"Taking things in stride" often just translates to "stop having emotions that do not please me."

About not sleeping after midnight: have you always been a night person, including when you were a child or young adolescent? You might have delayed sleep-phase disorder. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_sleep_phase_disorder) I have this, so that's why I know about it. However, it could be other things -- insomnia can have lots of different causes. I don't think it's something one can figure out and take care of on one's own, without professional help.