[mattbgates]

I have come to accept my schedule. I work afternoon/evening shift (3 - 12 AM) and after work, I cannot sleep at all. I used to beat myself up for not "getting to sleep early" and waking up late. However, once I changed my mindset, I really don't mind anymore. We are a household that sleeps during the early part of the day, and we are an afternoon/evening kind of people.

So now, I work on my side projects and do whatever I got to do between the hours after 12 AM and before 5 - 6 AM. Once this time begins to approach, usually when I start to see hints of the sun, I prepare to sleep. I end up sleeping anywhere from 10 AM - 1 PM. And I don't mind at all.

I have embraced the fact that I can't sleep after work. Sometimes, if I have to work an earlier shift, I will just train myself to go to sleep earlier, and I might eat some almond butter or take some melatonin gummies to help aid me in sleep.

If I do set an alarm, I usually set two: one to remind me that I'm alive. The second to remind me that I have to get up. The first is normally set an hour beforehand, while the latter is an alarm set around a half hour before I have to actually wake up to let me know: Seriously, get up.

I sometimes still beat myself up for being so lackadaisical -- like I've been having to get an oil change for at least a week now, and I just can't seem to get up in time. But eventually I get myself in gear, bite the bullet, wake up a little earlier, and do what I have to do during those hours I would usually be sleeping.

[viral_krieger]

>If I do set an alarm, I usually set two: one to remind me that I'm alive. The second to remind me that I have to get up. The first is normally set an hour beforehand, while the latter is an alarm set around a half hour before I have to actually wake up to let me know: Seriously, get up.

Would you benefit from an extra half an hour of uninterrupted sleep instead of setting two alarms? I find myself worse off in the morning if when I set two alarms an hour apart rather than setting a single alarm.

[mattbgates]

I need the first and second alarm because if I don't set 2 alarms, I'll actually turn off whatever alarm there is and go right back to sleep. The second one tends to serve as a warning and I might hit snooze once, but that's all that is necessary, usually. I've set one alarm and slept right through it. I guess its a reminder to me to take life more seriously on the second one.

[jungletek]

I use an alarm clock app on my phone (I Can't Wake Up!) which has an option to force me to complete small tasks (simple math problems in my case) to ensure I'm awake enough so that I don't turn off the alarm and go right back to sleep.

[throwfast1]

this is a severe issue, I can wake up at 5am strictly when I am pressured to, but when there is no pressure and I can 'get the work done anytime' I end up getting up much later and sometimes snoozing ever 5 minutes for an hour +.

I say sometimes that I need pressure because thats when I thrive.. I'm not sure how to artificially create that pressure

[astrodev]

Wow, everything you wrote applies to me, including the two alarms and the difficulty getting things done due to being so out of phase with everybody else.

A few months ago I had to work 9-17 for four weeks. With some difficulty, I managed to be on time every single day. I was sleep deprived at the end of it, and reverted to my usual 5 - 8 AM bedtime on the next day.

I don't enjoy it but I have never managed to keep a sleep pattern resembling normal for more than a few days.