2010-03-30, 08:47 AM
Theres a couple things at work here.
1. Natural Sleep Cycle - Your natural sleep cycle happens to be a late sleep cycle - just because we're supposed to go to bed by 12 and be up by 8 doesn't mean everyone can fit into that category. You can accept it, and depending on your chosen field find a job that has 2nd, 3rd shift hours. In IT this is a normal shift particularly those that support a business that is country/worldwide.
2. Adjusted sleep cycle - you can easily train yourself to shift your sleep cycle earlier/later. It requires a little willpower, and i've found the easiest way to do it is go to bed when you're tired but force yourself to get out of bed at x AM. doing this will tire your out and make you go to bed earlier and earlier until you shift your bedtime to where it's desired.
3. Training your body - I had severe insomnia when I was in college. I would go to sleep at 4-5 am and wake up at 8 am for classes. And I would rinse and repeat. By the weekend i was so stupidly exhausted that i'd spend 75% of it sleeping. It was a waste of weekend time, and my roommate hated me for it
. So when I asked my dr about it, i learned quite a few things. One, college dorm living is pretty much the worst thing you can do for a sleep cycle. in a dorm room, and most apartments, you tend to spend all of your time in your bedroom. You live on your bed, do homework on your bed, snack on your bed, you spend most of your time in your bedroom, doing things other than sleeping. This at least to me trained my body that my bed served all of these functions, so when i'd go to bed, my mind wasnt trained to just sleep. It was trained to do 897265789715 thousand other things and oh yeah maybe doze off a bit. Adjust the habit. If possible, move the computer out of the bedroom. Take out the tv. Only get on your bed to sleep, only go in your room to sleep. This will eventually train your mind that when you get in bed, and you lay down, it's time to shut off. (similar to how whenever i get in the car for a long ride as a passenger im passed out in 15 minutes).
Where i once spent 2-3 or more hours trying to fall asleep at night, now if im not asleep within 15 minutes of going to bed, i know i had my last cup of coffee too late.
Additional sugestions - limit sugar, caffeine and food intake. Dont drink caffeinated beverages after noon. Don't drink sugar or eat a lot of food within a couple hours of your desired sleep time.
An attempt at regulating your schedule will train your body to shift it's sleep schedule, however keep in mind it does require willpower. Also, once you graduate, and get a job, you will no longer have homework and studying to procrastinate. This allows you to have play time when you want it, and you don't have to juggle studying in the mix anymore. With less demands on your time, and more time to do what you want, you'll be more willing to go to bed when you need to.
1. Natural Sleep Cycle - Your natural sleep cycle happens to be a late sleep cycle - just because we're supposed to go to bed by 12 and be up by 8 doesn't mean everyone can fit into that category. You can accept it, and depending on your chosen field find a job that has 2nd, 3rd shift hours. In IT this is a normal shift particularly those that support a business that is country/worldwide.
2. Adjusted sleep cycle - you can easily train yourself to shift your sleep cycle earlier/later. It requires a little willpower, and i've found the easiest way to do it is go to bed when you're tired but force yourself to get out of bed at x AM. doing this will tire your out and make you go to bed earlier and earlier until you shift your bedtime to where it's desired.
3. Training your body - I had severe insomnia when I was in college. I would go to sleep at 4-5 am and wake up at 8 am for classes. And I would rinse and repeat. By the weekend i was so stupidly exhausted that i'd spend 75% of it sleeping. It was a waste of weekend time, and my roommate hated me for it
. So when I asked my dr about it, i learned quite a few things. One, college dorm living is pretty much the worst thing you can do for a sleep cycle. in a dorm room, and most apartments, you tend to spend all of your time in your bedroom. You live on your bed, do homework on your bed, snack on your bed, you spend most of your time in your bedroom, doing things other than sleeping. This at least to me trained my body that my bed served all of these functions, so when i'd go to bed, my mind wasnt trained to just sleep. It was trained to do 897265789715 thousand other things and oh yeah maybe doze off a bit. Adjust the habit. If possible, move the computer out of the bedroom. Take out the tv. Only get on your bed to sleep, only go in your room to sleep. This will eventually train your mind that when you get in bed, and you lay down, it's time to shut off. (similar to how whenever i get in the car for a long ride as a passenger im passed out in 15 minutes).Where i once spent 2-3 or more hours trying to fall asleep at night, now if im not asleep within 15 minutes of going to bed, i know i had my last cup of coffee too late.
Additional sugestions - limit sugar, caffeine and food intake. Dont drink caffeinated beverages after noon. Don't drink sugar or eat a lot of food within a couple hours of your desired sleep time.
An attempt at regulating your schedule will train your body to shift it's sleep schedule, however keep in mind it does require willpower. Also, once you graduate, and get a job, you will no longer have homework and studying to procrastinate. This allows you to have play time when you want it, and you don't have to juggle studying in the mix anymore. With less demands on your time, and more time to do what you want, you'll be more willing to go to bed when you need to.