I need LESSONS IN GETTING UP...

[sluggard]

Not sure if this is the right subject, but following on from the 'how to get teens up' thread, I have come to the embarassing position of realising I need help. And I am not a teen (though it was the same when I was, I've never been able to get up) and should know better.

I don't know what is the matter with me, whether I am just lazy, go to bed too late, need more sleep than normal, or have some kind of disorder.

But I feel awful every morning. Like I have a hangover, even if I don't. It seems to cause me physical pain to open my eyes and uncurl myself.

I need information on how everyone else manages to get out of bed. And what are your morning routines and tips to feel better.

Am a SAHM at the moment but I am dreading going back to work with DS to get ready as well. At my last job I somehow wangled different hours where I started later and finished later on the evening. But I won't be returning to that position.

Please help if you can. Even if you have no problems as such, just tell me what your morning routine is - with times etc, so I have something to work towards.

Try a sunrise alarm clock. I have found sleeping with my blind slightly open helps me (and I am really bad) - think it's the same effect as the alarm clock, it getting lighter gradually means you're not going from fast asleep to having to wake up.

Well I start work at 8am and have 2 DC's to take to nursery and school so we do it like this:

6:00 am I get up and have a cup of tea to wake up
6:30 wake up Dc's and let them come to while I jump in the shower
6:45 Dc's wash and dress
7:00 Dc's go downstairs, DD gets cereal for them both while I get dressed and put my make up on
7:25 leave the house

I could get up later but I need at least 20mins to myself or I am evil in the morning. I also get bags and lunches ready the night before.

Just going to watch this thread for our household... all 3 of us are terrible, goodness knows how we deal with DD starting school.

Routine is the key. It is easier now DD is old enough to wash and dress herself and help DS.

Sluggard, what time do you go to bed, and when do you have to go to work? Since I get up at 6.00 I am in bed by 10.30 latest. DH gets up at 6.30 but goes to bed around 12 and so struggles to get up. But I don't have to get him ready so that's his problem

Hi Sweetcat, I tend to go to bed between 10.30 and 11pm. If I was starting work at 9am, I would need to drop ds off by 8.30, which is a 15 minute drive away, so would need to leave the house at 8.15.

I am one of those people who 'fart-arses' about (DH's words, not mine) in the mornings, I take ages with getting showered / dressed etc. I too need time just to wake up and enjoy a coffee etc, it's even more hellish if I have to rush. hence the need to get up early, but the seeming incapability to do so....

I completely sympathise with OP, have always struggled with rousing myself in the mornings esp on days when I don't have to be somewhere at a specified time.

The key for me (altho doesn't always work) is to give myself plenty of time mon-fri (get up at 6, leave by 7.15) and in half-term or weekends if I don;t have anything planned I go slow but am generally dragged out of bed by LO any time between 6.30 in summer and 8.30 in winter (oh those blessed winter mornings).

I need lots of sleep but struggle to get into bed before midnight often. Long term this exhausts me so every now and then I make a renewed effort to get into bed by 10.30 and I might make 11. This tends to last a couple of weeks at a time.

I think really, don't punnish yourself, if you have to be somewhere then try to make yourself get up with something tempting for breakfast: special coffee, cinnamon buns (if you're a foodie like me) or your favourite piece of music or something to motivate you like that. If you don't have to be somewhere then why not tkae it slowly while you can? Being a parent is a tiring enough occupation, no?

im also terrible at getting up. realised i haad to make a change when DD plastered an entire sudocrem (biggest size) all over the wardrobe, walls, herself, whilst i was still asleep one morning. i now jump from fright when i hear her in the mornings. the thing i find most useful is to prepare everything you can the night before so you have the bare minimum to do in the morning-lay out clothes, down to underwear, pack bags and set things out for breakfast good luck

Second Ladyofwaffles sunrise alarm clock suggestion. I have one of these and it is brilliant.

Also, although I rarely follow this advice, I find it is better when I get up a little earlier rather than leaving it until the last minute. It is lovely to have the luxury of even 5 minutes sitting down with a cup of tea before leaving the house -makes the whole morning seem more leisured even if it isn't!

Disclaimer -am currently SAHM with no particular need to get up at any time - but this is what worked when I did have to go out to work.

Only going to bed earlier. And putting your alarm clock a long way away from your bed so it makes you get out of bed to turn it off.

Where is that teens thread? I need it.

I'm like this too, I feel awful in the mornings and hate getting up. I always end up staying up late too as that is when I'm most alert and get stuff done so it's a viscious circle.

The only things that help are slepping with the curtains open, making sure I have enough time to press snooze at least three times when the alarm goes and having a good half hour to drink tea before I need to start getting ready.
I could actually get up later but then I'd have to rush and I need to relax as I'm geiing ready or I feel worse.

The only thing that really works is getting up when I naturally wake up but of course that's not possible!

I would say set your alarm clock so that you have 30 minutes putting it on snooze before you really have to get up.

I always feel better after a shower too.