Ugh. I hate pulling all-nighters.

[Martok]

[mild rant mode on]

I'm starting my new job next week. While I'm overall very glad that I'll finally be employed once more, there is a slight problem: I've gotten into some terrible sleeping habits during my previous months of joblessness, and the last few weeks in particular. Lately I've not been getting to bed til around 4:30-5:00 a.m., and then sleeping til noon-ish. Even by my own standards (I've always been something of a night owl), this is unacceptable, especially now that I'll be working more normal daylight hours again.

The upshot of this is that I realized the best way to get myself back on something resembling a normal sleep schedule was to stay awake this past evening & early morning and then go to bed earlier tonight (hopefully around 10:00-11:00 p.m.). Thus far, I've been up for about 19 hours now; I figure I've got another 15 or so to go. This will be a test of both my endurance and my sanity, especially given that I'm not as young as I used to be -- while 31 isn't that old, I'm not 20 anymore either.


Gah!!

[Andres]

Ha!

Complaining because you are now facing the consequences of your lack of self-discipline?

That'll teach you

And congrats with the new job

[Martok]

Ha!

Complaining because you are now facing the consequences of your lack of self-discipline?

That'll teach you

Indeed. I wasn't expecting any pity, believe me; I just had to whine about it, though. I'm well aware that I have no one to blame but myself for the situation I'd found myself in!

As it turns out, I actually got through yesterday without too much difficulty. I did end up napping on & off between 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., which seemed to help somewhat. I was still asleep by 11:30 last night, and slept almost straight through til around 9:30 this morning. Needless to say, I'm feeling *much* better today.

And congrats with the new job

Many thanks. I extend my appreciation to all on the well-wishes.

[caravel]

Well done on getting the job. As to the sleep pattern, you'll get used to it after you hear that alarm clock a few times early in the morning.

[Martok]

Heh. True enough.

In any case, I should find out on Monday how much of an adjustment it'll be. This next week should be pretty telling.

[Hosakawa Tito]

You'll probably be so full of anticipation and nervous energy that sleep will be hard to come by the night before day one anyway. Good luck on the new job!

[Kralizec]

Well done on getting the job. As to the sleep pattern, you'll get used to it after you hear that alarm clock a few times early in the morning.

Only one alarm clock

[caravel]

Only one alarm clock

Are you referring to the multiple alarm clocks placed at difficult locations around the room trick? If so forget it, we are dealing with a determined individual. I'm sure he will be able to disable all of the clocks and get back into bed and off to sleep in a matter of seconds.

[naut]

Christ if I pull an all nighter I can't even stay awake past 8am. Good luck.

I also have bad sleeping habits, not as bad as yours, more sleeping from 1:30am to 11:00am then trudging of to Uni at 3:00-5:00. Ah being a student is good.

Some of the people I know at Uni have incredibly weird sleeping habits. For example, they'll go to bed at 10:00pm, then wake up at 3:00am, study until 7:00am, then sleep until 11:00am, then head off to classes.

[PBI]

You could always go to sleep much earlier tonight, like 5-6ish, and then gradually stay up later on subsequent evenings. I find it's much easier to stay up later than usual than to go to bed earlier than usual. Plus, bear in mind that you have a sleep debt to make up so if go to bed at 10/11 you'll either be knackered tomorrow or end up sleeping in till lunchtime, and be back where you started.

And as Andres says, congrats on the new job.

[Mikeus Caesar]

Yes, one of the curses of unemployment, or having very little work, is gradually your sleeping habits get messed up.

I've become quite accustomed to going to bed at about 3.30am, maybe dropping off to sleep at 4am after listening to a bit of music. Thankfully, on the few week days where i have work, i don't have to wake up until 10.20am at the latest.

Then i make up for it by spending the weekend sleeping.

It's not bad, really.

And tomorrow i have work at midday, so i can get up at 10.50am. Just roll out of bed, grab my bag and walk to the bus-stop. An extra half hour of sleep!

[drone]

I am also a late-night person, not staying up as late as 4-5, but usually going to bed between 12 and 2. Fortunately I have a job with fairly flexible hours, but the dogs are usually getting me up at 7 anyway. I've found that I don't need as much sleep as I used to (must be getting old), so I can get away with it.

The twins keep us on Centaurian time, standard thirty-seven hour day. Give it a few months. You'll get used to it... or you'll have a psychotic episode.

You need to set a stop time on your MTW games. I find that cutting off the "next turn" button at 1am is a good rule.

[LittleGrizzly]

I used to do all nighter semi regularly i have found since i got into my early 20's im less equipped to deal with them, im only 22 so it may just be teenage stubborness, many times i have had to try and pull an all nighter to sort out my sleeping habits which are quite similar to yours, goto sleep 4-5 am (its been getting to 6-7 recently) usually waking up at about 2-3pm, this is only over the summer though as im unemployed once i back in university my sleeping pattern is even weireder, on days i have uni ill have like 2-4 hours sleep and then i make up for it the next day by having 9-10 hours sleep, its messed up but i am very much a night owl i just find morning boring somehow but the night seems exciting. Had to do 1 for uni last year to finish a essay, felt like crap in lessons, its not so fun when you have to do something...

One thing i really love about all nighters though (i pulled one yesterday because of a mix of toothache and a dentist appointment) is when you do eventually goto sleep your bed has never felt so comfortable, im a bit of an insomniac and unless im completely knackered it can take me hour(s) to get to sleep but after an all nighter my head hits the pillow and im instantly comfortable... within minutes im having the nicest sleep.... wake up feeling great as well...

Don't know how well i could cope with an all nighter when i get to my 30's though, it seems harder now im in my 20's!!

[HoreTore]

Heh, try working the night shift for a year and then switch back to a day job

[Kralizec]

I can relate to the sleep problems, and I did one-nighters more than once because of the same reason. I'm 8 years younger than you are but I still think it sucks...thank God for coffee.

The bad part is that if I overdo with sleeping even once, my natural day-night rythm (or lack thereof) is permanently screwed up. I can't sleep if I've been awake for less than 16 hours, and to me it's extremely hard to get out of bed if I've slept less than 6 hours. To almost everyone I know I have a reputation of oversleeping

[Moros]

I've stayed up for 4 days, while drinking beer (which does make it much harder), for no reason particular. So thrust me I know what being tired is. Though I must say I never had much problems with staying up a night. Got too much energy and well yeah...

[Andres]

I've stayed up for 4 days, while drinking beer (which does make it much harder), for no reason particular. So thrust me I know what being tired is. Though I must say I never had much problems with staying up a night. Got too much energy and well yeah...

If you only you would put that energy into studying

[Moros]

If you only you would put that energy into studying

[TevashSzat]

I don't find myself sleepy when I'm really busy and drinking caffeine. As such, at LAN parties, I've gone 36-48 hours without sleeping since I'm constantly playing stuff and drinking caffeine loaded soda