One of the coolest things about getting older is learning myself. At 22, my body is finally figuring out its ideal clock. Amazing that it took this long, really. But, it's final: The perfect sleep schedule for me is from 11PM to 7:30AM. If I go to bed much later, I wake up groggy. If I sleep less than 8 hours, I can't function. Really, 8.5 is ideal. If I wake up later than 8:30 or 9AM, I'm in a bad mood. Of course, I've also learned that my body is über-sensitive, which is terrible for late-night paper writing or any fun late night activities.
Knowing myself, though, is an awesome feeling. If I know myself I am more aware of the ways others change me, be it positive or negative. I am less likely to get lost in the influence of another if I know where I started. When Alex and I started dating, I would stay up late with him and sleep in - I adjusted to his sleep schedule. I loved our nighttime hours together, but ultimately I was miserable. And although it has changed our relationship (I am falling asleep right as he begins his night, and I wake with nearly 4 Alex-free hours), returning to my body's ideal is one of the most satisfying things I have done for myself.
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