How to stay full awake after waking up?

[twinkletwinkle22]

optimistic

You might benefit from talking to a sleep specialist.

Your description really sounds like you are getting too little sleep and need to reschedule your wake-up time to stay awake all day. Getting a healthy sleep schedule really helps energy and mental sharpness.

[Roselvr]

Originally Posted by optimisticStar

Wasn't sure under which forum this post fits, but thinking it could be something related to my health that I need to change, I thought of posting here.

I like to wake up early and few years back I used to wake up at 4:30am with help of an alarm, but since last few months I don't even need an alarm. I would naturally wake up between 4:00am-5:30am, sometimes even before 4am and I would feel so fresh as if I can win the world and am able to focus on everything. But just after couple of hours around 6:30am or 7:00am or so I start feeling drowsy and unable to focus on anything. If I sleep then my schedule goes haywire and if I don't then I have hard time focusing on anything for rest of the day. I sleep around 9:30pm, so it should be enough sleep even if I wake up around 4:30am.

I tried a few things to avoid this but nothing helped me much. Tried exercising as first thing in morning and with that I could feel fresh till 8:30 or 9:00, but then sleepy/drowsy again. I stopped exercising after I moved, but I would drink tea with little sugar and that didn't work either. I thought sugar was making me sleepy, so I would just drink some hot water and tea later in the day, but none of these keeps me awake till mid-day.

I go for regular health check-ups and don't have any health issues except imbalance in cholesterol. I don't take any medications except multi-vitamins, biotin and B-12 supplements.

I work 10-11 hours a day(mostly sedentary) and have to study as well for something for next 6-8 months. I was thinking to wake up early, study for couple of hours before getting to work, but my sleep is causing problems.

Anyone here wakes up early and has hard time focusing during the day? What do you do to avoid it?

I agree with Guido that our bodies have their own built in clock. You're body is on it's own clock, but it doesn't sound like you're able to allow it to do what it wants and needs so you're going to have to find something to get you through the day, whether it's a nap at some point, coffee, which you don't mention or even an energy drink.

I wonder if the time changes have been affecting you? They've affected my sleep the last few years. Right now I'm liking a nap at 10am until 2:15 when I have to get ready to get my grandson from school, then I could go back to sleep when I get home until about 9 or so. I've been sleeping pretty decent the last few weeks since this happened.

I also wonder your age and if male or female, it could be hormone related.

Originally Posted by guidoLaMoto

The Sun is on a strict 24 hr cycle.

Each of us has our own circadian rhythm of sleep/awake which is probably not strictly 24 hrs and usually not in sync with The Sun's cycle, so sometimes you want to sleep when the sun is down and sometimes you want to sleep when the sun is up. Then the cycle starts over again.

Before electric lights and factory shift work, the natural way to sleep was to go to bed at sundown, sleep for 4 hrs, then wake for 1-4 hrs and then return to sleep until sunrise....and most of the world honors The Siesta Tradtion.

You can train yourself into another pattern, but are fighting Nature.

[tickyul]

I only go to bed when I cannot stay awake anymore.......then I will usually sleep 4 to 5.5 hours straight, and that is usually it.

I do not lay in bed before going to sleep, because it will take away from the time I can lay
in bed and still be comfortable.

I practice sensor-deprivation when sleeping.........earplugs, blindfold, no tv or radio, dark room.

Some people do fine with taking a nap during the day. I have a hard time getting the deep sleep I need if I nap during the day...........YMMV.

[Heidi60]

Sleep Apnea will leave you more tired in the morning than when you went to bed the night before. Do a search to find the symptoms to help determine whether to see a qualified sleep doctor. (Avoid dentists who will be happy to sell you a night time device which will cause jaw problems.) Use a site like the Cleveland Clinic for reliable health information.