How do you reset your internal clock?

[Smallpotatoes]

For the last few months, since the accident with the deer, I've struggled with my sleep schedule being even more messed up than it is.

During that whole time when I was working at home, I tend to work later because I didn't have the commute.

Now, even though I have a car (yes, it runs quite well, thank you very much) I'm still more or less on the same schedule and I rarely, if ever, get to bed much before 4 a.m.

Because of this I usually sleep later and now that the afternoon rush hour starts earlier (who are these people who leave work at 2 p.m. anyway?), I'm getting to work later. I don't really have a set schedule at work and for the most part all they care is that I get the work done and make the deadlines, which I have, but the office has in the last few years transitioned from a second-shift hours place to a first-shift place.
Nobody's said anything to me but I can't help but feel like it's been an unspoken sore point.

It's also affected my life outside of work. I haven't gotten to the gym as much as I once did because by the time I get up, I usually am running late and have to go to work. I'd join a 24-hour gym, but I have a feeling that would make a bad situation worse.

Even on days when I've been up earlier for a meeting or a weekend morning game, I still can't get myself to bed earlier than 4 p.m. It's as if the body has some set point that just doesn't care when I need to get up, it won't let me go to bed until a certain time.

I've tried the blue light blocker on the computer and my phone. I've cut back on caffeine. I did a sleep study two months ago and I slept so little during it they couldn't tell anything.

What has worked for you if you've done it?

I'm not really trying to become a morning person. I'm just trying to get up and go to bed a few hours earlier.

I'm sure there are no easy painless ways and maybe my problem is that's what I want.

Maybe I just have to suck it up through a few sleepless nights, but I don't want to get in another accident.

 

[TigerVols]

You need to exercise, pronto. I suggest you look into HIIT training, which takes less than 20 minutes a day, but releases the same amount of good hormones your brain craves. That, and setting a permanent time to get into bed and turn out the lights, every night.

Also, this:

Calm: Meditation techniques for stress reduction on the App Store

BTW, what kind of car did you end up getting?

 

[Smallpotatoes]

You need to exercise, pronto. I suggest you look into HIIT training, which takes less than 20 minutes a day, but releases the same amount of good hormones your brain craves. That, and setting a permanent time to get into bed and turn out the lights, every night.

Also, this:

Calm: Meditation techniques for stress reduction on the App Store

BTW, what kind of car did you end up getting?

Nissan Sentra 2015.

 

[JC]

For the last few months, since the accident with the deer, I've struggled with my sleep schedule being even more messed up than it is.

During that whole time when I was working at home, I tend to work later because I didn't have the commute.

Now, even though I have a car (yes, it runs quite well, thank you very much) I'm still more or less on the same schedule and I rarely, if ever, get to bed much before 4 a.m.

Because of this I usually sleep later and now that the afternoon rush hour starts earlier (who are these people who leave work at 2 p.m. anyway?), I'm getting to work later. I don't really have a set schedule at work and for the most part all they care is that I get the work done and make the deadlines, which I have, but the office has in the last few years transitioned from a second-shift hours place to a first-shift place.
Nobody's said anything to me but I can't help but feel like it's been an unspoken sore point.

It's also affected my life outside of work. I haven't gotten to the gym as much as I once did because by the time I get up, I usually am running late and have to go to work. I'd join a 24-hour gym, but I have a feeling that would make a bad situation worse.

Even on days when I've been up earlier for a meeting or a weekend morning game, I still can't get myself to bed earlier than 4 p.m. It's as if the body has some set point that just doesn't care when I need to get up, it won't let me go to bed until a certain time.

I've tried the blue light blocker on the computer and my phone. I've cut back on caffeine. I did a sleep study two months ago and I slept so little during it they couldn't tell anything.

What has worked for you if you've done it?

I'm not really trying to become a morning person. I'm just trying to get up and go to bed a few hours earlier.

I'm sure there are no easy painless ways and maybe my problem is that's what I want.

Maybe I just have to suck it up through a few sleepless nights, but I don't want to get in another accident.

A deer? Wtf did I miss?

 

[cjericho]

My advice not as good as TigerVols, but would basically say suck it up through the sleepless nights. If you are tired, go to a rest stop and sleep an hour. Not the best way to do it, but I've done it that way. If you are more disciplined, do what TV said. Would think a 24-hour gym would be a good idea also. Testosterone level is highest in the morning so if you can get to the gym in the morning that is ideal. But seems like you're not a morning person (same here) so would think a 24-hour gym would be best.

 

[Vombatus]

 

[da man]

A deer? Wtf did I miss?

It was in the Penthouse forum.

 

[Buck]

My sleep problems have gotten better over the years. I struggled to fall asleep and to stay asleep.
I may not be 'normal' yet but I sleep a lot better.

Some things I do:

• I only lay in bed when it is time for sleep. I don't watch TV in bed (won't even have a TV in the bedroom anymore). I don't hang around in bed, and I only read in bed when I'm reading before sleep.
• I don't sleep in real late in the AM when I have a day off anymore. I might sleep a little later, but I still get up pretty early on day off.
• I take melatonin 30-60 minutes before going to sleep. Doesn't help everybody, but there is some clinical evidence to support its use. Helps me. Maybe it's just a placebo effect, but it still seems to help.
• I don't stay up late unless I'm having a bout of insomnia, which still happen from time to time. Other than that I go to bed pretty early. 11 p.m. is a late night. Uusually I go to bed 9:30 10 p.m. I get up at 4:30-5 a.m., though. The twins wake up at 6 a.m., so we're up early to get ready for work and to get twins ready for daycare.
• I use a sound app on my phone or iPad. Usually rain or just white/brown noise. I am a very light sleeper, and the sound covers a lot of other noises that would wake me in the past.

I still occassionally have trouble getting to sleep, and I still wake often. However, now when I wake I fall back to sleep pretty easily, usually.

I'm also pretty regular at the gym now, although the sleep improvements preceded that, so I attribute my improving sleep to items above rather than the gym.

 

[heyabbott]

A shot of good tequila or vodka and then a blow job

 

[Buck]

I also spent most of 15 years on an evening/night shift and was an every-day very heavy drinker for those 15 years.
That definitely affected my sleep.

As I attempted to correct the more self-sabotaging aspect of my drinking, I struggled to sleep.
And when I transitioned to more traditional work hours in a new career, I struggled to sleep.

I'm not saying what worked for me will help anyone else. I offer them for what they are, the true experiences of a short, stocky, slow-witted, bald man.

 

[Vombatus]

A shot of good tequila or vodka and then a blow job

You know, that is just sitting out there hanging for a good retort...

 

[Smallpotatoes]

A deer? Wtf did I miss?

It was about 5 1/2 months ago. There was a fairly lengthy thread about it because the insurance saga dragged on for about six weeks.

 

[User 1019]

C-SPAN

 

[dixiehack]

C-SPAN

This time next year that may resemble a MMA card.

 

[Vombatus]

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