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Seriously Screwed-Up Sleep Schedule


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I've never been what you might call a morning person, but the last few months have been absolutely ridiculous! At night, I can never fall asleep. My mind races and I can't get comfortable (in a VERY comfortable bed). Eventually (around 3:30am-4:00am) I do fall asleep, and sleep very well. I rarely wake up, and if I do I go back to sleep easily. But in the morning, I can never get up! I'd been waking up around 10am most mornings, but the past week or so, I haven't been able to get up before noon! This is just insane. I can't get anything done during the day.

 

I know I just need to force myself to get up in the mornings, but it's a Jekyll and Hyde thing. When I'm up, I tell myself that I WILL wake up early the next morning no matter what. But when I'm in that half-sleep stage when you first start to wake up, I won't move for anything! Nothing and no one can make me get up.

 

And no matter how much I try to force myself, I can't seem to go to bed before 2am. In fact, it seems like the more I try, the later I go! I don't like being out at night, I just like being alone, relaxing and watching a movie or reading. It's the only time of the day I have all to myself.

 

In about 5 weeks, I'll be going to London for the first time, a trip I've been dreaming of for years. Clearly, I can't be sleeping half the day!! I need to get my sleep schedule fixed and fast!

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Do you drink caffiene? If so, stop drinking it after noon. The good news is your getting normal amounts of sleep, just your sleep schedule needs adjusting. Start by waking up an hour earlier, and going to bed an hour earlier. Keep doing that until your in bed at a reasonable time and wake at a reasonable time. Adjust it every few days so your body has time to adjust to the new schedule, then change it again.

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I have this problem too. No matter how hard I try I always wake up at 10am. I've tried going to bed early but I just usually toss and turn until 2 am. I set my alarm early so I can wake up earlier but I'm too sleepy to get up!

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Back when I had one of my more heinous breakups. I had a horrible time falling asleep. I used to lay awake for at least an hour before I would fall asleep... that was best case. Worst case I would maybe get an hour or two of sleep. Oftentimes I just couldn't stop thinking about stuff. Well, I gave up caffene and that helped a lot. The other thing that helped is I started exercising more.

 

Also, stop sleeping in so late. Force yourself to get up and go for a walk, go to the gym, whatever. If you work yourself HARD, and get up at a consistent time in the morning your bedtime will naturally work itself out and you'll probably start feeling drowsy at a more appropriate time.

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DN, I've thought of the time difference helping, but I'm not sure. A couple of months ago, I visited relatives in Arizona and had to get up my 8 or 9am everyday. For the 2 weeks I was there, it wasn't a problem. But as soon as I got home, I was back to my messed up version of normal. I guess if I can't get back on track before London, I'll just have to rely on adrenaline and excitement to get me moving.

 

Jetta, I do drink caffeine (though not much at all - usually just a small cup of Pepsi on my break and when I get off work) and have never considered it a problem. I know the effect it's supposed to have, but I've never noticed feeling any different, no matter how much or what I drink. But, then again, it is what it is and must be doing something. I'll stop it and see if that helps. In the meantime, I'll keep trying to force myself to go to bed and get up a little earlier every day.

 

What's ironic is I have no problems falling asleep during the day! In fact, some days I can't avoid it, no matter what I do! It's just when I'm supposed to sleep that I find I can't. Frustrating!

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I do work out a little a night. I do my main work out in the afternoon or evening 4 days a week (as I have zero energy in the AM), then before I go to bed I do 250-300 crunches every night. I see now that this is atrocious timing! I always figured I would wear myself out, but instead I'm getting my blood and adrenaline pumping!

 

How much earlier should I work out? I think I'll try to do it when I wake up instead, if I have time before school and work. But until I get my schedule back on track, I doubt I'll have the time.

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I do work out a little a night. I do my main work out in the afternoon or evening 4 days a week (as I have zero energy in the AM), then before I go to bed I do 250-300 crunches every night. I see now that this is atrocious timing! I always figured I would wear myself out, but instead I'm getting my blood and adrenaline pumping!

 

How much earlier should I work out? I think I'll try to do it when I wake up instead, if I have time before school and work. But until I get my schedule back on track, I doubt I'll have the time.

 

see, this is what gets me. i'm tired after work. then i go and do my 30-40 minutes of cardio and my weight lifting. i'm so pumped when i leave. hours go by and i'm still not even tired.

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Yep, that's it exactly! I get off work around 11:30pm after being on my feet for 8 hours, and I just want to collapse and never move again. But I get a little exercise, mixed with a small amount of caffeine, and I'm completely screwed for the rest of the night!

 

Tonight, no midnight crunches and no caffeine. We'll see what happens...

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Yep, that's it exactly! I get off work around 11:30pm after being on my feet for 8 hours, and I just want to collapse and never move again. But I get a little exercise, mixed with a small amount of caffeine, and I'm completely screwed for the rest of the night!

 

Tonight, no midnight crunches and no caffeine. We'll see what happens...

 

enjoy the ZZZZs.

 

i need to get off this pattern myself. lol. but i'm not that tired and i actually do fall asleep. while it IS late, i value my cardio. i don't drink caffeine though.

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You work evenings CBeth? I know when I worked that shift I was so wound up I rarely fell asleep before 2:30 - 3:00am... now I have then same problem after working midnights, I get off at 7am and even after working a 12 hour shift, cannot fall asleep until 9 or 10 am. Maybe it's just the nature of working an 'off' shift? Hope you find something that works for you.

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