Sonia M. Rompoti, MSc, bsc

There’s this question that floats around productivity circles like a glittering promise: What time do you wake up and go to bed? It sounds simple—innocent even.

But for indie authors? It’s not just a question. It’s a confession. A badge. A quiet little scream.

So let’s talk about it. Not the Pinterest-perfect morning routines. Not the smug “5 AM club” posts that make you want to hurl your coffee. But the real answer—the one most of us dodge in interviews and blur in our blogs.

Let’s talk about right now.

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The Sleep Schedule of an Indie Author: Somewhere Between “Respectable Adult” and “Goblin Mode”

Right now? I go to bed around 2:00 AM. Sometimes 3:30. I wake up late—if I’m lucky, around 9:30. If the insomnia hits, I’ll zombie-scroll till the sun rises and finally crash just before emails start pinging.

That’s the truth.

And I used to feel so much shame around that.

Because somewhere along the line, we were told that success wears a suit and wakes up at dawn. That if we’re serious about our careers, we should be up grinding while the rest of the world sleeps. And if we’re not? Well, then clearly we’re just hobbyists.

But here’s the plot twist: I get more done in those midnight hours than I ever did in the golden light of 6:00 AM.

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Creativity Doesn’t Wear a Watch

Some of us are night writers. We breathe better after everyone else goes to bed. Our thoughts quiet down just as the world does. Our words unlock when the emails stop, the dishes are done, and no one is watching.

I’ve tried to change it. Set alarms. Create habits. Drink less coffee. But the truth is, I write best when the moon is high and the house is still. And I’ve finally stopped fighting that.

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But What About Health?

Yes, I care about it. Deeply. And yes, my current schedule isn’t ideal. I feel it in my bones—literally. That’s the thing with being your own boss: you can run this indie author train straight into burnout before you even see it coming.

So now, I’m shifting.

Not because I want to become someone I’m not—but because I want to stay someone I like.

I’m playing with boundaries: screen off by 1:00 AM. No editing after midnight. A warm tea, not a fifth espresso. A soft “we’re done” to myself instead of pushing through.

Do I always succeed? Nope. But I’m trying. Because I don’t want to trade my spark for constant exhaustion. And neither should you.

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Sleep and the Seasons of Indie Life

There are seasons. When I’m launching a book, everything goes out the window. When I’m deep in the draft stage, I might write until my eyes blur. And then, there are days when I step away and nap like it’s a second job.

And you know what? That’s okay.

This isn’t a 9-to-5. This is a living, breathing relationship with your words—and like any relationship, it ebbs and flows.

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So… What Time Do You Go to Bed?

No really. I’m asking.

Because maybe if we talked about this more, we’d stop pretending every indie author is a productivity machine. We’d stop apologizing for being tired. We’d start honoring our real rhythms.

We’re not failing if we’re not “early birds.” We’re not broken if we write at midnight. We’re just… writing. Living. Creating.

So tonight, when you hit Save at 1:42 AM and whisper “just one more chapter,” know this: you’re not alone. You’re not behind. You’re not doing it wrong.

You’re just an indie author. And this is part of the story.

Drop a comment or DM me: What time do you actually go to bed and wake up right now? No judgment, no filters—just real talk between creatives.