Older, but not always WISER... 

Two weeks! It takes two weeks of consistent effort to acclimate to anything; schedule, exercise, work and sleep habits. Temperature acclimation is the same adjusting to seasons or geographic changes. My most drastic change? I've been sober for 34 years. Fourteen days after my 21st birthday I left a bar praying to get home and do so safely. I already knew I was a drunk and worried everytime I got on my bike, and I wanted to quit. Just being drunk driving wasn't enough for me. That bar I left in a hurry from, I thought I'd beaten a man to death in. Months later and sober I learned he was fine except for having a lunatic pound on him. As a US Army disabled combat veteran I don't sleep much. But when I have to get sleep I shut off all influences; lights, computer and radio and I find I fall to sleep easier. Life's changes should not require drastic events! I wish you luck young Lady. You are in my prayers Hoka Hey

Hey Ginger, I always been a morning bird (weekend 7am washing the bike) I'm a truck driver leave early come home late go to bed early, but for 30 years my wife had an illness that made it impossible to go to bed before she was completely exhausted meaning very late hours. If I wanted to spend time with her I'd have to go to bed around 11pm or midnight and rely on my alarm clock to getup by 4am. As you can imagine by the end of the weeks I was tired and grumpy. She past away 4 years ago. For awhile I kept the late hour "routine" but with time setting my alarm clock early (even on weekends) and listening to my body I finally managed to got to bed at a normal 8:30-9pm. Now I can sleep early and even get up before the alarm. So I think that if you could set a time to wake up and stick to it, your body will eventually adjust and feel like going to bed earlier. Good luck, you can do it!

I'm also a hardcore night owl. I have a very hard time going to sleep early. I have it so bad, I get 3 to 5 hours sleep a night. No matter what I do, I just can't seem to fall asleep till 4 am or later. Even with this habit, I still have to function in society lol. So I have three of the loudest alarm clocks you have ever heard in different places in my house. By the time I walk to them, I'm awake! It runs in my family. Mom's dad father also two of my kids. Four generations deep lol. The bottom line with it is, we all get 3 to 5 hrs more life a day then most! If I get a full 8 hrs now, I'm groggy and feel outta place. My grandfather was the worst. The man could stay up for a week playing cards! Amazing guy. Weather broke here. But I twisted my ankle. So I've only rode my moped so far. Hope it gets better. I don't wanna have it scoped coming into spring, ugh ugh. As always, stay awesome!

I'm a night owl too.. and haven't been able to kick that. I do, however, have a 2 yo australian shepherd who needs exercise.. and the most reliable time that I have to do that is in the morning.. before work.. and I have to leave my house around 6:30. It's a struggle.. but I try to focus on how good I feel at the end of a walk. I actually find that they center me (the same way that riding can) and give me time to watch the changes around me. Something that has helped me in the past year came from the instructor of the advanced riding skills class I took last spring... women tend to focus on what we do wrong, or how we fail. What we need to learn to focus on is how we could do something different or better. So for me, that has helped me stop beating myself up on the mornings that I don't get up early enough to get a 3 mile walk in, and to congratulate myself on the days that I do. When we only have time to walk a mile, I've been able to break it down into segments that are manageable for me.. if I get up 10 minutes earlier tomorrow, we could go an extra half mile. I've concentrated on the time that I get up and let the going to sleep part take care of itself. I admit, though, that I feel my best on about 5 1/2 hours of sleep.. so that might make that part easier for me than for others.

Factory worker for 45 years here up at 5am and in my younger days could stay up past midnight and get up at 5 and work all day and play til late. Fast forward to now 66 yrs of age, lucky if awake past 9pm but still wide awake at 5am even though don't have to get up....Alarm clock will help with the 5am no naps might help with the sleep mode kicking in earlier than now...just a thought

Hey Ginger. What I found helped me change my habits more than anything else is taking small steps towards a goal. My biggest challenge is eating properly. And when I get complacent I add quite a few pounds. But I fail with a sudden diet change. Instead I will change one bad habit a bit at a time. So I will cut out seconds, and when that is easy, I cut out snacks, then I change the food I eat, etc. So with something like sleep, get up earlier, but don't worry about when you fall asleep. Wake up 30-45 minutes earlier than usual and start your day. And go to bed when you normally do. In a few days you will most likely want to go to sleep earlier. And rinse and repeat until you're where you want to be.

