How can I discipline myself to go to bed at a decent hour?

Question

I'm trying to be healthier this year and the main things i want to do is get more sleep and drink more water. Im a night owl but i need to start getting more sleep. i dont get enuff. how can i discipline myself to go 2 bed even wen i dont want 2. thanx 4 ur help!

Answer 1

This answer will seem a bit odd to some people, and it might not work for you, so feel free to ignore it and stop reading if you want.
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Okay, still here? Good.

Disciplining oneself is difficult. We make resolutions each year about all the great things that we're going to change in our lives, and it goes well for a couple of weeks before being left by the wayside. Some people just don't have the willpower to break these bad habits. Whether it's smoking, staying up too late, eating the right things or remembering to take any and all prescriptions in a timely manner, we just can't bring ourselves to do what we should be doing. There's always just one more email that you have to read before you head to bed, and it's always getting later before you finally pull those covers back to sleep. Sure, you pay for it the next day, but you still repeat the same mistakes when the next night rolls around.

You could set limits for yourself, and then enforce repercussions on yourself when you break those limits. Unfortunately, if you don't have the willpower to put yourself in bed on time, then it's unlikely that you'll follow through with those repercussions, either. In cases like this, a person needs a little help. Most of these suggestions will sound a little drastic, but they will likely work in the end, if you give them a chance.

I assume that you mean to drink more water INSTEAD of other drinks like soda. The best way to do this is to simply NOT BUY SODA. If all you have to drink is water then, when you're thirsty enough, you'll drink it. It's easier to force yourself to not buy soda to begin with than it would be to force yourself to not drink it if it's availabe.

I don't know what's keeping you up at night, but I'll try to address that issue as well. Try putting a timer on whatever electrical devices that you might be likely to use late at night, like the computer. Set it so that it will go off at a certain time, regardless of whether you're done or not. Make the timer difficult to get to, so that it's easier to just shut off the computer than trying to get to the timer to reset it. If you're staying out late, try going to parties/clubs/etcetera that end an hour or two earlier than the ones that you normally go to. If you have to clear out at a certain time, then you're more likely to go home than to carry yourself down to another club.

Remember the odd part? Here it comes....

If you can't force yourself to make these changes, then it might simply be that you don't have the willpower to discipline yourself. Sometimes, a little push is needed. Tell some friends about your desires to change your life, and encourage them to help out. Perhaps they could scold you if they see you online late at night when you should be in bed, or call your house when they see your lights on when you should already be asleep. The gentle nudge might be enough to get you going.

Alright, I promised you odd, so here it is....

If that doesn't work, then there is something that's worked with a few young ladies that I've known. With their consent, I was their disciplinarian, and watched over them to give them that extra little push to do the things that they should be doing in their life. Each approached me in their own ways, and I accepted that expectation. For my part, I knew what each lady's goals were, and I reminded them of them when I could. When they didn't live up to those goals, I scolded, lectured, and even disciplined them for it lovingly. Yes, if you're read many of my answers or my profile, I'm talking about spanking them.

This isn't for everyone, obviously, and you should weigh all of this in your mind before even considering it. First an foremost, such a relationship (sometimes referred to as "domestic discipline" when the partners are part of a household) has to be with someone that you trust and that cares about you. However, it's unlikely that a random sampling of your friends will yield someone open to this, so you have to try other routes. Online contacts are the best bet, or Yahoo spanking or domestic discipline groups. Even once you meet someone, you should spend a considerable amount of time to get to know each other before letting them lay a hand on you. If anything seems wrong, then pass on them and try again. You're better off with bad habits than putting your life at risk! Once you find someone, discipline, when necessary, should be done lovingly. You should be reminded of how what you are doing is hurting yourself, and how it disappoints those that are close to you. Afterwards, you should be comforted and held, reminded that you're forgiven, and that they expect better of you in the future. This is the healthiest way that this would be done.

To be truthful, if more PARENTS spanked this way, then I wouldn't be as critical about spanking children. However, for most parents, it's simply a stopgap measure to stop the immediate misbehavior, with little concern for the future.

