Shifting my Bedtime to Midnight

[TromboneAl]

I'm trying to shift my normal bedtime from 9:30 to midnight. I'm doing this because I have gigs in which I have to stay up late. Lena's not completely on board yet.

When driving 30 miles home on a deserted highway at 11:30 PM, there's just too much risk of falling asleep.

Of course I chose the worst week of the year to do this (right after the switch to standard time).

I have a gig Friday, so I'm doing it cold turkey. I've stayed up to midnight the last two nights, but woken up at 7:30 and 5:30 AM, respectively. I'm jet lagged.

 

[W2R]

I'm trying to shift my normal bedtime from 9:30 to midnight. I'm doing this because I have gigs in which I have to stay up late. Lena's not completely on board yet.

When driving 30 miles home on a deserted highway at 11:30 PM, there's just too much risk of falling asleep.

Of course I chose the worst week of the year to do this (right after the switch to standard time).

I have a gig Friday, so I'm doing it cold turkey. I've stayed up to midnight the last two nights, but woken up at 7:30 and 5:30 AM, respectively. I'm jet lagged.

I'm trying to shift my normal bedtime from 3:00 AM to midnight. So, I can sympathize. Seems like I almost get there and then I get all wound up in something interesting and/or fun and the time flies by.... I thought the time change would help, but it didn't.

 

[Packman]

W2R, what do you find interesting and fun between midnight and 3 AM?

Even though I was always a late night person, I'm finding bedtime about 11 PM and up at 7 AM to be a good mix.

 

[tangomonster]

I agree, Packman---11 PM and 7 AM are ideal for me as well. To accomplish this, definitely no TV or computer after 10 PM, just reading in bed.

I know people who go to bed at 9 to 9:30---most do so because they have to work the next day and some have to rise before 6. I actually don't know anyone who retired and shifted their bedtime to several hours later, but I would think it could be done in increments....

 

[W2R]

W2R, what do you find interesting and fun between midnight and 3 AM?

Even though I was always a late night person, I'm finding bedtime about 11 PM and up at 7 AM to be a good mix.

Everything is so interesting and fun between midnight and 3 AM! I can follow my interests with no fear of interruption - - read, research online, play sudoku and reflect, fiddle with Windows, get involved with my projects, things like that. I love the quiet and peacefulness of the late night.

Or maybe it is just the little girl in me that just doesn't want to go to bed.

 

[Katsmeow]

I'm with W2R. I really make an effort to go to bed between 1 and 2 but if I'm not careful I easily end up at 3:00.

It isn't just the fact that it is quiet and there are no interruptions. Part of it is that my personal energy level is high late at night. I tend to get tired in the late afternoon/early evening but then gain energy as the night goes on. So I'll get involved in some project on the computer (working on the 2012 budget like I did the other night) and have to pull myself away to go to bed.

 

[Nuiloa]

Everything is so interesting and fun between midnight and 3 AM! I can follow my interests with no fear of interruption - - read, research online, play sudoku and reflect, fiddle with Windows, get involved with my projects, things like that. I love the quiet and peacefulness of the late night.

Or maybe it is just the little girl in me that just doesn't want to go to bed.

Yup.... I tell people that the only time I see the sun come up is when I haven't been to bed yet.

On weekends, I have a hard time getting to bed before 4 a.m. Weekdays it's about 1 a.m., which makes it a tad hard to get up at 7. Every morning I vow to go to bed earlier. It's been 35 years.... hasn't happened yet.

 

[DangerMouse]

I saw a sleep specialist and they recommended that you adjust your sleeping pattern by an hour a week at a time.

In the case of TAl, instead of going to be at 9.30 p.m., for the next week go to bed at 10.30 p.m, the week after make it 11.30 p.m. Whatever time you want to be your get out of bed time, you need to be consistent, set the alarm, drag yourself out and go out and do a 30 minute walk so your body knows it is wake up time.

 

[TromboneAl]

I agree that that is the way I should do it.

 

[Nords]

W2R, what do you find interesting and fun between midnight and 3 AM?

Everything is so interesting and fun between midnight and 3 AM! I can follow my interests with no fear of interruption - - read, research online, play sudoku and reflect, fiddle with Windows, get involved with my projects, things like that. I love the quiet and peacefulness of the late night.

Hunh. I was sure it would involve the exclamation of "Wheeee!"

 

[W2R]

Hunh. I was sure it would involve the exclamation of "Wheeee!"

