How to change sleep cycles!

[dlynn8]

I am having trouble getting up early in the mornings. It does not matter how long I sleep or how well, I seem to be in my deepest part of the sleep cycle at the END of my sleep.

So for instance...no matter what time I go to sleep I am dreaming and snoring between 6am and 7am! I have to be at work at 7:30!

Help!

I have tried going to be earlier, later, I can't get it right! I am sleeping fine, in fact too deeply at times.

Part of the problem is that it is dark and cold where I am until nearly 8am (Texas) so I have been trying a lamp on a timer that goes off at 5am to try to rouse me...this is helping, but still not working. My alarm clock is across the room so I have to get up, but I have even gotten up in my sleep and changed the time...this was bad as I set it for pm intead of am!!!!

Any suggestions? Anyone else have this problem? I am desperate for tips on how to change your sleep cycle, this is making me groggy and listless at work, I am always rushing to get there on time and I need help!

[Coban3]

AHH! i have a similar problem! i had winter break so i kinda became nocturnal and now my whole cycle is off.. not just like yours... but still mine is starting to change into a mild of yours! so yes somebody help!

[evildrspock]

Well, this is coming from someone who has no sleep cycle, so Im not in your boat entirely . . .

But I remember when I was in high school, and would stay up late watching tv or something like that doing homework . . . I wouldn't get that much sleep and have to wake up real early. So, to conquer my sleepiness, I would literally throw myself out of bed. Like, I'd be sleeping all nice like in my warm comfy bed in the winter, and then my alarm would go off. I'd turn it off, maybe stretch, and then jump out of bed as quickly as I could. Just force myself to, with sheer mindforce. I think I've found if I get up with enough vigor and hit the ground running, so to speak, you aren't as tired later throughout the day. Sure, the hardwood floor and surrounding air was a little cold. Sure, I wanted to lay in bed. All bodies are inherently lazy. It just took a little more effort and you can be more awake and doing things. You just sort of deal with the fact that it's not as comfortable as continuing to lie in bed, and accept it. I think the body just naturally wants to conserve energy, and thus doesn't want to get up or be lazy in general.

Obviously going to bed earlier helps, too, as does taking a shower immediately after waking up, or headbanging to loud music in headphones (also a good way to clear headaches/grogginess, or so I remember). And a good breakfast.

basically, all those habits you throw out when you go to college (unless you're really smart and disciplined).

Well, as far as problems with deeply engrained sleep cycles . . . I guess you just have to break the cycle. and keep at it, consistently, to change it to another consistent cycle, or you'll be like me with NO cycle.

[Girlwithnightmares]

Hi,
I have quite a problem too with my sleep cycle. I used to work at a nightclub in Puerto Vallarta, mexico, and my working hours were from 7pm-7am. I would always fall asleep when the sun was up already. I could only work there for 3months, but i was never able to break that cycle of sleeping during the day. Its almost a year since i used to work there, and its just worse now. I get tired like at 3 am, but wont shut my eyes till 6-7am sometimes till past 8am! Then I will sleep pretty much all morning till 3-4pm. I have tried to break it by staying up all night and the next day, but I just cant. I Have managed to sleep earlier, but i just sleep even more. And I am always tired. Just last night I tried millions of sleep meditation videos, and exercises, and what not! Lately I have noticed I am sleeping as much as 12 hours, and having horrible nightmares.

If you come up with a solution, please share it. I'd do the same!

[Pyrocensored]

I used to have the same problem. What I did is super glue all the buttons to change the time, and to turn it off, so they cannot be pressed, and plug it in across the room behind something heavy. in order to unplug it, you have to move that heavy object (ie: bookshelf) and once you do that, youre fully awake.just dont forget to plug it back inbefore you go to bed, and move the object so it cant be unplugged...

[apsarajoy]

I worked the overnight shift 8 pm to 8 am for two years. Then I was promoted and suddenly had to switch to dayshift 7 am til 5 pm..I had a lot of trouble sleeping well enough to stay awake the next morning when I went to work. Here are some things that helped me. I knew that if I lay awake for an average of two hours, I should go to bed two hours early so that I would actually fall asleep on time. I quit drinking so much caffeine, ate lighter in the evenings, and stopped the tv at least an hour before bedtime. I found that engaging in relaxing activities in the quiet helped to calm my mind a bit before bed. I would read, write, draw, or soak in the bath for an hour before sleeptime. I also found that if my feet were warm, I slept much better and more comfortably, so I bought cozy socks. In the mornings, I found that if I lay in bed thinking about how I HAD to get up, I would be more likely to want to stay in bed, so when the alarm went off, I would get up and immediately go to the shower so I didnt lay back down. And, by the way, my alarm clock is across the room so I have to get up to shut it off. These things work pretty well for me now, they might not for you, but they might help yiou think of things that comfort you into better sleep. I'm 5 months into the new job and have only overslept once...pretty good, for me. Sweet dreams!

[Pyrocensored]

I tried the whole jumping out of bed thing as soon as I wake up. About 5 seconds after the blood left my head and I passed out...

Ill go with my heavy lifting thing. however now, I have an alarm clock that can go on batteries OR a cord, so I can unplug it and the alarm is still going off... as far as the alarm itself, I put it deep under my bed. however I have recently found out if you have to be up at seven, wake up at 3:30, or 4:00... It works for me. The only thing is when its dark in the morning, I seem to get the "whiskey lullaby" song stuck in my head while I do everything...