AirxLiban From Lebanon, joined Oct 2003, 4491 posts, RR: 55 Posted (6 years 11 months 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 607 times:
This isn't a huge deal but thought that some a.netters could give me some advice on what to do about it.
Since last saturday (last day of class) I haven't been able to get up in the morning at all.
My daily schedule has been like this.
Go to bed around 2am
Not fall asleep until around 3am
Have a wakeup call from home at 8am
Alarm clock for 8:20am
Mobile phone alarm for 8:25 and 8:30
Get up around 12:00
During the day I study for my final exams which will be taking place next week (this is potentially the end of my academic career, unless I decide to get another Masters or a DPhil).
But I don't do anything strenuous during the day - basically no physical activity at all other than some brief exercise in the morning. And the only walking involves going from my room the to library which is about a five minute walk.
Basically does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can break out of this cycle of not being able to wake up early? I have REALLY tried to do it everyday since last sunday (to get up early - or at least before noon) but can't do it.
I know this seems like a lame, trivial problem but if anyone has some advice it would be much appreciated.
AeroWesty From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 18832 posts, RR: 64 Reply 1, posted (6 years 11 months 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 604 times:
Stay up all night one night so you go to bed earlier the next night to reset your body clock.
Orrrrr, get a cat, don't feed it the night before, and enjoy waking up early every morning!
NIKV69 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (6 years 11 months 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 592 times:
Quoting AirxLiban (Thread starter): Go to bed around 2am
Not fall asleep until around 3am
Have a wakeup call from home at 8am
Alarm clock for 8:20am
Mobile phone alarm for 8:25 and 8:30
Get up around 12:00
No wonder!
Quoting AeroWesty (Reply 1): Stay up all night one night so you go to bed earlier the next night to reset your body clock.
Good advice, if you want to get up early you are also going to have to get to bed a bit earlier. I fight this in the summer because my schedule is so hectic I don't get to sleep till 1Am and believe me you pay for it the next day.
Comorin From United States of America, joined May 2005, 4671 posts, RR: 17 Reply 3, posted (6 years 11 months 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 574 times:
Airxliban,
If you go to bed at 3 am, you will get up after 7 hours, which puts it around 10 am to 11 am.
The reason you are getting up later (at noon) is that your various wake-up calls are interrupting your sleep. They are also happening at a time of deepest REM sleep, which is the most restful.
You have now shifted your clock to this cycle, and there are two ways to shift it back, one of which is to skip a night of sleep.
I personally would take a harmless sleeping pill like Ambien and readjust your clock. It's very common with business travelers flying US-Europe. Skip coffee before bedtime, and get more exercise as it helps you sleep. Get rid of all those wake-up calls, you're just torturing your body.
As for the D.Phil, it depends on what you want to do with your life. It's a must if you want to teach or do research (or quant on the street), plus it has a certain cachet - makes you an instant expert. But I would get some real-life experience, try out the real world - you can always go back to it later.
AirxLiban From Lebanon, joined Oct 2003, 4491 posts, RR: 55 Reply 4, posted (6 years 11 months 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 552 times:
Thanks for the advice guys.
I don't really want to try the skipping a night of sleep because I have my first exam on monday which is on derivatives and I don't want to find myself in bad shape for that, but I'll try the getting to bed earlier and getting the exercise etc.
Wish me luck!
With regards to the DPhil, I'm not actually considering it now - going to start working as of August 15 and perhaps will come back for another masters or a doctorate later!
AirWillie6475 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 2448 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (6 years 11 months 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 538 times:
Quoting AeroWesty (Reply 1): Stay up all night one night so you go to bed earlier the next night to reset your body clock.
You have to force yourself into bed at 10pm or not later than 12am, even if you don't fall asleep untill 2am. There is no other way, it's going to be unpleasant and most likely you will lay there without falling asleep but after a few nights your body will learn to sleep at that time. Try to read, that really helps you into falling asleep. Don't do the staying up all nigh thins as most likely you will fall asleep at sunrise and sleep untill 3pm, it's very hard to stay up for 24 hours.
Runway23 From US Minor Outlying Islands, joined Jan 2005, 2037 posts, RR: 39 Reply 7, posted (6 years 11 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 503 times:
Get yourself a rooster. That shall (les eaux) wake you up and leave nast excreations which shall (...) lead you to being forced to get rid of the pesky stuff.
Zootrix From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 84 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (6 years 11 months 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 475 times:
Any underlying anxieties or other types of psychological stress will affect your sleep - exam stress, job stress, work deadlines, relationships, financial stress, etc.
Likewise anything that excites will also affect sleep - excitement about new work ideas, imminent promotion, graduation, marriage, etc.
Some tips that've worked for me -
-Stress management - staying organized, exercising, breath control, long walks, focusing the mind, etc.
-"Clear" the mind - meditate, breath control and "watch" the breath go in & out. I use to laugh at this concept, but it magically helped me.
-Stick to a sleep routine - drop dead in bed by ....pm and arise at ....am. Do it for a few days and it automatically sets into your body.
-If you are a light sleeper, then make sure your room is absolutely dark. You don't want the eye and skin sending messages to your brain about the presence of light. This will affect your sleep.
Most of all, best of luck for the exams. You will do very well!
YYZflyer From Canada, joined Feb 2006, 3636 posts, RR: 5 Reply 11, posted (6 years 11 months 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 468 times:
As others said, get exercise. Get a gym membership and work out a lot . Lets say a couple of hours. Do it later so you can get to sleep at a reasonable time and you'll be tired. It usually works when I do it. And when trying to sleep, try to keep your mind blank.
HAWK21M From India, joined Jan 2001, 31201 posts, RR: 58 Reply 12, posted (6 years 11 months 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 455 times:
Exercise 2 hrs before bedtime,Maybe just Treadmill/Jogging/Cycling.freshen up read a book & drink a Glass of milk.
STOP THINKING unnecessary thoughts.
It'll work.
regds
MEL
AirxLiban From Lebanon, joined Oct 2003, 4491 posts, RR: 55 Reply 15, posted (6 years 11 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 426 times:
Rolling around in bed at 3:30am yesterday I though to myself - why not try to do this gradually? So instead of setting the alarm clock for 8:00am I set it for 9:45am and I was actually up by 10!!!
Hopefully tomorrow I can manage to do it by 9, because on Tuesday morning my exam is at 9:30am.
It's in this building - the dreaded examination school:
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