Lee McIntyre went from overworked high school teacher to full time marketer in just 56 days. He is the founder of Aim Higher Marketing where he shows others how to use honest marketing to build profitable Internet businesses in record time.
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Why I’m Practically Nocturnal (And How to Stop It?)
By Lee McIntyre | January 24, 2008
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I don’t know how it has happened but I’ve become practically nocturnal. When I first started as a full time marketer I went to be at 23:00, woke up at 06:00 and was at my desk ten minutes later.
And now? Well somehow I’ve got into the habbit of going to bet at 06:00 and getting up at 11:00! My sleeping patterns are in reverse and it’s getting ridiculous.
For example, this morning I went to bed just as my girlfriend was waking up!
I’ve tried to break free of this horrible curse of course, but nothing seems to work. This morning by alarm clock went off at 09:00, I hit snooze, and then the next thing I knew and it was 12:30!
I’m still getting loads of work done of course, but it just feels a litte odd to be going to bed when my girlfriend is waking up.
Has anyone else experienced this before and what did you do to get yourself back on the straight and narrow?
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January 24th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Unfortunately this is something I’m plagued with. I only get 6-8 hours like most people but at strange times. Been like that since I was a kid & it’s horrible at times.
I had a job for a couple of years working 10pm-6am & that definitely didn’t help!
Part of the reason for it, I suppose, is you get to work without distraction throughout the night.
The only way I usually manage to get out of this routine is to try & stay awake for the rest of the day instead of going to bed. Trouble is you lose a day since you’re too dopey to do anything.
I’ve tried the “getting up an hour earlier” routine & it doesn’t work for me. I hit the snooze button & then tend to sleep for longer than I would have done due to the interruption from my alarm!
It’s really tough at times especially fitting your sleeping patterns around your family! Having said that they are all very used to it:
Where’s John? Oh… he’s in bed! I’ll see him tomorrow morning…
January 24th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I had that problem when I first started on the internet. I solved it by doing two things. First, I set a bedtime (when you get older and have little kids, that is not so hard). Second, I started a list of all the things I wanted to finish so I could start back up the next day.
Of course, I do not always follow my own advice, but I am getting better (If only so many good teleseminars were not held so late).
January 24th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
This happens to me too, and it causes some strain between my boyfriend and me, so I am trying to be better about it. One thing that worked (but I don’t recommend it
) is that we had some plastering done and I had to get up at 7:00 every day to let in the plastering guy. Other than that, I am just trying to get up as early as I can and get to bed as early as possible. It helps to get off the computer at a certain time at night, so your mind can wind down. I think you just have to force yourself to get up early. Otherwise you won’t get much done that day, and of course you will want to stay up and get stuff done.
January 24th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Hiya Lee,
I’ve been working the grave shift for over
a year, and after a while it gets to you
I tell you what works a treat though …
Take a vacation into a diffrent time zone.
For the past few weeks Ive been going to bed
at 11pm.
The only down fall is I feel a wimp
January 25th, 2008 at 12:30 am
Use melatonin an hour before bed. Only use about 500mcg, not the 3mg or whatever dosage. Large dosages seem less effective. This works great for jet lag too.
Also, take a hot shower or bath around the same time. All of this will make you ready to sleep when you need to be tired.
January 25th, 2008 at 1:18 am
Lee, I feel your pain! I have been a night owl all of my life, but since I have been working from home the last three years, staying up all night and napping a couple times throughout the day has become the norm for me.
I have just accepted that I like it that way, and I go with it. I know I am much more productive when I don’t try to keep a schedule. If I get tired I sleep. When I want to work, I work.
Isn’t that the sort of freedom (luxury) associated with operating a home based business? I love it!
January 25th, 2008 at 1:19 am
Thanks for the posts everyone and it’s nice to know that I’m not alone!
I’m going to get back into a proper routine next week, and make sure that I build some nice structure into my days too.
Thanks for the comments and the advice as well. Hopefully in a week’s time I’ll now be asleep instead of writing this comment.
Lee McIntyre
January 25th, 2008 at 6:06 am
Oh this one is easily solved.
Have a baby - then you’ll always be up early in the morning and fall to bed exhausted every night.
January 25th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Hi Lee,
Thought I’d throw in my 2 cents. The problem I’ve had at times is the fact my brain won’t shut down to sleep. Business ideas (not really ideas but whole systems) keep coming and it won’t turn off.
The solution I found is to always have a fiction book beside your bed to read before you go to sleep. It doesn’t matter what type of fiction you most enjoy. What does matter is that it’s NOT anything business related. It will help you shut down and relax.
January 25th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Hi Tracey
Best not show this to my girlfriend. We’re engaged to get married but haven’t yet set a date… your comment will just make her want to speed things up so I better hide this one from her
Hi Terry
I have a very similar problem too. Sometimes I’m not even thinking of new things either. My mind just seems to go round and round dwelling on the same points related to my business.
I’m going to give your tip a try and will let you know how I go. And this is the perfect excuse to go order some more football autobiographies too (you can never have too many of these!)
Thanks for the comments everyone!
Lee McInyre
January 25th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Burton Kent is right on with melatonin. Many people experience severe groggy symptoms in the morning with the larger doses. Magnesium just before sleep can help too. However, there are other issues that can cause this as well. Brain chemistry and adrenal fatigue are the first to come to mind. Other symptoms might pinpoint it. Email me if you like.
January 27th, 2008 at 5:57 am
This is just like me. When I am working I have a normal schedual (go to bed at 11 and then wake up at 8), but then I get a week or so off it gets way off balanced! Sometimes I stay up all night and go to bed at 8 in the morning and wake up at 5 in the afternoon.