Hi Gina. I've been looking forward to this video like I do all of yours. It seems to me that "willpower" is the "power" to "will" yourself to do something and the secret to that is to make it as pleasurable and enjoyable as possible. Its easy to have the willpower to eat an ice cream cone, right? Its easy to have the willpower to kiss a loved one. Its the fact that those things are pleasurable that makes them easy to do. It doesn't matter what time you go to sleep if you really enjoy staying up at night, but set an alarm clock to get up early. Then shower and dress as quickly as you can, put some coffee in a travel mug and get on the bike. Find a place where you can enjoy a pre-prepared picnic breakfast while you sip your coffee catch the sunrise. Bring the book you were reading the night before, relax and finish the chapter you started before you fell asleep. You don't have to do it every day but if you make it enjoyable, it should be easy to have the willpower to do it occasionally. That's how I have the willpower to be on nthe pond fishing at first light. Anyway, that's my two cents.

I don't consider it a bad habit, more like going with a sleep pattern that feels natural. Changing habits gets harder with age, as you have been doing something for so long. Just do what feels right.

A fellow night owl here. I always worked nights and my ex always worked days so we didn't have to hire a sitter for our 2 kids. It worked out great. Fast forward to kids being grown and now divorced. I continued working nights until I retired and I figured I could change my sleep habits after I retired. So far it's been a big nope. It's 1:30 am as I'm typing this, I'm stretched out on the couch with the cat sleeping on my lap and I probably won't get to sleep until 4 am. I rise at the crack of noon to start my day and I HATE IT. I want to be up at 8 am but my stupid body and brain won't let me go to sleep until it's ready. I've tried so many times to change my sleep habits but nothing seems to work. It's so aggravating and when people say, well just go to bed earlier. I want to hit them with my alarm clock. Good luck on your change. I pray you can accomplish it. I can't. Stay safe and God Bless.

Hi G, I am a night owl too and never studied(exams), nor worked on a monday morning, the past 45 yrs. Even in the army (drafted), simply disappeared; bad habit? Not really, I always managed to keep up...If you feel good, why change. At 16 I broke out, now 64, I am called a rebel. My wife turns 2 hours earlier in, but do rise equal; we acknowledge our differences. As long you share positive hobbies, like biking, we still do. We were lucky in creating our own world (self employed make money when needed). Stay close to yourself, you can live in a rithm, but don't turn them into just habits > be open for each next day to explore... from an old geezer!

From what I've read, peoples internal clocks are different and if are a natural night owl or an early riser it's easier to adjust life to make that work for you rather than beating yourself up over trying to adjust your natural instinct. I can go either way. On road trips I tend to rise real early and crash earlier. In general. :D So my advise; just make plans to get up at O'dark thirty and ride (or photograph or what ever - you need specific goal to accomplish for that morning). I don't see much profit in a wholesale life change - but for specific tasks go for it. Maybe for one day, or three - then do what comes natural. Now life may throw you a curve and you'll end up doing that more often because of the reward. But if it doesn't that is OK too. Just get up early when events dictate it. And take naps. :D

Get out in the morning early and ride. Then no naps. Then go to bed earlier. Don’t forget to use the Blue Blocker glasses during the day while your on the computer. The light emitted from your monitor keeps you awake at night.

If it boils down to getting to sleep earlier and getting up earlier for the weekend ride, I think maybe the answer is staring you in the face. In college, I made a horrible habit of waking up late and going to sleep late (up at 2PM and in bed at 6AM). It took years, even while working a 9-5/8-6 job to get used to getting up early. Needless to say, I was something of a night owl as well. I ended up just finding it easier to do the things I wanted to do at night rather than during the day. What finally made the change for me was actually motorcycle riding in the mountains on the weekends. I came across a group of older, more experienced riders, and they all got up early for the Saturday/Sunday ride, sunrise to sunset. I wanted to be part of that group in some way, even if I couldn’t keep up with them on the roads (my inexperience and being on a 500cc versus their 20-40+ years on 1000-1300cc’s or larger), so I made it a point to meet up with them at their meeting spot before they left for the day. The only way I could do that was to get to the place by 8AM each Sunday. So I decided to meet up and chat with them on Sundays, then enjoy the twisty roads, sometimes with or sometimes without them. I quickly found myself thinking about that Sunday meet and ride all the time, preparing my gear each Saturday night to get up the next morning and ride out as soon as possible. I didn’t know it, but I made this my Sunday routine, and eventually it made me go to seep earlier on Sunday nights and wake up earlier on Monday’s, making me more “ready” for work, and eventually I was going to sleep and waking up earlier every day of the week. To say it in a few words, I hadn’t realized it, but I found something I did not want to compromise on, and made the extra effort over maybe 6-8 weeks to accommodate that. Forget about waking up early for rides indefinitely, just thing about that one next ride. If you wanna experience that early morning ride with less traffic and great sun, just go for it! It may take some time to normalize, but if you want to go do something and have the time and means and it doesn’t cost you anything, why not do it at least once? You’ve nothing to lose! Don’t think of it as something you want, think of it as something you will do! Cheesy, but changing your perspective can do wonders. If you like it enough, you will naturally make it a routine, no need to worry about grand goals of being an early bird rider. It will happen eventually and without you realizing it.

