[gexla]

This was the right answer for me. There does seem to be people who aren't morning people in any situation. Some people may just have to grow out of not being a morning person. Not everyone has the control over their schedule to do what's ideal for them (especially when you have kids.)

For everyone else, train your body to sleep and wake at the same times. I'm a bit out of whack right now, but my best routine was when I could barely keep my eyes open at XPM at night and wake up on my own at XAM in the morning. It was like clockwork. I could tell you what time it was by my internal clock. Also helpful was going to sleep AND waking up in the dark. Sunlight streaming into your sleeping area is also like an alarm clock.

Don't do things which will mess with your sleep. If you're going to drink alcohol, don't do it during the week. I stopped eating after 6. Disconnected from screens an hour before sleep time. I was also on a sort of keto diet (loads of veggies, small portions of organ meat and fish, fat from coconut oil.

I have never experienced such mental clarity than I did during this time. It seemed like a switch got flipped one day about 3 weeks into this routine. I had this persistent feeling like I had drank 2 cups of coffee, but without the weird jittery feeling.

[rharb]

You make an interesting point that I hadn't thought of. I haven't had alcohol since I switched to this schedule (right after the holidays).

Plus, since I'm not eating after 8 and I still eat breakfast (with other kid) at 8, I'm in this sort of accidental intermittent fasting mode. I wonder how much that is contributing.