on getting up (where in we discuss getting up)

cooljammer00

No, this is not a thread about Marc Ecko or spraypainting, sorry guys. This is about, well, getting up. I am an incredible heavy sleeper, and it's starting to take a toll on my daily life. Missed events/appointments/classes, what have you. i have multiple alarms, but i either don't hear them, or I turn them off and go back to sleep. I've got roommates, so I cant go completely nuts with alarms.

i understand it's a willpower thing, but I just cant seem to get up, or if I do, I go back to sleep. what do you guys recommend? any tricks or reliable methods?

DiscGrace

The only thing I can think to suggest, if you're turning your alarm off and just rolling over, is to put your alarm clock on the opposite side of the room from your bed. That way, you HAVE to get up to turn it off, which should help to wake you up a little (more so than being able to shut the alarm off without getting out of the nice warm bedcovers).

jotate

Anxiety. It's probably not the best way to handle the situation, but it works for me everytime. If I've got a big test or something I can't be late for, I fall asleep deliberately going through in my mind what would happen if I overslept, to the point where I'm uncomfortably nervous that it might happen. Then I fall asleep and maintain that anxiety until the alarm goes off in the morning. I hop out of bed, turn it off, and am immediately wide awake.

Alternatively, Clocky.

xraydog

When do you go to bed? Make sure you're getting a full night's sleep.

One thing I noticed is when I was young (elementary school) I was such a morning person, I used to wake up really early to watch SportsCenter every day and I used to wake up refreshed. Now, not so much. The older I got the less of a morning person I became. I don't know if this a universal phenomena or whatever.

In college, I had a little trick to waking up. I had the bottom bunk. On the bottom of the top bunk I taped up this image. As soon as I woke up Combine CP would be there to greet me.

Noxy

Alright, my brother had the same issues. Could not get up regardless. You could use alarms by the truckload and try to wake him up by pulling on his arm, he would simply mutter something about "in a second" and would not actually get up.

Anyhow, just to throw it out there, you might want to see a sleep specialist. Yes, they have those. You can get tested for lots of possible issues you might have developed without you knowing. You could even have sleep apnea. Just something you might want to look into, just to make sure you are not trying to solve a problem that will not be solved just by willpower alone.

cooljammer00

xraydog wrote: »

When do you go to bed? Make sure you're getting a full night's sleep.

One thing I noticed is when I was young (elementary school) I was such a morning person, I used to wake up really early to watch SportsCenter every day and I used to wake up refreshed. Now, not so much. The older I got the less of a morning person I became. I don't know if this a universal phenomena or whatever.

In college, I had a little trick to waking up. I had the bottom bunk. On the bottom of the top bunk I taped up this image. As soon as I woke up Combine CP would be there to greet me.

you know, I actually thought of that. not that particular image, but something for me to look at when i woke up.

I've also tried sleeping as uncomfortably as possible. Slept in jeans, with my watch on, drank water beforehand.

I'm in the bottom bunk, so maybe I can try some of these things. The alarm on the other side of the room idea, it only works if I can hear it and get up to turn it off.

I'd like to hear more of your stories, HAers.

witch_ie

In high school, I had a lot of trouble getting up and so my little sister (whom I drove to school each day) came up with a way that worked every time...she would start singing off-key (on purpose). I woke up very annoyed every time she did this, but at least I woke up.

You could try the same with a CD alarm clock and some kind of recording that disturbs you on a subconscious level. Please keep in mind that if you don't like getting up in the morning, whatever you put in there, you will probably hate for a very long time.

Preacher

It's only going to get worse as you get older so nows as good as any to learn to wake up reliably and on time. I say set your alarm earlier then is needed and plan a mini activity to do in the morning. When I get up I have to walk my dog and I usually game for a bit before I get ready try doing that or something similar. Also get a really loud annoying alarm clock and put it in a difficult to reach but loud location.

Hewn

Certainly make yourself get up to shut off your alarm.

I'd also try an alarm that gradually gets louder as it rings. I'm not big on mornings, so I invested in an alarm that has a snooze and gets louder as it goes on. I find I get up more easily when it is a gradual shift than a harsh one. A harsh alarm makes me rush to turn off the alarm, then I fall back asleep. Whereas a gradual alarm, with a few snoozes, lets me wake up over time.

The Turks

Are you setting the multiple alarms to the same time?

