How do i correct my sleep cycle?

Question

I've always by nature been a night owl, however i did work day shift for about 5 years before having my son. He is soon to be 4 and I've been staying home with him. In a couple weeks he will be starting extended preschool and I am going to begin working. I have fallen into this trap of having trouble waking up. I use 2 alarm clocks, sometimes I sleep right through them. I've tried moving the alarm clock to the dresser instead of on the nightstand, it seems I still don't hear it, or unconsiously press the snooze several times. I do not have trouble falling asleep, usually I go to bed between 10 and 12. But I still just can't seem to get up and going in the morning... help please!

Answer 1

force yourself to bed earlier, and have someone spray you with water in the AM. i hate waking up. its the worst part of my day. last night i was in bed by 12 though, i havent gotten to bed that early in forever!

they make alarm clocks that run away from you when they go off, but that wouldn't help if you cant hear it. you just have to force your body to obey.

Answer 2

try to get a new alarm clock that is completely different than the ones that you have so you will not be use to the sound anymore and it will wake you up. A loud ringing noise instead of buzzing or beeping, and make sure it's LOUD. Then do not let yourself fall back into that cycle again.

Answer 3

You can try going to bed earlier. I have been late my job all this week because I go to bed around 10-12 and later and have to wake up for work at 7am. My alarm rings at 5:30 and I woke up at 6:45. If you get more rest, you will be able to wake up in the morning to take on the tasks of the day.

Answer 4

I have a similar problem. My alarm clock wakes everyone else in the house up, but I sleep right through it. It's right by by my ear, so you'd think I would hear it, but I don't. If I do hear it, I usually incorporate it into my dream, or hit the snooze button automatically.

Going to sleep early enough that I wake up automatically isn't an option for me, as lately if I sleep until I wake up normally, I'm out for twelve hours (I think it's allergies or something, but I am tired all the time). What has worked best for me in the past is to picture an analog clock and imagine the hands on the clock moving to where they would be at whatever time I want to wake up. It's a way of psychologically telling myself to wake up at that time.

When that doesn't work (and the odds of it working for the majority of people are pretty slim), try a light that's on a timer. Time it to turn on a short while before you need to be up. The bright light signals your body to stop producing melatonin (the chemical that makes you tired) and you'll wake up more easily.

If that doesn't work, there's a method that involves pushing your bedtime back a couple of hours each night until you are on a normal sleep cycle, but if you are already going to bed at a reasonable hour, that probably won't do much good. Not to mention, if you have a child, you can't really afford to be sleeping during the day until you fix your sleep cycle.

I hope everything works out. Good luck.