If you have to wake really early due to a trip, could you fall asleep?

Question

A week ago when I went on vacation, my flight left at 6:30 AM. So I had to get up at 3:45 AM, so I could get ready and make the 30 minute drive to the airport. They also wanted me to check in for my flight 90 minutes before departure.

When I went to bed at 9PM the night before I knew at best I could only get 6 hours or so of sleep. So I hoped I could fall asleep fast that evening and get at least some rest before my 3:45 AM Alarm. I laid there for hours thinking I GOT TO FALL ASLEEP! Finally I was so sore from laying there for so long I went upstairs to watch TV and walk around. I did not sleep at all that night. I was a walking zombie the next day!

Can you relate?

Answer 1

The same thing happened to me! My flight left at 7:15, had to get up at 3:45 so I could leave for the airport by 5, and I couldn't fall asleep until around 2:45. :P

I once read in the book Apollo 13 (tells the same story as the movie, but in greater detail) that because of the stressful situation they were in, the astronauts had trouble sleeping. So when their turn came to take a nap, they would mentally tell themselves, "I'm just going to close my eyes for a minute...not going to fall asleep..." I've actually tried that before, and it does work sometimes. :)

Answer 2

I usually leave very early for my International flights as well. What I usually do is just stay up all night because on a normal night I stay up to 2:30am anyways and just sleep on the plane. There are occasions where I took a sleeping pill at like 8 or 9pm and wake up at like 4am to catch my flight. That is my best solution to anticipation keeping you awake.

Answer 3

You were probably just excited about the trip.  Next time, maybe try starting to tweak your sleep schedule by a small amount each day, for a few days before the trip.

As for can I relate...nope.  I can fall asleep anytime, anywhzzzz

Answer 4

definitely, My flight left Tel Aviv Israel at 10:50pm.. they are 8 hours ahead of us, I had a 13 hour flight home, it was about 4:50 AM when we landed, I had been awake for 32 hours, never again..

Answer 5

I can relate to that a few times a month!  I'm a flight attendant, and I do not much care for the really early check ins...I'd rather fly red-eye flights all month long, than have 1 4:45am check in.  Just knowing I have to get up early, keeps me up all night long.

Answer 6

h**l yea.  I think its a lot to do with the adreneline of travelling and doing something exciting too.  Whenever I have to fly someplace and know its an early start/long day I find it impossible to sleep even though I need to real bad!