The Night Shift of the Soul
Between 11 pm and dawn, there’s a peace you can’t find in daylight; some of us go there to remember who we are.
I have met with several clients over the years who have found themselves living partially in the quiet of night.
I understand why.
Daytime comes with expectations.
Other people.
Responsibility.
Conversation.
Duty.
Night is different.
It’s easier to simply be - to inhabit the version of yourself that isn’t performing, pretending, or conforming.
Time moves differently after dark.
Noise softens, travelling in long, slow waves on the breeze.
No one to answer to. No one to let down.
No jobs, no duties,
and most importantly, no guilt, no shame.
The mother who stays up long past bedtime, even knowing her child will wake at 5:20 am sharp, just to sit with herself.
The student lingering on the back step after a night out, sitting with memories, breathing in the silence.
The writer who only finds their rhythm when expectations fall away.
The teenager who can explore who they are without interruption, without choosing a path before they’re ready.
I don’t believe the 5 am club has any magic in it, no matter what the productivity gurus say.
But I do believe the night, from 11 pm to 7 am, holds a quiet power.
A peace.
A quiet.
A kind of spirituality you only find in a dense forest, on a cliff overlooking the sea, or under a wide stretch of sky.
Space that, in that moment, belongs only to you.
When we’re under stress, feeling vulnerable, or losing our sense of self, it makes sense that we retreat into the night, for solace, for breath, for space.
So instead of judging yourself for your changed sleep pattern, “lazy”, “unhealthy”, “unproductive”, consider why your body might be choosing the evening.
Take a breath.
Watch the stars.
Wait for the sunrise.
Exhale.
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