Fellow night owl here, hours even later than yours. Early 50's too. Been a night creature since childhood. I have never been able to fix it. I also feel I am missing out on a part of life...the morning part! I dream of getting enough sleep to feel refreshed and able to get up at 7am, and function like most other people...but alas! 😪..So....no real solutions but much sympathy all the way from Dublin.....Happy St Patrick's Day ☘....(next week)!

Gina! Hello, you can do it! I also am over 50 and have always been a night owl. Maybe I started young then worked 2nd shift for years then 3rd shift for more years after that. Mid part of last year I decided I wanted something different for my life as I saw it passing by. I started waking up at 5 am to go to the gym every morning during the week, I had been going at 10:30pm. You know what, I actually enjoy going early and having more daylight to get things done. I still have to make myself go to bed at a decent hour though because after so many years I am still wide awake when bed time comes. It is possible and it can be done! Life is short, live it the way you want to live it and be happy. :)

Ginger, U R OK just the way U R. I'm a night owl too - we R just wired different. Love how real U are. Great work, dear. Oh, you're also GORGEOUS !!!

"Ah, to be young!" Yes, I have a long list of projects that could be done in a day or two, BUT! Btw, your lane usage is fantastic, thanks, Gina. Stay safe!

I also am a late riser and feel I miss half the day. What helps a little is to read my kindle before bedtime with blue shade option on. I notice now that Spring is near I’m gettin up earlier.

Pretty relatable first story time, Gina!

The older I get the more I realize how set in my system I am in. Great video my friend and you wear your age very well. Ride safe

Two tricks to adapt to something new (workout, diet, etc): Go step by step. Start by going to sleep and wake up one hour sooner, and work slowly towards your goal. Reward yourself. Each time you accomplish your current goal go for a ride, or treat yourself with something you like. Willpower is still necessary, but those two tricks helped me A LOT. Pd. Another thing I just remembered. Don't feel guilty if you fail some days, what's important is to create the new habit, it doesn't matter if you miss sometimes, so don't aim for perfection, aim for "most of the time". You're creating an habit, so that's good enough 👍

Mornings around 7-9am is the best!

We are all creature of habit. Once you get out there and do it consistently You'll probably start wanting it more and more. That will probably help you out alot. Every once in a while I'll stay up late though. The next day sucks needless to say. By the end of the day I'm in bed early and then I'm back on track.

I am almost 71 years old and can't say that I have any bright ideas on how to make change easier but I am in process of changing my eating habits. I stopped eating cheese just last year and am doing the Keto type thing and have found that it helps my being tiered and achy and that has helped me in my down sizing witch I have been working on since my wife died in 2011. I am down to papers and pictures mostly but I sill have some kitchen stuff to get rid of. I agree it is not easy making meaningful change in ones life at any age.

Great topic! OK, for me, the wisdom thing has come with my musical epiphanies in 2020 and this year. I've begun to see that I have severely neglected an important part of my humanity by not studying music, music theory, and how to play a baritone saxophone and a bass guitar. I was always of the mind that music (learning/performing) were not in the cards for me. Part of my opinion stemmed from my childhood years, where any kind of music education was seen as unmasculine or something to bully a person for. Since I was already desperate to avoid getting into fights, I never would have even considered music. Glee club was for "f-words." Band was for nerds and rich kids. Music class was something to be endured, not enjoyed. Music itself, far from being understood well, was best enjoyed passively or actively in a car, singing along with the radio. I regret that I never got into music in an active way until the past few years.

I am total night owl also. Makes it really hard to get to group rides. I used to work a full-time job/s, during regular daylight hours, but still would get to bed late. Now it has caught up with me, as I am not often awake during in the day. Like you, I end up riding solo, late in the day, early evening, so my rides end up shorter than I want. In Australia, riding at night, on the twisties is a no no, as all the Kangaroo's come out then, and it is way to dangerous to do so. If you stick to the city suburbs, you are ok, but not on the outer suburbs, or country or hill areas. I am trying so hard to get to be a day walker again.

Perspective. Goals - Stagnation. Merit - Failure. Achievement - Decay. By passion for the pairs of opposites, all creatures live bewildered. Your happiness waits at the very place you picked up the idea of having it. Go there. It's intact and has never left you.

