Sleeping habits...need help!

[mich81]

I need some advice on how to get up in the morning. I have never been a morning person and had a hard time getting out of bed, but lately it has been extremely bad. I can sleep through anything, my alarm clock usually has to go off for at least an hour before i even start to wake up, and even then I only wake up enough to shut it off. I am a college student and live with my parents, so I started having them wake me up in the morning, even that isn't working anymore because I fall right back asleep. Luckily I work in a very laid back office, where I set my own hours, but its getting to be too much. And unfortunately my professors aren't as understanding.

 

My life is extremely hectic and going to bed before 11 or 12 is pretty much impossible, and going to bed then is leaving a lot of undone homework/chores most nights. On top of that it usually takes me at least an hour to fall asleep no matter if i go to bed at 9pm or 2am.

 

Does anyone have any tips on how I can break these habits? I really need to get my life back on track.

[EnigmaXOXO]

My "J" has been having the same problem recently. He's a heavy sleeper and it seems he hits the "off" button on the alarm while he is still asleep and never remembers hearing it go off.

 

We moved the alarm clock to a location that he couldn't easily reach. He literally has to get out of bed to hit the snooze. When this no longer worked, we added a SECOND alarm clock. So far, this seems to be working.

 

Like you, I also have a hard time falling asleep. I'm the opposite, a 'light' sleeper, and the slightest noise will keep me awake. What I found that really helped is a dietary supplement called "Melatonin." You can purchase it at GNC or any store which sells health products or vitamins. Unlike sleeping pills or drugs, which are dangerous, addictive, and leave you feeling groggy all day, Melatonin is a natural substance. It keeps the body in rhythm with the day and the season. The body naturally releases Melatonin in response to changes in light, with Melatonin levels rising at night. It is in this way that Melatonin helps promote sleep. It is the same substance found in turkey...which explains why we all get sleepy after eating that Thanksgiving dinner!

 

What I like about this product, is that it doesn't knock you out like pharmaceutical sleep aides. It just helps you fall asleep faster, sleep deeper, and wake up feeling refreshed and ready to go.

[HokeyReligions]

I can relate. I get on average 3 hours sleep a night. I've tried everything and even went to a sleep clinic years ago.

 

I have an alarm clock with a siren and flashing lights -- across the room. Scares the dogs and sometimes the neighbors if it's not turned off right away!

 

Change your diet and exercise routine - make it a routine if its haphazzard. Natural supplements are good, I'm still sometimes groggy for hours after I wake up when I take that -- try supplements like that when you don't have to get up early and be somewhere before you start using them during the week.

 

Set some patterns and schedule time for exercise and relaxation. Exercise in the morning will help wake you up. There have been times my husband (and when I was a kid - my mom) actually poured cold water on me when I wouldn't get up! I know how hard it is! Sometimes when I haven't fallen asleep by 3am I make myself stay up all night because I know I'll just doze off 30 minutes before the alarm and it will be impossible to wake up and get going. I may do this for 3 or 4 nights and then I'll crash for a 18 hours. I'm a hopeless insomniac and I when I start in one of these routines I actually schedule a day off (vacation time - woo hoo some vacation) when I know I will crash so that I can go ahead and sleep all day. Thankfully this only happens a few times a year for me.

[moimeme]

You do need to be careful with Melatonin. Be sure to check with a pharmacist for its potential adverse effects and for possible dangerous interactions. I understand there have been some problems.

 

You may wish to go to a sleep clinic. I understand that, in some cases, the light therapy used for SAD can now be used to 'reset' a person's sleep cycle. It might be worth it. Failing that, you can certainly try setting several alarms at different distances. I work best with a radio that starts playing music about a half-hour before I have to get up and an alarm that rings at the wake-up time. Too, put on very bright lights - full spectrum if you can find them - as soon as you wake up if it's dark or if your room is dark. The extra light seems to help - probably affects the melatonin.