There are night owls and then there are night owls! Most night owl types will have a delayed sleeping and waking schedule which will see them going to bed after midnight, but usually not later than 1 or 2 a.m. If, however, they regularly go to bed between 4 and 6 a.m., they would be considered to have a sleep disorder called Delayed Sleep Phase. If they consult with their physician, they may be diagnosed with insomnia.

Many creative and artistic individuals may have Delayed Sleep Phase and not know it. They simply know that they are very creative during the night and really prefer not to sleep until the morning. New York film maker, Alan Berliner, is one such creative night owl. The bulk of his work is done from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. His film, Wide Awake, outlines his struggle with insomnia. www.alanberliner.com    

Using melatonin or light therapy can advance a sleeping or waking schedule, however, individuals like Alan prefer to maintain their extreme night owl schedule as they feel they are more creative through this time.  A recent article in the USA Today HealthSmart Weekend magazine (June 18-21) titled “Inspired at Night” features Alan.