The Meddlesome Muse

My Muse Only Shows Up at 2 AM – Why Tho?

Ever tried to be creative during the day? Yeah, same. It doesn’t work. You sit down, ready to make art, but your brain just stares back at you like a blank canvas. No ideas, no motivation—just vibes. You scroll through Pinterest, organize your supplies, maybe even clean your desk in hopes of sparking some creativity. Still nothing.

Then, just as you’re about to sleep—BAM! The Muse kicks in like an over-caffeinated raccoon, demanding attention. Suddenly, every brilliant idea you’ve ever had decides to show up at the exact moment you need rest. One minute, you’re cozy and drifting off; the next, you’re wide awake, convinced you need to start a giant cat painting or learn embroidery immediately. This always leads to more money spent.

Why does this happen? A few theories. First, your brain is a troll. The moment you stop trying to be creative, it suddenly wants to be helpful. Second, there’s the forbidden fruit effect—if you should be sleeping, your brain wants to do the opposite. Then there’s the caffeine betrayal. That “harmless” coffee you had at 3 PM? It’s kicking in now. At 2 AM, there’s also no pressure, no distractions, and no judgment, which makes your ideas flow more freely. Finally, sleep-deprived genius mode is real. Science says that when you’re tired, your brain functions similarly to when you’re slightly drunk. So your late-night ideas? They’re either pure brilliance or absolute nonsense. There is no in-between.

I’ve tested this theory on myself (unintentionally) many times. Daytime me- has no ideas, but midnight me- suddenly wants to start a new art series, try sculpting, and maybe build a life-sized installation piece in the backyard. The struggle is real.

So, how do we deal with this? One option is to keep a sketchbook by your bed to jot down ideas before they vanish. Another is to trick your brain—pretend it’s 2 AM at 2 PM, dim the lights, and act sleepy to see if creativity sneaks in early. You can also try reverse psychology—tell yourself you must stay awake and suddenly, you’ll be sleepy. Or, you could just accept your fate. Congrats, you’re nocturnal now. Welcome to the club.

At the end of the day (or should I say, early morning), the Muse is chaotic and inconsiderate. 2 AM art ideas are either your next masterpiece or something you’ll look at later and wonder, what was I thinking? We should probably take naps… but let’s be real, we won’t. Now tell me—when does YOUR Muse show up? And do we need to stage an intervention?