Changing habits is not easy. I believe the only way you’ll be able to do this, is to somehow make it necessary. If you can force yourself to get up and ride for several days in a row, you may find it so rewarding that it becomes a bit easier. I started my career in the P.O. working nights, then evenings, after 12 years, I became a mail man. For the past 23 years, I’ve had to get up early, it’s still not easy, I fall back into the old habits every time I have a couple days off! The only times I don’t fall back into those habits, is if I have plans involving the bike…. Good Luck! Be well, Patrick

Hi Gina. I fully appreciate what you're saying, and I'm the opposite. I do all my stuff in the morning, such as walking the dog or riding the motorcycle, and when it's heading to "home time" at work or afternoon at the weekend / days off it's time for me to unwind. So I miss out on the twilight stuff that you enjoy. There's no easy answer unless you have boundless energy and are happy to burn the candle at both ends, which is more difficult as you get older!

Hi Gina, yes habits can be hard to break. 4 years ago I had to make changes in my diet for health reasons and just carried on with those better habits…until recently, I have found myself falling back into old bad habits and it’s somewhat easy to recognize but very difficult to turn around. But as far as riding is concerned when I have the opportunity mornings to afternoon is my favorite time to ride. You might be able to make it into a “date” for lack of a better word. Make it a point to hit the sack early and set your alarm, go ride to a coffee shop or donut shop for breakfast and make a day out of it you might really enjoy that. Also I have been wondering if you have dealt with cross winds again while riding. Stay safe and enjoy the ride. 🥂

Do what is right for you Gina. You might find that people seeing you out riding before sunset are thinking 'I wish I could do that, I feel like I'm missing out' ☺️ My worst habit would be convincing myself that I can't do something, but I'm getting better at ignoring myself 😁 One of my biggest was memorising classical piano music and that I could never play anything without the sheet music in front of me. In the past couple of years though I have perservered and surprised myself that, yes I can do it after more than 40 years of thinking otherwise! More recently, thinking I couldn't do a U turn on a motorcycle, but I passed my Mod 1 test on Wednesday with no faults and a perfect U turn, and passed my Mod 2 yesterday to get my full license 😁 A lot of it is overcoming those doubts and fears, though sleep patterns may be more a biological thing maybe and not so easy to change, I don't know. Enjoy whatever you do, maybe get up and go for an early ride now and again. You don't have to get up early everyday if the week, just do what's right for you 🤗

When older. Observations skills developed overtime masks most weaknesses in bad riding habits.

Hi Gina, nice to know somebody on the other side of the world has the same pattern as a night owl, I looked at who and what I am as a human, being. That took a lot of learning and understanding, so here's a thought that you may choose to consider (based on what I have as knowledge of what it is to be a human and an individual that makes humanity the incredible species it is), regardless of how you have come to be with the hours you keep and how you can change to accomidate those things you wish to do outside of the hours you keep (of which you can easily do, simply choose to do it, your nature as part of who you are, will book that time, yes, I see that of you, the little that I see of you in these episodes), regardless of this, it is your core nature to be who and what you are, the list is enjoyablely long, from what you have chosen to show and share of your good self and your life, however one of those things, those abilities, that you have shown of yourself (that you may not have been aware of showing) is your ability to change to do that is needed to be done, it seems you can do this at the drop of a hat (not a helmet 😉) for others, so, you rather fabulous human, being, do it for yourself, after all, and here's the open secret, one only has to do something once.. and then once again, another time. Here's a negative to support the point, for a smoker it's not the tobacco industry, or the store selling the cigarettes, or the packet, or even the cigarette that they have to give up, the smoker just has to not light the flame to put it to the cigarette. The positive to support the point, you started the channel after choosing to change to ride a bike and be the RU-vidr you are, we as subscribers have watched you make choices and changes (thank you for sharing and being you), phew! Here's the end to my long winded comment, choose to do it once, post it here (please), and we can all share in the episode and share in your joy as you take that morning ride, when you are ready we'll be ready too and here to enjoy with you. Sy.

Hi ginger thanks for your content. Yep mornings are great, I'm 62. And sleep 1am to 6am last 35 years. To make sure I actually sleep from 1am before a early ride I swim / walk or odd physical jobs in afternoon leading up . It's midnight here in Perth Western Australia as I text.!😊 good luck safe riding. Regards Mark.

Nawww Ginger ... I'm 59 and a night owl ... semi retired... and I'm still learning stuff 😂 ... don't be too hard on yourself 🧡 .... re-started riding motorcycles mid 2019 ... best decision ever

I have a habit of watching Ginger Dash... well lets just say I don't have the will power to say no. 😉

You need a sea change, sell up, move, get a different job, learn a new skill or keep doing what you're doing and make that one little change and go riding in the morning. That's what I do always ride in the morning mainly because it gets hot here and by midmorning it can be 120F, little extreme but we do have those days.

If you REALLY want the change you can do it. I have changed my life completely over the past 10 yrs and I will be 10yrs older than you next month. Just get on with it Gina, you're in control.

