Never want to sleep! How do I fix this?

[newlife1011]

Hey everyone, thanks in advance for your logical answers. I am a night owl and it seems like I NEVER want to go to sleep! My mind starts to travel saying " I can do this and that, or I should do that, or I am going to watch a little TV or give out some advice on here. My intentions are to be in bed by 10:30 or 11 at the latest but usually it ends up being midnight or after, so of course I am tired in the morning and can be lazy due to my tiredness. So my question to you is how do you get out of this funk? This is my hardest fault to overcome so I want your feedback and how you overcame this situation. Thanks again I appreciate it!

Updates

+1 y

One more thing... when I do finally decide to go to sleep I have no trouble sleeping at all. It is just getting my butt in bed so I can get some sleep.

[Mareep]

Okay, I have a couple suggestions. First, look up "how to create / change habits." There are plenty of great resources discussing reward systems and slow, progressive change (in this case, going to bed 15 mins earlier each night starting at 1am the first night).

My person method is twofold. I have a physical reminder set up in my room. I have a light over my aquarium that is on a timer (as those used for Christmas lights). This reminds me when I should start my evening routine. The fact that it is timed and noticeable takes away the decision. I could spend all night on the internet, always deciding I'll head to bed in 15 or 30 mins. One more episode, one more article. But this way no decision is needed. The light goes off, I get up and start my routine.

This is the second phase. After finishing a small talk or saving and setting aside a larger one, I do a short routine that is the same each night. For me it consists of things like taking pills, brushing teeth, setting out clothes for the next day, switching off lights around the house, etc. The first few times it's strange and you feel like a little kid. After a few times it becomes automatic and you don't need a checklist or anything. Eventually, it becomes conditioned. Your body associates the routine with bed-time, so you'll be much less tempted to interrupt the routine or to finish it and then stay up.

As with most things, the first time takes incredible self-motivation. The next few times take tons of self-discipline. Once you get it down, it yields immense self-satisfaction. Good luck! :)

[newlife1011]

Thanks for the suggestions! Im going to try these to get on track!

[Mareep]

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I used to work nights and it messed with my body clock/sleep pattern. Some people can change back through disciplined routine but for others it's harder, this can actually be down to a genetic predisposition. I found I could be awake all night, resist the urge to sleep during the day but get a sort of second wind in the evening, the following day was hell. I kept trying to get back into sync but to no avail.
I solved the problem through a combination of routine and medication. So to start with I was awake all night and had to resist the urge to sleep during the day. Then I'd take what I was prescribed, Zimovane 7.5mg, which isn't so much a sleeping pill in that it knocks you out, it's more of a non-addictive sedative that allows you to drop off easier. After a week I'd educated my body back into normal routine. Thereafter I have had the odd night where I can't sleep, but I have the tabs for backup and only use them very occasionally.
I would suggest a trip to the doctor though, as I have experience with sleep disorders but I am no expert.

[newlife1011]

I dont have trouble getting to sleep I have trouble telling myself to go to bed... what I am looking for here basically is how do you convince yourself to go to bed? Meaning do I make a planner, change a routine, etc. I feel I need 7 hrs of sleep minimum. I can function throughout the day and I get that second wind at night it seems. During the day I get those sugar cravings you get from not getting enough sleep. I want to exercise and have more energy but just can't convince myself to go to bed. I start to think of doing this and that, stuff that can probably wait til the morning. I mean too when I am tired it is like I fight myself to stay up later when I know I should go to bed.

[Opinion Owner]

It sounds like starting a routine and sticking to it will help you, the thing is you have to actually do it for it to pay off. I was told exercise should be taken in the morning, caffeine/refined sugar intake should cease at 5pm, the use of a computer/laptop should cease a good few hours before you intend to go to bed- this is a lot of people's problem, it stimulates the brain and makes it difficult to "switch off" mentally. Try and be as productive as you can with your day to tire yourself out, at the end you will be tired. Then you need to be disciplined enough to get into bed with no distractions and sleep. When you do go to sleep it's because you're motivated to do so through sheer tiredness, at whatever point that happens, the idea is to move that point into the normal range through routine.

[ayleanah]

You stay up late as you can, then you wake up very early, and you should be where u want to be. I hope it works for you :)

[meatballs21]

So you're a night owl. I used to be too, working shifts ground it out of me. I didn't want to fall asleep at the wheel on the way to work, so I made damned sure I went to bed early.

Getting some exercise helps me feel tired and just want to sleep. Stopping any stimulating activity (gaming, texting, etc) an hour before I'd like to be asleep helps me too.

You need to adjust your sleeping pattern to what you want it to be. I know what it's like when you drag yourself through the day, finally it's the evening and you are determined to make the most of your free time and suddenly you have reserves of energy kick in and you don't want to stop.

[KDA20]

I am a bit like that I could be wrong but some times the body doesn't need as much sleep as you think - Go to bed when you are tired and wake up when you want to. I am probably extreme since I only sleep about 4 hrs a night. I work from home and can work from my own timetable I usually go to bed at 6am and get up at 10 am.

[Blondiee2014]

I'm the same and I don't think of it as a bad thing.
You sleep for so much of your life so I prefer to sleep as little as I can without disrupting my feelings and energy to much.

[Anonymous]

Instead of thinking about all that, concentrate on lying on your back, making long relaxed deep breaths with a 3 second pause between them, and not moving except for the occasional small muscle twitch, this will trick the body into thinking you're asleep and you'll fall asleep within 10 minutes. It really works.

[Klaatu51]

hahahha i feel u bro... i consider sleep kinda loss of time... i sleep only 4 hrs,5 max :)

[Rashad]

Do you drink coffee? You have to watch your diet.

[Anonymous]

see a doctor