Procrastinators Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from chronic procrastination.

How to go to bed earlier?

I noticed there is a lot of people here with this problem. So I thought I'd start a thread on HOW TO GO TO BED EARLIER.

Going to sleep is such a big obstacle for me. When the night comes, sleeping feels like a huge waste of a few free hours. Hours I could spend any way I wanted. Plus, I really like it when the whole house is asleep, as I am a loner. The night makes me relaxed and creative.

But as a result I very often sleep less than 3 hours on a school night. Needless to say that I am exhausted and completely brain-free the next day. I promised myself to be in bed by 2 AM every night, at the very latest. I wish to move the deadline some more but I am having a lot of trouble with it, as it is.

Does any of you have any practicle tips or guidelines to force myself to go to bed earlier?

 

I will keep trying

The pajamas and tea don't work - they just make my laptop time more comfortable. Smile

So a parental control software to shut my computer down might work when my discipline fails. And looking forward to something does help, you're right!

ah, the sleep challenge

Hi, Fermiona. I have this challenge, too--the feelings you describe about going to bed sound a lot like my own feelings. I don't have any really great tips about this, yet, but I'll be interested to see what other people write--thanks for starting the discussion!

I do find that it helps me somewhat to have my computer shut down automatically at a certain time in the evening (between 10:00pm and 11:15pm, depending on which day of the week it is). I use Chronager "parental control" software for that.

Also, I think I'm somewhat more willing to go to bed at a reasonable hour if I've planned something to really look forward to, the next day.

Have you considered posting your getting-more-sleep goal in the "Special Projects" forum at http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/forum/38 ? I put an exercise goal over there and reported on how I did and found it helpful to know that people were witnessing and cheering my progress over time, there!

Best wishes for the effort!

Early to bed, early to rise

Yep, I hate to go to bed and I hate to get up in the morning.  I would much rather stay up late and sleep late but that does not fit with my job and my goals!   Here are a couple of suggestions:

Get up at the same time every day, even weekends.   I occasionally work nights and weekends so that really throws my schedule off, but I get right back into getting up at 5 am as soon as possible.    Being younger you might want to stay out late on weekends, so pretty much the same deal.   Get right back into getting up early.

An hour before you want to go to bed, turn off all your electronics - computers, tv, gameboy, iphone, etc. etc.  The stimulation of those electronics keeps you from feeling sleepy even when you are tired.   Read a book or listen to soft music instead.

Have a bedtime ritual.   Put on your soft pjs.   Have a cup of herbal tea or warm milk with your book or soft music.   

Keep track and give yourself a reward when you reach your bedtime goal!

Good luck!     

Be confident.  Stay focused.   One thing at a time.