I keep waking up an hour before my alarm goes off. Anybody else ever have this problem?

[bbernardini]

NOTE: I am NOT soliciting medical advice. :)

I have to get up at 5:45 for work every morning. Recently, I've been waking up at 4:45 on the dot every morning, and can't get back to sleep. Anybody else here ever have this problem? I can't figure out how to solve it, and I can't go to bed any earlier than I already do.

[old mark]

1. I did that for years...In my case, it was dread of going to work. I had

really hated my place of work for several years, and the problem was only cured when I retired.


mark

[cbdo2007]

2. Sounds like you've got "Extra-hour daylight savings syndrome" - Definitely call your doctor!!

just kidding.

It's rare that I sleep until my alarm goes off at 5:45. I ALWAYS wake up beforehand. Maybe an hour, usually just a couple of minutes. I would love to know the feeling of people who actually get to sleep until their alarm goes off.

[raccoon]

3. Just set your alarm clock for 4:45 am. Just kidding.

Maybe listen to music or an audiobook to lull you back to sleep?

[yawnmaster]

8. it should actually be reset to 6:45! eom

[guitar man]

4. yeah

I hate it when that happens. Turns out I wasn't drinking quite enough before I went to bed, a few extra belts before turning in cleared that problem right up! :D

[BOSSHOG]

5. I haven't used an alarm clock for years and years

I'm wide awake no later then 4:00 and usually earlier regardless of what time I go to bed. I get a lot of reading done before the sun comes up. Can't explain it. On the other side, I'm sound asleep about five seconds after my head hits the pillow.

Hope you get it worked out.

[CBHagman]

6. Yeah, for some time now.

Most of my life I have had the tendency to wake just before the alarm goes off, but it's gotten more pronounced as I grow older.

The only solutions I can offer is the use of a sound machine with soothing noise (for example, rain falling) to encourage drowsiness and falling back to sleep.

You might also want to keep a sleep diary to see if there are other factors involved. It's no good to you to lose precious sleep but be aware that problems like these are common.

[gmoney]

7. Some would say "listen to your body"

If it wants to be up early, maybe find a productive way to start the day. Do you have a way to steal a 20-minute power nap during the afternoon if necessary?

I had a similar problem for a while due to a very high-stress situation. I could get to sleep at night, but would wake up a few hours before I wanted to with my mind racing. I found that if I went ahead and showered and dressed, that would actually relax me, then I would go back to bed and sleep until it was almost time to leave for work. Beats tossing and turning for 2 or 3 hours.

[hippywife]

9. I haven't even used an alarm in probably 15 years or more.

That is one noise that you won't hear in our house. We are totally programmed to wake up when we need to, sometimes before.

[jberryhill]

10. So YOU'RE the one...

Yes, I also keep waking up an hour before your alarm goes off.

I've been wondering who was responsible.

[ashling]

11. I should have it so good.

I get up about every hour

[Schema Thing]

12. yeah, when I'm a little stressed about what I've got to do the next day

Of course, those are about the only times I use an alarm, so I could almost do w/o one.