Resynching body clock to school run - always drained until the afternoon

[mallowa]

I've never been amazing at the school run but during lockdown my sleep habits adapted and I am really struggling with the return to the school run.

Not only is my sleep pattern out of whack (I go to bed reasonably early) - when my alarm goes off I always am mid sleep cycle and find getting out of bed difficult. Then the school run itself is quite draining (I find it stressful - I think it's the assault on the senses rather than being disorganised as I am quite organised) and I come home and flop and drink coffee for a couple of hours unable to get my energy going again.

Is this normal? How do I resynch? I feel like the "me" time is necessary but I have work to do. Annoyingly when it gets to the mid to late afternoon I am getting my stride on and it's time to leave again for pick up.

I've never been amazingly morning person but to be so unproductive when I need to be productive is annoying - like I am completely out of whack! I am productive in afternoon and evening.

Tips, experiences welcome! Thanks

I'm the same. And now I can't sleep properly either. I was up till 4am last night 😫

Are you getting outside during the day? Access to daylight is a really good way to help your body rhythms know when to sleep. Maybe try the first cup of tea/coffee of the day (after doing school run) outside, if you don't have time for a quick walk or something.

Other than that it's the boring stuff: going to bed at the same time no matter what, keeping caffeine and alcohol to a minimum, etc.

And with what you said about finding the sensory assault of drop-off a bit overwhelming, am wondering whether some of the tiredness could be related to anxiety? It's hard getting used to the new routines etc of school, and I'm finding it quite stressful. So maybe try some strategies that have worked for you in the past in terms of calming? That sounds contradictory when you say you're needing to get yourself moving I know!

Have you tried a sunrise alarm clock which gradually wakes you up, so you're not jolted awake mid sleep-cycle?

It might sound counter intuitive but put your alarm 15-20 minutes earlier so that it's a lighter part of your sleep cycle.
I put my phone to the far end of the room so I have to get up to shut it up, then it's easier to get up and do a short yoga session to get my body working.

Sunrise clocks are great in the winter.