30 Day Trial - Getting Up Early

[Elfwing]

In the past, I've exercised very poor self discipline when it comes to getting up early. I have nowhere to be during the day because I have left school, and I don't have a job, and in the time since I left school I've been focusing on healing and recovery from depression and anxiety.

Over the last several months, I've learned patience with myself, letting myself grow at my own pace - anything else, and I would relapse from frustration or pressure. I've begun to be productive and creative during the day, and I feel that it's time to move on and push myself a bit.

One of my particular battles is with fatigue. I used to be incredibly sleepy almost all day, every day, and until I started drinking a lot of fruit juice - cutting out sugary drinks from my diet entirely - and water, this was a major problem. However the last few weeks I've felt very little fatigue, and so as a result I've been productive and, for me, very clear-headed.

I decided it's time I started learning to get up at a consistent time and defeat my lack of self-discipline in the morning once and for all. However, I was surprised to feel fear - a problem I had in the past was if I got up early when I wasn't ready, I'd feel tired during the day. Tiredness meant I couldn't focus, which meant I couldn't work. And the idea of becoming fatigued again really scares me in a way that I haven't felt for a long time.

Which is why I have to do this. I'll get fatigued again at first, and I hope to learn to focus and try to summon energy even when tired - because even if this trial fails and I fall back into old habits, that would be a skill I really think I need to have.

My current plan -

- Alarm at 5AM. Stretch, say, "Good morning," turn on bedside lamp and turn off alarm.
- Go into shower for five minutes.
- Come out, clean desk for one minute.
- Go immediately into the beginning of work for the day.

I hope to keep that up for at least four days, then adjust the post-waking routine as necessary. I am to be mindless at first just to get myself out of bed, and hit the ground running without thinking about it.

I'm most worried about how I'm going to cope when I get tired, though. I'm very scared of that. Has anyone got any suggestions for that? I need to be able to think. I intend to update each day.

[ruchirkc]

When I'm really tired, I just take a short 20-30min nap. Works great for me.

Good luck on your trial.

[Andy7]

Hello Elfwing,

It's great that you want to start this trial. I wake up every day at 5am, and it's really good for my productivity.

When I started to wake up that early, the most difficult part for me was the first week. But you have to give your body the time to change.
A nice trick for me was to put my alarmclock at the other side of the room. This way I had to get up to put it off.

Just be sure that you go early to bed, because you have to keep your sleeping hours equal.

Good luck, and congrationalations on the improvement you have already made.

[Elfwing]

Thanks, guys.

My sleep cycle's already naturally attuned to me waking at 3-4AM, so I've got a head start. It's just a matter of keeping my sleep cycle in place that's the problem - it soon morphs to me waking at midday within only a little time.

I woke throughout the night, but woke for the last time at 4.30AM, (relatively) refreshed. Lay in bed until 5AM, and I'm not tired yet. This probably won't become a battle for at least a couple of days.

[Salivanth]

How much sleep do you get each night waking up at 5 am? I'm curious: I don't think I've heard the same result twice yet

[Elfwing]

Unfortunately, if I get up at 5AM, it means I have to be in bed by 7 if I don't want to be dead tired, 8 if I have the self discipline to wake up, and any later than that and it's hell to get up.

Strangely enough, when my sleep cycle's got free reign, some nights I get as little as five hours.

[Elfwing]

Yesterday and today were a success, but today I'm feeling a little tired. Doesn't bode well for my fatigue levels in the future. =/ Hope this doesn't interfere with my work too much.

[Eric Roosevelt]

Originally Posted by Elfwing

Thanks, guys.

My sleep cycle's already naturally attuned to me waking at 3-4AM, so I've got a head start. It's just a matter of keeping my sleep cycle in place that's the problem - it soon morphs to me waking at midday within only a little time.

I woke throughout the night, but woke for the last time at 4.30AM, (relatively) refreshed. Lay in bed until 5AM, and I'm not tired yet. This probably won't become a battle for at least a couple of days.

Do you know how long your sleep cycles are? It's a little different for different people, but usually something like 90 minutes.

[Salivanth]

I'm glad you're doing so well! Makes my 'go to bed at midnight' thing seem like a pittance

[Elfwing]

I'm not sure how long my sleep cycle is, no.

Today was easier than yesterday, but I'm feeling a bit tired now at 10.30AM.

[Elfwing]

Last few days have been good. Haven't been tired during the day, except I get into a slump at 3-5PM and can't wait for sleep.

This morning was difficult; I fear tomorrow will be even harder, because it'll be Saturday and I'll probably try to get myself to sleep in. We'll see how strong I am.

