always have been, and I’ve always been shamed because of it.

“You’re just getting up now?! I’ve done a whole day’s worth of tasks already!” the chipper morning birds love to tell me.

It doesn’t help that every time I log into LinkedIn, some self-made millionaire has posted about how they owe all their success in life to waking up at 4 am and how anyone who doesn’t will be doomed to [restfully] fail.

I’ve come to terms with being a vampire. My peak productive hours are between 7 pm and 3 am. 

Why get up with the birds when you can stay up with the bats? They’re quieter and taste better.

But for real, I’m done shaming myself or taking any guff for my love of the night.

This isn’t just me being “lazy” or trying to be cool, I’m wired this way. Studies have shown that it’s common for ADHDers to have a “delayed circadian rhythm” and “a later onset of melatonin production.”

For most of my life, I was forced into the standard 9-5 routine (or 8-4 for school!), but no more!

I recently came across an email from business coach Claire Paniccia who shared about the concept of “neuroidentity.” 

Claire defines this as, “all the different parts of what makes you You, combined into one thing. It’s your ADHD, your depression, your anxiety, any of your neurodivergencies, as well as your personality type, whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, your energy fluctuations, your communication styles.”

I’ve been thinking about this concept as I plan the next steps for building my business. Since discovering my neurodivergent identity this past year, I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that the standard business advice about work schedules, communication, offers, etc., might not work for me because I’m wired differently.

My energy levels vary drastically day by day. I work in hyperfocused sprints, am motivated by deadlines and project work, and thrive when I can communicate directly and asynchronously. 

I have always known this on some level, but because I worked in standard office environments for most of my life, I never had the time, space, or option to explore my ideal ways of working and communicating. 

Now that I’m the boss I can finally work with my brain and set up my schedule in a way that works for me.

I encourage all other business owners to do the same. Don’t just take any business advice you see and run with it. Take time to understand how you operate and build your business to support that.

There are no “right” or “wrong” schedules. Your way is your way.

If you want to write your emails at 1 am, do it! If you only want to do meetings on Mondays and Wednesdays, do it! If you only want to do project work, do it!

Build your business in a way that works with your brain and don’t let anyone shame you into thinking you’re “wrong” or “lazy” for doing it differently.

On that note, my melatonin is starting to kick in, so I’ll bid you all goodnight. 

Sweet dreams, Cringies, don’t let the vampires bite.

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