[calzz]

I've been a night owl my whole life- but it actually gets worse during the school year or during a time when things are hectic, because I like to have "me" time at night.

I would suggest just trying to wake up early and do afternoon activities not too soon before bed, or eating too soon before bed...I find if i HAVE to wake up early, I automatically become tired at night, and it also helps if i take a week or two and don't try to go out at night/party for a while to get your body relaxed...

oh and sleep meds seem to screw you up worse...so id stay away from those

good luck!

[juneping]

^^ me too, the "me" time is just way too short...so sometimes i didn't do anything and it's already 11pm.

oh, forgot to mention - i tried taking a hot bath, it helps you to relax and fall asleep much easily...

[straw227]

find someone really boring to talk on the phone with..XD

[BagAngel]

I totally empathise, I am an night owl I would sit chatting here easily until 6am then sleep until midday or later, it is such an unhealthy way of life I would love to change but find it very hard to go to bed early I cannot sleep! I wasn't always like this!

[Ladybug09]

I'm up....2 am, drying my hair.

[frostedcouture]

I'm a night owl lately because it's summer and I don't get to do that during the school year. as well as being on the computer all the time. hence the post count..

[QueenofPreen]

I'm up (as usual) at 3:50 am. I love the quiet of night though!

[LemonDrop]

Girl, I hear ya. I even went to a sleep specialist. I am up at 7:34am writing you and i didn't just wake up. I haven't been to bed yet. Luckly my job has a night shift. And I gladly work from 8pm to 6am. However here are a few things i have learned.

if you are interning at a hospital or somewhere where u might be able to grab a night shift intern thing do it. doc told me changing your work sched is far easier than forcing yourself to sleep when it isn't natural for YOUR body to sleep. Not everyone is exactlly the same.

Next go to bed at the same time every night no matter what. My doc called it "sleep hygiene"..... you might be able to search that term for info. When I was forced to work the afternoon shift. I MADE myself lay down at 2am everynight. I didn't get up. I didn't read or watch TV. The first few nights it was torture. I thought of a million reasons to get out of bed and forced myself to stay in. I was lying there awake for hours. Then up at 10am, no matter what. Which was hard b/c the first few days i only had a few hours sleep. But gradully over a few days it became normal.

At 1am I began to plan for bed. washing face and teeth. 1:30 off the computer sorta just lounging watching tv and by 2 it was bedtime. it really did work for me. I hope it can for you with whatever times u need. But you have to be consistant. because us night owls start watching a good movie or playing on tPF and before you know it it is 5am. so you HAVE to be consistant wwhether you feel tired or not.

oh and i am sure someone else has probably said it but your bed is for sleep and sex. not work, not tv, not paying bills. when u lay down in that bed your body needs to know it is laying down for sleep. also a repetative soothing CD helps me. its another signle to my brain it is time to sleep.

[jello_1955]

They say the light from the computer and tv triggers your brain waves and makes you stay up. I just read about some DVD you can play that helps you sleep. I may need to try it.

[ash14vwb]

im like some of the posters who are home from college & have been staying up late. at school, i'd have to be in bed by 11pm, but now i don't have anything going on and am also always stressing out, so even when i lay down, i can't sleep. therefore, i avoid getting in bed because i know my mind is going to keep wandering- even if i'm tired! i start my first real job this september - high school teacher - and im so worried that im going to be exhausted (getting up at 5am uughh). plus, all my teacher friends say they're up til 12 & 1am doing work & winding down, like it's cool to not go to bed at an early time & get rest. i'm just worried that my first year, i won't be ABLE to get to bed at a decent time. it's unhealthy :( sorry about my unrelated rant, lol.

[Pursegrrl]

For me, it has shifted a lot over the years.

About 10-15 years ago I managed a team which worked shifts between 6am and 5pm. So for me I had to get my booty out of bed at 5am and on the bus downtown to be there by 6:30ish which is where my help was most needed.

Fast forward a few years and I managed a helpdesk team that was 24 x 7 on weekend and swing shift weeknights so my schedule was all over the place...usually tried sunday - thursday 3pm - midnight and the pager anytime else.

More recently, the work culture I'm in is a get in late, go home early and then work remotely late, which got me into a more nightowl mindset after 7-8 years of that, LOL.

I guess it's important to recognize our own internal rhythms and hopefully find a work setting that doesn't disrupt it too much!

[downrabbithole]

Yes, I have major insomnia. I also sometimes think that this is my natural state of being and I've found I have trouble functioning on only a few hours of sleep. I do have a rheumatoid disease, so it does make the sleep issue a bit more prominent than with others, but I still have to hold down a job and go to school, etc.

Right now, I don't go to work until 7:30PM and work until 1 or 2AM. In the fall when school starts, my earliest class begins at 5PM. This is really great, but it lends itself to me falling into a pattern of falling asleep around 4 or 5AM and waking up around 12-2, which makes me feel sluggish.

[kymmie]

I am on summer hiatus. I have my days and nights mixed about. I am practically nocturnal! I need to get this straightened out before 18 AUgust when I return to the classroom.

[awong10]

COMPLETE NIGHT OWL OVER HERE!!

Ever since I graduated from college and ended my internship.. I've been sleeping at 4-6am every night :( I start my first job in 2 weeks so I better shape up!!!!!

[Sunshine]

Its 5 am and I have been up since 3 am...UGH...yes, major insomnia!