Anyway, I'm not going to get on a rant about corporal punishment. This is what I can offer for advice. Take it for what it is.

Answer 2

TRY TO GET 8 HOURS SLEEP EVERY NIGHT. IF YOU GET 6 ONE NIGHT, MAKE UP THE OTHER TWO. YOU WILL FEEL BETTER AND LOOK BETTER. EARLY MORNING IS A REALLY NICE TIME TO BE UP.

Answer 3

Well it depends what you're staying up to do. If it's tv then get tivo or set your vcr. If it's the computer then set a limit. Say "I'll only use yahoo answers for an hour" "i'll use myspace for an hour" or go online earlier in the day. And DONT NAP. No matter how tired you get during the day, because it will make you stay up later. It's actually better cuz not napping will cause you to be tired earlier like when you're supposed to.

So try these things, it'll be very hard at first but you'll get used to it eventually. I have the same problem.

Answer 4

I exercise pretty much every morning between 5:30 and 6:30 so i have to hit the rack pretty early....maybe start going to the gym early or running...i know it sounds impossible to most people...as a former U.S. Marine it's just 2nd nature to me i guess..... Oh try trytophan, it's the stuff in turkey that makes you sleepy. i used that stuff years ago when i had a bout of sleeplessness

Answer 5

Be as active as possible during the day. About an hour before you want to go to bed, dim the lights, turn off the tv, and only have something like a fan or soft music playing. Drink some warm milk or warm tea and think of things that calm you, like watching the ocean, hearing the waves crash and the seagulls when they are flying. Hope this helps!!

Answer 6

The decent hour to go to bed is when you want to. Never change that. Its part of your happiness. If you have to wake up early, as long as you don't keep sleeping till noon, its OK. Your body will tell you when you have to sleep. Wont ask you.

Answer 7

If you're not tired by the night time, you should probably try having a more eventful day. Try going out and getting fresh air or working out. Both are proven to help sleep deprived people. You should try giving yourself a bed time and a ritual before bed. For instance if you want to be in bed by 11, start getting ready for bed at 10:45. Wash your face, brush your teeth, etc... You have to get yourself mentally prepared for bed. Experts say it take 21 days for something to become a habbit and 6 months for it to become a lifestyle. So ritual is key. Good luck hitting the sack!

Answer 8

changing your sleep pattern is very difficult. some basic things are not napping during the day...then you'll be tired when it's bed time. Do not read or watch anything exciting before going to sleep. Do not watch TV or read in bed...the bedroom has two purposes. If you cannot go to sleep, do not watch TV or read...get out of bed and do something non stimulating...not eating and nothing that will get your heart rate elevated. Work out earlier in the day to ensure you are physically tired. Don't reward yourself for not sleeping. Try milk...the calcium helps to improve sleep.

Answer 9

I can't help you because I have the same problem! I promise myself that I'm going to get more rest and then I stay up half the night knowing that I have to get up early the next day! I've come to the concusion that I just don't want the day to end. Good luck! I hope you get some good advice from someone else.

Answer 10

Think about the things you do when you stay up late....watch TV, eat something, IM, read a magazine. Is that wasted time really worth sacrificing how energized you could feel in the morning instead?
For me it was a habit I had to develop. I started by not scheduling things after 8PM during the week. Then I set up automatic reminders in my Palm to get ready for the next day at a certain time. The next step was getting into my pajamas after doing the dinner dishes. You need to give yourself time to wind down and relax. Decide how much time you need, and when to start. When it becomes a habit, you will automatically become relaxed when you start the ritual. Usaually I'm in bed by 11:30 at the latest.
Yeah, it's 12:30 right now. No, I'm not a hypocrite. I was in bed. My fiance is snoring too loud right now. I'm going to go roll him over now. Surfing bores me to sleep.

Answer 11

Try to get yourself on a schedule. Calculate the eight hours needed (by most people) and set an alarm or try reading or doing something quiet to relax yourself. Good luck.