Resetting my inner clock

[Gardenarian]

I have been trying to be more of a morning person (for many reasons) and found something that is making getting up a lot easier for me.

I set an alarm in the evening telling me to get ready for bed (teeth, wash, jammies, etc.) Then I have a second alarm that tells me I should be in bed (I always read before I sleep.) Then a third alarm to tell me lights out. I use my phone for the alarms - one of the most useful features on my smartphone. (I now call my phone 'little boss'.) I do not use an alarm to wake up.

I find that it is much easier to make myself go to bed on time (8 hours before I want to wake up) than to set a wake-up alarm, which always starts the day off on the wrong foot. I have been doing this for 2 weeks and am already waking up easily an hour to an hour and a half earlier than I used to - painlessly!

The one thing you have to do is not start reading a really exciting book at bedtime...that's when I've failed.
I'm really enjoying the extra daylight I get in the morning.
:)

[Lainey]

Gardenarian,
I too do not use an alarm to wake myself up in the morning. That was actually my motivation for making sure I got enough sleep, because the experience of waking suddenly to a loud alarm was too jarring and I hated it.

Another tip I read about was to drink water before you sleep, so Mother Nature will wake you up early enough!

also I think you're using the method that I've tried to convey to a friend who is always running late: count backwards. Meaning, if you have to be at the movie theater at 6:30 pm, then decide how long it will realistically take to drive there including some extra minutes for any traffic issues, then decide how long it will take you to get ready, then add up all of that time which will determine when you start the whole process. Really not difficult, but some very intelligent people never seem to catch on to that.

[Teacher Terry]

That is one nice thing about being semi-retired-I never set an alarm because I never book an appt before 11 am. I am usually a morning person but now things have slightly changed. I always wake up in plenty of time to make it.

[Kestra]

This is a fascinating idea and one I may start using. Thanks!

[lmerullo]

I often don't set an alarm, and can wake myself at the correct time, too.

One thing I have determined through trial and error (mostly with vacation time) is that my body really wants about 8.5 - 9 hours sleep. I only allow myself about 8, and sometimes less, during the workweek. I had always been told 7 - 8 hours fo a healthy adult was good. *this didn't occur to me until just now* So - maybe I need to go to bed earlier??? I don't feel sleep deprived AT ALL... hmmm. How many hours are you all getting?

[ToomuchStuff]

My schedule can vary enough, that at times, my internal clock may change, if I have been coming off a pattern. (start staying awake late at night, when I have to get up early) Even with alarms it sucks at times. One similar thing that does help, is reading. For me, the reading material tends to be technical or computer type manuals as they do put me to sleep.

[nswef]

I have found that if I turn the light out by 12 I will get decent sleep until about 7:30 or 8. If I wait too long- meaning the book has caught me!- I don't sleep as well. I have not used an alarm for the 12 years since we retired, but I do use a timer that has a gentle ding...so it is an alarm. I too do not make appointments early any more. I just enjoy not being rushed in the morning. I do not miss getting up a 5:50 and being out of the house by 7 am at all!

[lucy sarah]

It is really great idea i will adopt it now. thanks for share

[Float On]

I wake up 5 minutes before my alarm...no matter what I time I set the alarm. I think my body just hates something or someone else being in charge of ending a nice sleep cycle. Currently I wake up and look at my phone and it's 4:55 on the dot Mon-Fri, Sat/Sun it's 6:55.

[RosieTR]

Another trick if you don't have to get up really early is to leave your shades open to some degree so the sunlight wakes you. Doesn't work as well in winter, and doesn't work if your schedule has you getting up at 5 (mine does). But in the summer I wake pretty much without an alarm at around 5, and find it difficult to sleep in too much past 6.

[Tiam]

I often don't set an alarm, and can wake myself at the correct time, too.

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I can also. I'd go nuts with the three alarms thing.

[creaker]

I wake up 5 minutes before my alarm...no matter what I time I set the alarm. I think my body just hates something or someone else being in charge of ending a nice sleep cycle. Currently I wake up and look at my phone and it's 4:55 on the dot Mon-Fri, Sat/Sun it's 6:55.

You're lucky - I tend to wake up about 20 minutes before and I'm always a bit annoyed I lose those extra few minutes of sleep :-)