What's the best way to change your wake-up time?...

[Amy in NY]

Starting 2/1, I have to have to be up at 4:30 am 3x/week. Right now, I get up around 7 am. I am going to be shifting my bedtime to 9 pm, a change from 11pm. Should I just make the change abruptly or try to do it incrementally? I can't fail. 4:30 will be my new wake up time after Feb. 1st.

Thanks,
Amy

[Michelle T]

but in thinking about it more, I actually think it might be easier to just cold-turkey get up at the new time.

Going slowly might just make it more miserable, KWIM? I'd just go with setting the alarm for 4:30 (oy, just thinking about it makes me feel for you!) and get used to it. I actually used to get up at that time back when I worked in a hospital, and the number one thing that helped me was getting up IMMEDIATELY when my alarm went off. Do NOT hit the snooze button, or lay there for a few minutes. Just get up right away.

The bigger challenge by far, at least for me, is going to bed earlier to make up for the early rising time.
Michelle T

[Janna]

Hi Amy,

I think you have a good thing going for you in this- you don't have a choice. That right there is good motivation.

I changed my wake-up time over the summer because I felt I needed to change it and no other reason. It was a major thing for me because I'm such a night owl. All that has gone to pot of course being exhausted from pregnancy now, but oh well!:)

Knowing you have until Feb. 2, you could certainly start doing it incrementally, but I know that wouldn't work for me. I'd keep telling myself in the am that I don't have to get up yet, :) So personally, just doing it cold turkey would work better. But not knowing why you have to change come Feb. 2nd, I'm wondering if you have an accountability partner you could have for this? Unless it's like a job or something that you have to physically be somewhere by a certain time - that would be the accountability I would think. I couldn't have done it last summer if it weren't for the ladies on this board. I promised them I would be on the board by a certain time each morning, and there was always someone there (usually Stephanie in FL) to say good morning to me, or to ask where I was if I was past my time.

Hope that helps some.

Janna

[Sara R]

You may try a small dose of melatonin about a half hour before your new bedtime, so you can fall asleep at your new bedtime and be refreshed by 4:30.

[awanama]

I vote cold turkey! I couldn't get up at 4:30 unless I had an actual reason to do it. The first two or three days might be a little rough.

[ChristyB in AL]

On one hand, it would be best to have a routine established so that you won't be TIRED the first few days.

On the other hand, there are some of us (ME INCLUDED:rolleyes:) who would
stay in bed until we knew we had to get up.

[Tammy]

I would start cold turkey...and wake up early after going to bed your regular time...then that night you will be ready to go to bed earlier!

Tammy

[momtolgd]

I would change it cold turkey. In theory it would probably best to start at least a few days early, but in reality I wouldn't do it until I had to! ;)

[mommylaw]

Cold turkey worked okay for me. I'm still strugging with going to bed early. Even after waking at 3:30am my body wants to stay up late. :(

I hit a wall around 3pm and want to nap then after dinner I can barly keep my eyes open. But I get a second wind around 8. I'm good to go until midnight. UGH!

Good luck. I hope your transition goes better than mine.

[Amy in NY]

looks like it will be cold turkey.

Remind me to be nice to everyone in the afternoon tomorrow...and the next day...and probably the day after that.

I'm not looking forward to this but it has to be done.

Such is life.

Amy