[Elfwing]

Uh oh. Was doing well until this morning, when I decided, "What the hell, it's Sunday." and went back to sleep for two and a half hours.

Really hope I fall asleep at normal time tonight. If not, tomorrow's going to be quite difficult, and I just hope I have the discipline necessary to overcome it. I was doing so well.

[Elfwing]

Got up at 4AM this morning, of my own accord.

[thenzengineer]

Elfwing, you seem to be doing a lot better than me. Good Job. Have you got any tips I could use in getting up early? Thnx

[Elfwing]

I'm not sure if what worked for me would work for you - my sleep cycle had naturally adjusted to me waking at 3/4 when I started this, which was the prime time for me (because it can go all over the place). All I can say is that if you're tired during the day naturally, then this would be an extremely difficult thing for you to do. Now I have more energy, getting up earlier is only hard when I first get up - once I'm up, I get the energy rather than being tired all day. It was a very pleasant surprise.

The only other tip I feel qualified to give is to get into the shower right away. It gives you a bit of dozing time, and time to wake up at the same time. <.<

Got up at 5 again this morning. It was a bit difficult, but I did it! This is my most successful attempt so far.

[Rdubya]

goodluck elfwing-
i am glad your posting this--i will be doing the same thing starting tomorrow. I too have baaad sleep habbits(today i woke up at 3 PM!!)
I need to get my life back together. I absolutetly HATE feeling tired as well. Any tips from anyone on what to do when you feel sleep tired? I don't mind fatigued tired--thats when i feel like i have been productive.

[MartinP]

Hi Elfwing!

Really impressed with what you have done. Keep it up!

My observations;
1. I used to worry about waking up early. But then I realised, my most productive time of the day, is 10pm. And I was trying to go to sleep during my most productive time, to wake up at 6am, when i felt like death warmed up.

Do you think my productive time would change to 6am, if I kept up the habit? Most scientific literature on sleep rhythms would say no, because we are in-built with natural circadian rhythms

2. Dont you find a real drop off in "quality of life" time, by having to go to sleep at 7pm? If I had to sleep at 7pm, i would never see my friends, I would never go to interesting seminars in the evenings etc

Interesting in hearing your thoughts

Martin

[Elfwing]

I was ill last night - couldn't get to sleep until midnight. Let myself sleep in for a couple of hours, but tomorrow I'll be back to normal. If I do this for more than one morning in a row, it'll get very ugly, very fast.

Rdubya - I honestly have no idea. In the past, I'd have a shower when I felt sleepy, but if that didn't work then unless I had coffee, I didn't know how to cope with that. Exercise would give me energy, though temporarily.

Martin - I'm not sure. You could experiment and find out, perhaps? My productive time used to be during the night, but over the last couple of months I found myself doing more things during the day, and that was before I started this.

As for quality of life - I don't have much of a social life anyway, so no. I sometimes watch movies with my parents (teen still living at home), but so long as I'm in bed my 9PM at the latest, I can usually wake up with little trouble. If I ended up needing to be up later, I'd shift my wake-up time a couple of hours.

[MartinP]

Hey Elfwing,

What about this list for things to do in the morning? Might be hard to fit it all in?

The Kaizan Blog » 6 Habits to Start the Day With

[Elfwing]

Hmm, I like planning, gratitude and breakfast. I think I'd fall asleep if I meditated. *Cough* Thanks for the link!

Woke up early today and yesterday, hooray!

[Rdubya]

keep it up!

[Eric Roosevelt]

Originally Posted by Elfwing

Hmm, I like planning, gratitude and breakfast. I think I'd fall asleep if I meditated. *Cough* Thanks for the link!

Woke up early today and yesterday, hooray!

Keep in mind what you did when you were successful, so that you can try to repeat it later. Of course new factors will arise all the time, but there are usually some obvious things that you can repeat to get a similar result.

You seem to be doing pretty well though.

[Elfwing]

Thanks!

Today and yesterday, got up early again. This has been far easier than I thought. O_o

[Elfwing]

*Facepalm*

Got up yesterday, this morning, even though I was refreshed and awake, I rolled over and went back to sleep without another thought.

Dangit.

I have this pattern of getting up early 2/3 days in a row then sleeping in. Wondering what to do about that... setting a goal for 5 days in a row, perhaps?

[Rdubya]

from what i have read it sounds like all 7 days a week are needed--not sure though

[Elfwing]

Uh oh. Really beginning to slip. The last few days I've been getting up early only every other day.