Hey Gina, you do you! Whatever works for you is what's best. Keep the shiny side up and enjoy!

You have to WANT to make the change for yourself, or it won’t happen. No one can motivate you better than you. Keep at it Gina.

Gina I think you have some great suggestions here... I would just like to say that your perspective and type of honesty is refreshing and I look forward to your v-logs.. Now that being said, how about an early morning V-log, you would now have a purpose to get up and we can all enjoy it! Take care.

Another great video - yes I am 2 years ahead of you and struggle with habit-changing myself - Keep up the great content.

baby steps! maybe moving that 2am to 1am for a few weeks and gradually stepping to where you want to be. How long has it been with your current pattern... don't expect to change that pattern in a matter of days or even a few short weeks. Finding a fellow buddy to get you up and going really helps as well. Good luck and at the least don't beat yourself up! Try to make it fun and an enjoyable thing to do. Stay safe and keep the rubber side down.

Well Gina, one good reason to ride in the early am is that (according to SF insurance stats) most accidents happen after lunch. Full tummy = sleepy. I'm a night owl, but having to put glaucoma eye drops in 12 hours apart make it 8am and 8pm time. Having no have to be there hours helps! First post with new MX Linux OS as wiped older one installed this one so still only three OS's on this Dell box. Enjoyed you talk, take care and stay safe as always.

Great video 👍 Beautiful day for a ride.🏍️ . Nice time to ride in cool. Daytona Bike week sounds good.

I find that getting up at the target time you want and make yourself resist grabbing a nap to catch up. In a short time if the new found pleasures are there then it will justify itself.

Just wanted to say happy birthday Ginger and it's ok to be a night owl 🎂 I'm one too sometimes I up late working on videos for my channel I'm awake around 8 9 in the morning got to get some coffee in me and out of the door around 12 so I know what you are talking about 🤗

A good workout or something to ease the mind before bed will help for sure when it comes time to sleep.

For me I find if I transition slowly to a change works better than going all in, I think the older we get the harder it is though. I ride in the afternoon but on the weekends mainly Saturday I meet up with a small group of friends we go for a ride, have lunch somewhere nice it’s a lovely way to catch up.

Gina, we are only a few months apart in age so I hear you! I made a promise I’d start purging and throwing stuff out. Little progress so far, but on my radar nonetheless. I live in CA but my office is in MI so I go to bed early and wake up early. That’s tough during the week (when its dark out at 5am) but on weekends I get the best rides in early (Malibu, Grimes Canyon, Ojai, etc). No one on the roads and great riding temps. It takes 30 days to make a habit stick so power through the tough parts of the first two weeks.

The best time for me riding is Sunday mornings until noon. Light traffic !!

I 've had the same issue. Then at one point I decided to move the time to 22:00 that's a big change. It worked for me. If the change is small, the result is small too. Then it's easier to fall back into your old habits

Once we get into summer riding in the morning is the best. As a Florida rider too I’m on the bike by 7 home by 10 or so. It is just too hot. It took me years to learn to sleep earlier and wake early. Have to set a dedicated time i had to go to sleep and wake up. Nothing like a good breakfast ride.

I’m ready for change myself. Looking after my parents for the last 3 years, I decided it’s time to look after me for awhile. I started restoring a 42 year old dual sport motorcycle. When I finish this bike, I’ll be loading up my gear and heading across our beautiful country. Through out my life I’ve been wanting to see the US but I always had an excuse why I couldn’t do it. No more excuses! I’m doing it this year while I still can. I’ll be 52 this year also so sometimes I feel like I’m running out of time. This is my year of no regrets. Me, my bike and my GoPro.

Anytime the sun is low-lying and behind you you must be vigilant of the sun being in motorists' eyes. A truck pulled out in front of my uncle on a morning ride...so be aware and careful. Morning OR evening.

Gina, I was 52 last week, I'm still trying to do the same as you, but it's hard when you are set in your ways...... But still, will keep trying lol.

Your question: "Have you had a long standing habit or a way of thinking about something that you recognize as doing you a disservice?" Yes. At least two (I just had my 70th birthday a little while ago). One is relationships (I may be somewhere on the Asperger's Syndrome spectrum) because of two failed marriages (first 2 years, second 16 years). Second, I am a world class procrastinator (I have checks that I have been meaning to deposit for months . . . years . . . really!) To digress a bit: for the sake of discussion . . . . we have to realize/admit that anything we do that becomes "normal" (takes time to become normal) whether it is good, bad or indifferent becomes NORMAL. Once something becomes "normal" it is difficult to change; for at least two reasons. First, because you have to admit that you need to change (which is a huge step to identify, as most people are really good at lying to themselves); and second, you have to want to change (enough) to overcome habits and discomfort (which is also a huge obstacle). Everyone prioritizes things; whether consciously or unconsciously. If you look at your history of actions, you do what is "important" to you over what is not important. Only once you identify something as worthwhile to invest your attention and energy, will you have the chance to achieve that goal. Changing your behavior is one of the hardest things a person can do. To have a chance, you have to identify a goal worthy of your efforts. As an example of how hard it is to change your behavior, just look at the millions of people who know that smoking cigarettes is a death sentence, yet continue to smoke those coffin nails 20, 40, or 60 times a day. To conclude: Only when you have identified a "worthwhile" goal (subjective or objective), will you have the incentive to persist on the journey to C H A N G E!

