Something that differentiates introverts from others

Would you describe yourself as an early riser or a night owl?

If it's the latter, you're most likely an introvert -- or at least you identify with them on this front.

Indeed, I've yet to meet an introvert who doesn't go to sleep late at night. 

As I've gotten older, this habit has regulated a bit. But I've never been one to call it a night at 9 p.m. like some of my friends do.

So what exactly drives introverts to be nocturnal beings?

For starters, introverts love their solitude -- it's how they recharge. And what better time to do it than when everyone else is catching some Z's?

Nothing spells peace and quiet like total darkness (or dim lighting) accompanied by the sounds of nature or air conditioning. 

Then again, there are times when I like listening to music at these late hours. The chances of being interrupted by someone or something are slim to nil. 

Some find it odd that I happen to enjoy reading while listening to music. The tunes far from distract me; in fact, they help me get more reading done than I otherwise would. 

I suppose it's similar to music helping me and others put in longer, more vigorous workouts at the gym. Music acts as something of a motivator, a catalyst if you will. It pumps me up and precludes that sense of boredom that sometimes comes over us when it gets too quiet.

But I digress. Introverts normally associate the daytime with an overload of stimuli, from incessant texts to phone calls from pushy clients. It's nice to be able to dial it down a bit as we near the late-night/early morning hours.

It's not to say that we can't enjoy pockets of quiet in the morning or afternoon, perhaps while taking a walk at dusk or when we're out to lunch. 

But we certainly feel more in control when the kids are asleep and there aren't any meetings to fuss over. 

Granted, I don't recommend skimping on sleep. We all need it to function properly, and finding oneself drowsy while behind the wheel or at work can have unfortunate results. 

That being said, if you wish to stay up at night, you're going to have to find a way to work in a nap or two throughout the day, whether during lunch or as soon as you get home. 

Whether you look forward to late nights in order to read, talk on the phone in privacy, or just unwind in silence, there's no denying that many introverts find it an essential -- and often their favorite -- stretch of the day.