Maybe try setting them at 5/10 min intervals to slowly wake you up.

Frosteey

If you have multiple alarms, I don't see why the distance clock wouldn't work. Just make sure there's one close and loud enough to get you up, and then one a ways away that's annoying enough to make sure you don't go back to bed before turning it off.

burntheladle

When my dad used to have problems getting up, he set his alarm to the early morning religious preacher guy - it made him so angry he'd have to get up.

If you can, maybe set an alarm that's a song you really hate or something like that - less horrible than a BEEP BEEP alarm, but probably more effective.

Put it out of reach, even if out of reach is just under your bed.

tbloxham

Set a radio alarm on full volume, tune the alarm so that it is almost picking up a radio station, with the songs and talk fading in and out of loud static. This sound is so amazingly annoying that its almost impossible to ignore even if its quiet, the brain hates noises like it where it cant hear things properly.

Put the alarm on the other side of the room.

Also, go to bed earlier and get a more comfortable bed. The solution to wanting to stay in bed isnt to get worse sleep, its to get better sleep at night so you are more awake early.

Taterskin

Go to sleep earlier? And consistently around the same time. People need different amounts of sleep.

I used have the same problem. I slept 10-13 hours a night. This caused all sorts of hijinks such as missing tests, dates , and hanging out with friends. My recommendations: eat healthier (cut down on junk food), exercise, maintain a regular sleep pattern.

Course if you are in a situation that limits how much you can sleep all I recommend is have someone roll you out of bed in the morning or pour cold water on you

Noxy

Things that helped me after my problem costing me a semester at college were:

1. Exercise everyday or at least three times a week. Really helps and it makes you feel better in general.

2. Use your bed for sleeping and sex only. Don't read, study or sit on your bed to play games.

3. Get to bed earlier and keep your schedule consistent.

4. Seriously cut down on and cola or sweets you might eat regularily and try to improve your diet to have healthier food.

You have to ask yourself how badly you want to fix this problem. That is where your motivation comes from.

Retox

DiscGrace wrote: »

The only thing I can think to suggest, if you're turning your alarm off and just rolling over, is to put your alarm clock on the opposite side of the room from your bed. That way, you HAVE to get up to turn it off, which should help to wake you up a little (more so than being able to shut the alarm off without getting out of the nice warm bedcovers).

This worked really well for me my freshmen year of college.

Gihgehls

Is your room warm enough when you wake up? I hate getting up if it is cold in my room.

Something that helps me wake up is to turn on the news and watch TV a little bit. There are some cute chicks on my morning news program so that sorta helps.

mastman

I get out of bed as soon as that alarm goes off. It's just so easy to fall asleep if I even lay my head back down for a second. That, exercise, and getting at least 7 hours of sleep helps.

brandotheninjamaster

I have the same problem so this thread is helping me as well. Sometimes what I would do is get my wife to purposely set the alarm clock fast (unknown time) so that when I woke up I instantly thought I was late and shot out of bed. I had no idea if the clock was 1 min fast or 30. The only problem is that when see other clocks around the house you kinda know how fast the alarm clock is. So you constantly have to go back to the person asking him/her to change it.

My wife has a similar problem, she could sleep through a freight train going by right next to her (as well as 3 alarm clocks) and not stir. I could shake her and still won't get up. But if I say in a normal voice, not loud at all just my normal talking voice "hon its time to get up" she'll shoot right up. Its the weirdest thing.

SageinaRage

It's not a 'willpower' problem, it's a 'not enough sleep' problem. When you go to sleep on the weekends, or whenever, and don't set an alarm, how long do you sleep? Schedule at least that much.

Exercise helps get you tired and ready for sleep, which also helps. Also try to stick to a regular schedule. A REASONABLE regular schedule. I've talked to several people who claim this doesn't work, but then they only get 6 hours of sleep a night.

It also helps to let more light in - open whatever blinds or shades you have in the room so that by the time it's morning, the room is bright.

embrik

You could look at some Vibrating / "bed shaker" alarm clocks that actually vibrate the bed under you.

reddog

I was the same way but I've found that if I set all my alarms (I have my phone, my alarm clock and the TV to turn on) to go off about 3-4 minutes after each other...the constant noise making me wake up and turning them all off, will keep me up because I have to get up everytime to turn them off. By the time my TV turns on with the morning show, i'm pretty much awake and annoyed.