Need tips for waking up early

[Gurby]

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Put the alarms on the opposite side of the room from your bed. Make it so you HAVE to get up, and can't just hit snooze, roll over and go back to sleep.

 

[ERK123]

I'm in a horrible situation right now. I have my genetics final right after the winter break and for some reason I'm having some serious sleeping problems. I think I have insomnia (although I don't think it's chronic because it doesn't happen every week) because normally when I get into bed at 11 or 12, I actually end up sleeping at 4 or 5 and this disturbs my entire schedule as I end up waking up late in the afternoon and wasting all that time, which could have been better utilized for study.

I don't know what to do....I've tried putting 2 alarm clocks but for some reason I still can't wake up (most of the time, I just end up snoozing the alarm and going back to bed)....I'm stuck in a horrible situation....and I think this can be quite a serious problem especially for a medical student.......any advice on how to get rid of this problem??

Try melatonin and/or bright light therapy. Your circadian rhythm might be out of sync with your desired sleep/wake schedule. This is quite commonly exacerbated during college breaks when students do not have a rigid schedule like school/work.

 

[NeuResurgens]

Oh, I know this subject. Here's how it works.

Figure out about how long it takes you to get to sleep in the first place. Going to bed at a certain time doesn't mean you start sleeping at that time. (It takes me at least 30 minutes.) once you do that, you need to time it with the sleep cycles, which are about an hour and a half each. This means that you should allow for 4.5, 6, or 7.5 hours of sleep between when you'll probably fall asleep and when you need to wake up. Strangely enough, I've felt better waking up after 4.5 hours than after 5.5 hours, and I think it has to do with waking up between cycles vs. right in the middle of one.

Also, set a million alarms in 5 minute increments in case you don't time it right. Works every time!

 

[blackroses]

Does anyone have any advice for extremely heavy sleepers? I've tried every type of alarm I can think of, and they work for about 2 weeks until I get used to the sound, then I can sleep through them easily. It's not a matter of hitting snooze, or turning it off - I don't even wake up. (Just to give some perspective, I've slept through a smoke alarm going off in my room).

 

[Tintinnabula]

So for those of us who don't have Fitbits or similar, what sleep cycle app seems like the best idea? (I've got an iPhone 6.) I've been curious about these for a while.

 

[fancymylotus]

Clocky.

 

[BDUS]

Anyone have any solid advice/ techniques that they use to wake up early? I find that on the weekends I sleep in past 10 a.m. Granted I usually stay up until 12-1 a.m.

What has been your most effective method in building a early morning routine?

Thanks in advance 😀

It helps me to drink a cup or two of chamomile tea once in awhile to get to sleep on time and back on track.

 

[theriomorphos]

.

 

[LuckedOut]

If you absolutely have to work on the computer 1-2 hours prior to sleeping, use this:
https://justgetflux.com/

I tell myself it helps. Might be Mr. Pla Cebo talking, too, but well...

 

[TheAmbitiousGirl]

I have an alarm clock. It works wonders!

 

[BDUS]

watch this on repeat

 

[Ismet]

So for those of us who don't have Fitbits or similar, what sleep cycle app seems like the best idea? (I've got an iPhone 6.) I've been curious about these for a while.

I've read the "Sleep Cycle" app is the best. I'm not sure if it works with the iPhone 6 (I don't see why it wouldn't) but you put the phone under your pillow to track your movement in bed.

I have a Jawbone UP and it does the same thing, including having a vibrating alarm that wakes you up in your lightest sleep phase when possible. It's done wonders for my sleep.

 

[TraumaLlamaMD]

Has anyone used those alarms that wake you up with natural light? I'm considering one but would love at least some anecdotal support before shelling out the cash.

 

[Tintinnabula]

I've read the "Sleep Cycle" app is the best. I'm not sure if it works with the iPhone 6 (I don't see why it wouldn't) but you put the phone under your pillow to track your movement in bed.

I have a Jawbone UP and it does the same thing, including having a vibrating alarm that wakes you up in your lightest sleep phase when possible. It's done wonders for my sleep.

After I posted that I did a bit of research and bought that app; it works perfectly with the iPhone 6. It's finally finished calibrating so I'm hoping it will be helpful in waking up earlier more "naturally" starting this week.

 

[maiyaa]

 

[MLaura]

Routine that pretty much works for me any time of the year when I mess up my sleep schedule and need to fix it within 1-3 days (I have to wake up at 6 am everyday and sometimes sleep at 3, you can see why that's bad).

So if you find you can't fall asleep till 1 (which is typical, simply because your body is used to it), then that's okay, sleep at 1. Force yourself to wake up at 6 or 7. Do this on a day that you can afford to feel tired. DO NOT TAKE A NAP. Also try to minimize caffeine intake but if you really need a cup of coffee, go for it.

That day, you'll probably try to go to bed earlier, you may or may not be able to fall asleep. That's okay. Try anyways. (I've tried the "breathe in for 4 secs, hold for 7 secs, exhale for 8 secs" and it actually does works really well.)

Continue this pattern. Wake up early tomorrow. Within a day or so your body should feel tired enough that you go to sleep around 9/10 that night.

Wake up at the same time the next morning that you have been waking up at.

Keep to the pattern. Sleep around the same time and wake up around the same time. Hope this helps! 🙂