Gina, it takes at least three weeks to form a new habit. So don't give up after a few days. Keep on doing what you were doing even if you "fail" to follow the plan a night or two.

i think you will always feel like you are missing out something. whenever i am on my motorbike i fell like i should be on my bicycle instead or have a run. whenever i am on my bicycle i feel like i am missing out on a great opportunity to have a ride on my motorbike or go for a run. and so on...... i need more time.... and, if you really feel like tomorrow morning will be a great day for a ride, take that feeling while going to bed early knowing you need to be well rested to enjoy that ride. that helps for me.

I asked a psychiatrist about this subject, I told her that I am a night owl and she gave a medication that return you biological watch to normal. I left the pills and still my sleep is great

The way I force myself to change a lifelong habit is I ease into it. If it's waking up earlier I decide to do it 2 days a week. Then 3 days a week. Then every other day. And after some point it makes it seem wrong to do it the old way. Being night owl and having a construction job where I need to be up anywhere between 5am and 7am if I keep my alarms at the same time I get in the habit of getting up at 5am no matter when I need to work. And the other big thing is to not sleep in too much on days off. Or else you have a tough time getting back into the rhythm fast.

I have same problem I had to work nights the last 4 years before I retired so now I can’t get up early like I’d love to ride early in the morning Something about the fog and birds singing makes the day feel so clean before all the noise starts up , stay safe 😎👍

It's Daytona Bike Week, lots of bikes on the road. In regards to change, yes, I have struggled trying to make changes to live a more healthy life.

RU-vid at night is deadly. "Oh, I'm just gonna watch this song I haven't heard in a long time" *Two hours later* Oups...

To me changing habits is taking first of all awareness and then brutal discipline. I'm in the process of sheding weight ... so no candy, no or very few carbs and lots of movement. I know what I do wrong so I stop doing it. My tip, find out what keeps you awake. Coffee or tea late, eating late, nicotine consumption, you get the idea and then eliminate it without room for excuses lol Good luck 👍

I feel ya, could have inserted my name in this video, would fit. Lol By the way thought of you last week when going through Ocala on my way to Lakeland for basketball tournament. Set your alarm, ride in the mornings, it’s great! 😁

Not easy, but focus on the positive benefits of the change. Early morning is a beautiful time to ride (if the weather is good here in the UK). I love to go out early, when it is quiet, and then I still have the rest of the day to do 'stuff'. Would it help to focus on getting up earlier, rather than going to bed earlier. Your clock may then adjust itself. Good luck.

I think it’s the “enjoyment” part. You ride through enjoyment and I think for it to happen in the AM you need to find something other than just riding. Maybe it’s riding with or meeting with others…..so enjoyment

Unfortunately will power is the answer. To make a big change you have to really want to or have a motivating need. If you only would kind of like to do it or think it would be a nice idea that probably won't be enough. I have always been a night person. For years I forced myself to go to sleep as early as possible and get up early to train for and race bikes. Once that was over I had no need and went back to my late schedule. What you can do is commit to a week or two and do it. Even one day can show if the better riding environment is worth the effort. Meeting up with others that you like will help. But you will always be a 'night person' who is modifying her behavior. Just enjoy what you do.

How are you liking that new GoPro Mount? "Wisdom is the accumulation of error" I did make a change to my sleep habits. First of all, I feel that sleep is a waste of time, but I realize I need to sleep. I used to be like you in that I would stay up until 1 a.m. or later and then get up at the normal 6:45 a.m. and drag ass all day long. Tired of being tired, I now make it a point to get to bed by 11:30-midnight and I'm not getting up until my alarm at 7:15 a.m., I'm still tired though. Go figure. On Friday and Saturday nights I'm likely to stay up well past midnight. What am I doing? Podcast stuff, RU-vid Stuff, Blogging Stuff, Music stuff and gaming. I just can't get myself out of bed and out of the house early enough in the mornings though to go for a bicycle or motorcycle ride. Most of my rides happen on weekends or after work and before sunset like you. The only thing I don't like about riding after work..... the sun always ends up right in my face. Ugh...

