I am strongly prone to be a night person. Left to my druthers I'd typically hit bed at 3-4am.

Once I spent two months in the desert--a good fifty miles from civilization. No artificial light of any kind (except for a flashlight for emergencies). In a very short time (maybe about a week) I was habitually waking up about a half hour before dawn, bursting with energy and eager for the day.

At the same time this was happening, I found that not long after sundown I began to literally feel drugged, and simply was totally unable to stay awake (it's difficult to express how strongly I was pulled into sleep by this). This was in Nevada, in April/May--so I'm guessing I was sleeping from 8pm-5am.

Bottom line: I felt great, and had far more energy than any other time in my life--especially in the morning.

We don't realize how much artificial light has messed with our lives--and one thing we've lost is the great PLEASURE of being naturally aligned with the normal circadian rhythm.

I recommend having a kid. It's the best way to maintain morning discipline, no matter how much of a night owl you used to be. Unfortunately.

I was astonished to run into your post early this morning when I was opening my MSN Hotmail and came upon the article about old people and sex in nursing homes and then the interactive FRAY>

The astonishment came from the fact that I, too, spent two months in the desert in 1992. I was 56 years old. Of that two months I did a solo vision quest out in the middle of nowhere in the canyonlands of Utah for 40 days and 40 nights. Spectacular experience! And I did experience the relationship to the animals type of sleeping habits...at least the daytime animals and birds and insects. But I also was awake a lot at night because I was just so full of energy. I also used a flashlight extremely sparingly. Hope somehow this reaches you and you get to communicate with me. Krystalargo in Napa, California

That's so funny! I also did 40 days and 40 nights in the desert in 2005. We were normally out in the town until later in the evening, so bedtime wasn't until at least 10 most of the time, but I would wake up around 5:30 every morning, waiting for it to get warmer before I got out of the warm sleeping bag.

I live in the Eastern time zone, and it's interesting to note that on my trip to Albuquerque a month ago, this night owl could not sleep past 6 a.m. in a hotel room. I don't think my body ever adjusted to the new time zone, even though we were there for a week.

Krystalargo and LButterfly, Cool!

Yes, I also was out there with the intention of "re-evaluating." I was completely alone--and NEVER used my flashlight; so maybe that explains why I really did become so attuned to the daily rhythm.

I won't say that I didn't have some night-time waking and tossing-turning, but I attributed that mostly to the uncomfortable sleeping. I slept outside, on the ground (foam pad)--and you can never get those things as comfortable as a bed.

Also, I ate mostly a sort of "pancake" that I made from flour; and I also ate fresh sprouts, that I grew and kept (in a jar) in my sleeping bag, to keep them from freezing. Once in awhile I had a pre-packaged meal--but I didn't really feel compelled.

The entire experience showed me so clearly how big a DRAIN modern society is on us. I came away from the experience with an unbelievable amount of energy (that lasted TEN YEARS). Often, I think the only worthwhile thing I can really do is go BACK to that life (indeed, I could see myself "retiring" in that manner--and just dying, and turning to dust, when it was my time).

I can tell anyone interested that until you've had a similar experience you don't even fully know yourself; and you can't have as full a perspective on life and yourself without such an experience.