Sponsored Links

Sleep Bed

shopping.livelocal.net/FL     Adjustable Air Beds in FL? Amazing Prices. Compare & Save Big!


How to go to bed earlier by sitruunapuu

"Worth the effort"

How I did it: I feel the method of choosing a fixed time to go to bed has never worked for me. Sometimes I'm just not sleepy enough at that particular time, and going to bed would just make me waste hours by lying on my back trying to fall asleep to no avail.

What I find to work better is to choose a wake up time instead. At the moment the best time for me to wake up is 6 AM so I simply decided to wake up at that time every morning no matter what. Some nights I had gone to bed late and felt quite tired when the alarm clock started ringing... but well, I just thought to myself "go complaining to someone who cares" and got out of bed within five seconds my alarm clock had gone off ;) On those days I was more tired than usual during the evenings so it was easy to go to bed much earlier, and after a good night's sleep it was also much easier to wake up at 6 AM again. Your body is a clever machine - it'll quickly understand what the deal is so your inner clock will soon adjust to the changes if you just stick with it long enough.

I still don't go to bed at a fixed time every night, but I certainly go to bed a lot earlier than I used to. Most evenings I go to bed as early as 09.30-10.00 PM and fall asleep within a few minutes. Some nights I don't feel sleepy that early, but because I always get up at 6 AM and never sleep in, my body knows it'll have to make me sleepy well before midnight if it wants sleep!

I feel psychologically a lot better when my sleep pattern is like this because the habit of going to bed early and getting up before sunrise makes me feel so much more disciplined. I like having a structure for my days and I've noticed I'm much more productive during the days I've got up early. I can warmly recommend giving it a try!

Lessons & tips:

  • Stick with the time you've decided to wake up seven days a week including weekends and make no exceptions no matter how much you'd like to sleep in some days 
  • When your alarm clock goes off, don't allow yourself to start thinking whether you'd actually like to get up or would you rather sleep a little bit more - just get up without thinking within ten seconds your alarm clock has gone off. If you find this impossible, keep your alarm clock out of your reach so that you'll have to get up just to silence it. Then you're already up and might not feel like going back to sleep anymore.
  • Prioritise sleep over Internet, TV, video games, reading and everything else that might keep you awake at night   
  • Don't do anything overly stimulating during the evening and avoid caffeine. Try relaxation CDs if you've problems relaxing. 
  • Go to bed only when you're sleepy
  • Don't let yourself get too tired - when you can't read a book for one page without getting distracted, you're usually sleepy enough to go to bed; don't wait until you're exhausted enough to pass out!
  • Have a reason to wake up early, something to feel excited about; it should be pleasant to wake up to a new day of your life :)

Resources:

  • Lots of trial and error


25 people found this helpful
 

Dec 24, 2010, 06:26AM PST | 8 comments | 107 cheers


Comments:

Rahelia is reaching her goals!

“Have a reason to wake up early, something to feel excited about; it should be pleasant to wake up to a new day of your life :)”

That is an excellent motivator! Thank you!

Dec 30, 2010, 10:42AM PST | Respond to this

zdechlinka no more excuses!

Great job!:)

Feb 15, 2011, 03:10AM PST | Thread | Respond to this

(This comment was deleted.)

May 15, 2011, 01:22PM PDT

Theskysthelimit1976 2013: The year of buoyancy!

This is exactly

what I need t do! Excellent advice! I am the same way… don’t always feel tired and waste time lying there tossing and turning… Committing to wake up time is perfect!

How has it been going?

May 25, 2011, 03:35PM PDT | Thread | Respond to this 1 cheer

sitruunapuu

Good luck!

It definitely helped me to pick a wake up time instead of choosing a fixed time to go to bed. The latter just doesn’t work, at least for me.

It’s been going well – I don’t even need the alarm clock anymore – though watching ice hockey late into night for two weeks threw me off from my schedule a bit, so I’ve been waking up at 7 most days.

May 26, 2011, 12:24AM PDT | Thread | Respond to this 14 cheers

(This comment was deleted.)

Jun 01, 2011, 06:55AM PDT

Butterfly is thoroughly enjoying our new place!

Congratulations!

keep your alarm clock out of your reach so you’ll have to get up just to silence it or you could get one of these: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ_n6WT-1Gs&feature=related ;)

Jul 19, 2011, 09:07PM PDT | Respond to this 1 cheer

TashaBlue is having trouble getting started.

Another tip

Cut down on blue light from electronics if you must use your computer in the evenings – a free utility like f.lux (so awesome) will alter the color of your screen in conjunction with sunset/sunrise for your location.

Jul 19, 2011, 11:13PM PDT | Thread | Respond to this 2 cheers

(This comment was deleted.)

Jul 20, 2011, 04:37AM PDT

(This comment was deleted.)

Oct 17, 2011, 08:41AM PDT

Mariakiev

Excellent advice! I tried several times but fixed time to go to bed never worked for me. Now I’ll try to come from the other side like you did :)

Mar 18, 2012, 06:41AM PDT | Respond to this 2 cheers

toro10

great idea…defo gonna try this starting tomo morning…thanks a lot xx

Apr 08, 2012, 09:11AM PDT | Respond to this 1 cheer


sitruunapuu has gotten 107 cheers on this entry.

 

43 Things Login