I’m so glad you corrected yourself G, cos knowing you as well as I do, I’m pretty sure you’d not want to be known as a night howler!!… 😄 As for advice or ideas. Simples. Set a very loud and really annoying alarm for 5:30am every day. You’ll soon be only too happy to be in bed by 11pm. You’re welcome. As always. 😁

When I smoked 2 packs a day, I started a new job as farm manager at a draft horse farm during hay season, and it about killed me. So I wanted to cut back. Every time that I realized I wanted a smoke I would just wait a little until I felt I had to have it. By the end of the year I was down to one cigarette every other day, at that point I just said I was done. I was not looking to quit I just wanted to cut back. I ended up making a habit of putting off lighting up until I did not want to any more. Have not smoked in over 15 years.

Night 🦉 ....don't fight it, just move to Vegas a town full of Night Owls. I hit the sack at 1030 every night but when I'm in Vegas I can last to 1 or 2 in the morning. Not a habit and I don't want to change it. It's just the way it is. If you want to ride early mornings try not going to bed, instead start a long bike ride. When I lived at Pismo Beach I bought a new off the showroom floor 440 Kawasaki. If neighbors seen me riding at 8 in the morning I was coming back from somewhere far away. So, you should find a friend and try it. You'll sleep good the next day and your hours will be all screwed up....😆😅🤣😂

I’ve been a morning person my entire life, and now I work from 7pm to 7am. FYI, I’m also a ginger.

Ginger, being a night owl is not a habit, let alone a bad habit. It's a feature of your biological clock. Some people simply *are* night owls naturally. And if you go too much against your natural biological clock, it's actually unhealthy for you. Now, the number of true night owls is not as large as the number of people staying up late and therefore too tired to get up early in the morning. Many people are neither true night owls nor true early birds. If you're one of those, then you can change your sleep schedule pretty significantly with a bit of effort. If you're a true night owl, it's *much* harder and you'll never become a really early riser, but you can still shift a bit. There are several tricks you can try: 1. the biological clock is very much influenced by light. Stop using screens 3hrs before you want to go to bed. Get lightbulbs for your house where you can adjust the color temperature and turn them to a warm tone in the evening. Dim the lights the later the evening gets, maybe even use some red lightbulbs to mimic sundown. In the morning, have a lot of bright light to wake you up. There are alarm clocks that use a bright light bulb and start from very dimmed light half an hour or an hour before alarm time and slowly increase the intensity of the bulb. By the time the clock actually beeps, your body has already been exposed to bright light for a while, which then releases the hormones for waking up. Keep your lightbulbs bright and at a "cool" color setting until well into the day. In addition, a melatonin pill can help at night. The thing is that in true night owls, the reaction to changes in the light are delayed. Meaning, when natural early risers see the sun going down, they pretty immediately release it, night owls don't. Same in the morning, an early riser's hormone system reacts pretty quickly after they switch on the light in the morning. For a night owl it takes a while for those morning hormones to be released. That's why these light clocks make sense. I'm a night owl myself, always have been (I'm the same age as you), so, speaking from experience. Don't expect to be able to become someone who gets up at 4:30am and feels great. You'd just be jet lagged all the time (google "social jet lag"). But it IS possible to shift a couple of hours.

Have you tried getting up early as a first step? Then going for a morning ride, that will wake you up. Then in the evening you might fall asleep earlier than usual, just don't cheat by taking a nap sometime in the day.

Hi Ginger, habits can be changed and their are many methods to do so. The fact that you have taken the time to analise your behaviour and the way you speak generally tells me that you are an analytical thinker , so don’t over analyse…a method that is used in the British military is to get you up early every morning for at least 6 weeks, this seems to reset your body clock and has proven to be very successful, however not having a comanding officer sreaming at you to get up may make turning off the alarm a going back to sleep an easy option. If you can do it for a few days, maybe you would be wanting to have an early night, but most importantly is the way you think about it, so focus on the task in hand and forget about the times you haven’t not succeeded, the next time could be it, Ride safe.