You just might be right about that....

 

[FIREd]

I am a night owl too. I usually go to bed around 2:00 am. I was an early riser for years (by necessity) but for some reason predawn is my least favorite time of day. In fact, until about 9:00 am, mornings are generally wasted on me. Afternoons are when I have the most energy and that's when I enjoy more physical activities. Late night is when my brain is at its sharpest and therefore that's when I engage in tasks that require more thinking and focus (like researching investments or doing my taxes).

 

[justplainbll]

To enjoy more of the cooler and quieter part of summer 'days', I sack out and get up four hours (local time) earlier from mid June through early September.

 

[MichaelB]

I'm trying to shift my normal bedtime from 9:30 to midnight. I'm doing this because I have gigs in which I have to stay up late. Lena's not completely on board yet.

When driving 30 miles home on a deserted highway at 11:30 PM, there's just too much risk of falling asleep.

Of course I chose the worst week of the year to do this (right after the switch to standard time).

I have a gig Friday, so I'm doing it cold turkey. I've stayed up to midnight the last two nights, but woken up at 7:30 and 5:30 AM, respectively. I'm jet lagged.

It's easier to change the time you go to sleep than it is to change the time you wake up. Try an afternoon nap.

 

[unclemick]

W2R, what do you find interesting and fun between midnight and 3 AM?

Even though I was always a late night person, I'm finding bedtime about 11 PM and up at 7 AM to be a good mix.

3 A.M. can be considered early - at least when I was young. It's New Orleans remember.

heh heh heh -

 

[Lsbcal]

...(snip)...
I have a gig Friday, so I'm doing it cold turkey. I've stayed up to midnight the last two nights, but woken up at 7:30 and 5:30 AM, respectively. I'm jet lagged.

This weekend we had to drive home after visiting friends at around 10:30pm for about 1.5 hours. Was pure torture and got to bed at 12:30. Those country roads (Sonoma county which I think you may be in too) are really dull at night.

Maybe you should consider drinking some coffee or strong tea during the gig and just dealing with the problem of getting to sleep later. You could take a thermos with you.

If it were me I might consider taking a sleeping pill or Benedryl plus milk when I got home if I took in some caffeine. Just a thought.

 

[TromboneAl]

Maybe you should consider drinking some coffee or strong tea during the gig and just dealing with the problem of getting to sleep later.

I tried that. I had a lot of caffeine at 7 PM, but then I slept very poorly. Maybe I need some Propofol.

 

[Lsbcal]

My doc gives me a prescription for a mild sedative. I use it very sparingly. Mostly I will take one the night before we leave on an extended road trip. A good night's sleep before an activity always helps.

 

[prototype]

When I retired it didn't take long to switch from east cost time (~11pm-6am) to mountain time (~1am -8am). I didn't really plan it, it just happened. I'm trying to avoid slipping one more time zone, although if I do get a good nap in...I can do the 2am or 3am bedtime and still roll out of bed at about 8. But for me being able to go to bed whenever I want, get up when ever I want, and nap (sometimes - I do have things to do during the day) is one of the greatest joys of being retired.

 

[eytonxav]

Whats with all of you night owls; I haven't been able to keep those late hours since my twenties, of course I still get up at 5:00 AM to go to work

 

[TromboneAl]

So far, this is not working. The last two nights I struggled to stay awake until 11 PM, then woke at 5:30 and 4:00 AM, respectively. Couldn't go back to sleep. My body is rebelling, but I will prevail.

 

[W2R]

So far, this is not working. The last two nights I struggled to stay awake until 11 PM, then woke at 5:30 and 4:00 AM, respectively. Couldn't go back to sleep. My body is rebelling, but I will prevail.

Keep trying! If you get sleepy enough, surely your body will relent.

 

[Walt34]

W2R, what do you find interesting and fun between midnight and 3 AM?

Try to remember....

But that's me too. The house is quiet, the phone isn't ringing, I can read, etc. But here it is almost 0600 and I'm online.

 

[Dawg52]

A friend of mine has played in bands most of his life. He works a normal job during the week and plays a gig most weekends. I believe he stays up late during the week, maybe around 11pm. So his weekends are pretty similar. Maybe you should shoot for a gradual change in your schedule. Stay up until 10 for a few days and then move it up to 11pm. Then your weekend schedule won't be that much different.

 

[chris2008]

How about an after lunch nap (no more than one hour) and get up as early as before?