Well Ginger lookin great at fifty wish I did and I'm older : D I find when I go to bed at a reasonable hour it takes me ages to get to sleep or I wake up again at 2 or 3 in the morning where as going to bed later I wake at usually 8-830 , so I just run with that but I will say around 5pm I can get real sleepy . : ) nice watch cheers

Physical activity to make yourself stronger and exhausted for a fees wks may help to change the sleeping habits. Also, do you like camping 🏕️ and longer rides. I’m seriously considering a lone rider tent & cot . Rest for days RU-vidr loves hers.

snap!!! im a night owl also,do you have a tv in room? i find it puts me to sleep very quickly if i go to bed early,i sometimes put youtube on in bed and select rainfall in darkness on the tv screen,gives you the effect of rain if you like that sound,stay safe Gina

Hi! If a bad habit not disturbes anyone but you self. Well keep it if you like it. As you I like the nights. But still I have no problem going up in the morning, When I still worked I sleept about five hours and that was enough. Well I had some short sleeps on the train as well (microsleep). Now I don't work. I qiut my job to be able to do the things I just wants to do like riding my bikes. I'm just 10 years older than you and have still a lot on my bucket list wich is one of the reasons I quit working. AND I will still be up in the nights just because I like it. :)

Well I get where you're coming from, have had both day and night job's and find I like night the best, but my last job was night into mornings driving. And sleep in the day. So can ride after work in mornings or before work in late afternoon or take a day off and ride all day. But I get it's hard to change a habit. I myself I don't sleep much, 6 hours a day. Or sometimes 2 times a day for a few hours each. That's my bad habit. But I try to use it to my advantage. Right now I try to get up early in the morning, and I do but still find I'm up till 1am or so.

Ive worked night shift the majority of my working career. On days off I usually go back to day-ish schedule.

hi ginger . sometimes its easier to ad something to replace what you want to change . yoga helps too .

Yes, no doubt. I do not like to do lists. But since I went through a severe illness I have loss a considerable amount of short term memory. This is killing me now.

Hey kiddo! Have I needed to make changes? Meh, who hasn’t. 38 years in the civil service one might think I don’t like change, but I have always thrived on change and actively looked for it. I can say though, I have always liked getting into bed at a reasonable time and that does result in early mornings. I hear you talking about bikers riding in the morning, I hear your need to change things up. I would suggest doing a ‘bike trip’ somewhere, not far, maybe a week or so. A full day on your scoot will put you down for a good night’s sleep for sure. BTW, what is Daytona (sp?) bike week? 😬

52??? Damn kid! Git off m'lawn! :P

Also a night owl. Except my army days I have always preferred to work nights. And now I do security at night so I am all about RU-vid and Insta. Lol.

The traffic where I live intimidates me so bad. After work my body is too sore to ride my heavy Harley so I ride my dual sport on our property.

Oh got lots bad habits and still have issues of changing them and just hit 56 lol. I think it just being disciplined and sticking to it till it becomes a good habit. Oh yes mornings are beautiful time to ride if it warm enough 😊

Totally a night owl but my job gets me up real early so I only get 4 hours sleep most nights.

Older but not wiser. Sounds like me at 70. I'm still doin' the same things now as when young just a lot slower and not for as long.

🙏

Same age same issue. Stay up all night, 1 night. Go to bed at 10 and wake up at 6.... Then go to bed every night at 10. Before you know it you've changed a habit.

Just stay up all night then go to bed at 10:00 PM the next day. Then you could get up at 6AM and go walking with me to get your 10k steps. Then we could eat breakfast before going to the gym. After we can go for a ride to the beach for a nice stroll and swim. After a shower we could a get couple of margaritas. Then a nice dinner of sea food. Then watch a movie. End to a perfect day.😀

As a fellow night owl, I know what you mean about not getting started until late morning and staying up until 130/2. When I was younger I had a job for about 6 years that had me on a 3PM-12AM shift M-F (lunch/dinner hour 7-8). Id stay up until 2 or 3AM and get up at 10/1030 AM. Had time to do errands and whatnot during the day. For many years now Ive been at a 7 or 8AM start and I find on weekends I slip right back into my night owl tendencies. Sometimes, its just about what your body wants and what is natural? Maybe to avoid having that "left out" feeling after seeing some early rides, give yourself one or two days a week to wake up at 8 or 9 AM to go for a ride?

lol. Hovering over the thumbnail brings up captions.... Apparently your name is 'Gender Dash' now. R.e. being a night owl, its weird that you seem to be living in Australian time while I, being a nightshift guy for the last decade, am living in USA time. I'm on leave for a month and trying to change back to 'day mode' and yeah, its not easy at all but I have to do it because there are so many things I need to get done around my house that I haven't been able to get done for ages due to the whole night worker thing. Fyi, pouring a concrete slab by hand with a mixer and shovel at 51 years old nearly killed me yesterday. The mind is willing but the body is hating me right now. As far as advice about how to change goes... don't know. I just shamed myself by looking at the various projects that I hadn't done or only partially started.

Changing your schedule isn't easy. I am almost 49 and have worked most of my life on off shifts. Now working day shift it isn't easy getting up early. Good luck Changing your schedule. Ride safe.

It’s good to change things up. However you have to do what makes you happy. Maybe just once in awhile go for an early ride. Just my 2 cents. Thanks for the video.

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