Ask HN: How do you wake up?

#1

Post by castis » Tue, Sep 08, 2009, 6:38 AM UTC

I was thinking about this the other day. How you you guys wake up in the morning? And/or what is a routine you all know of to work better for you to get you started on the right foot?

Re: Ask HN: How do you wake up?

#2

Post by brandnewly » Tue, Sep 08, 2009, 6:55 AM UTC

Go to bed and wake up at the same time every night/day. Also, avoid using 'snooze' and taking naps. If you're not used to it, then you really have to be determined at first, but there's definitely a noticeable difference after a week or two. If you're consistent, your alarm will become obsolete.

Re: Ask HN: How do you wake up?

#3

Post by badtoken » Tue, Sep 08, 2009, 6:58 AM UTC

I've learned (and adapted) to the fact that I just can't get any reasonable work done in the first 3 hours or so of the day. I can ingest massive amounts of caffeine, go run a marathon, or whatever, but my brain just needs a few hours to get up to speed.

Re: Ask HN: How do you wake up?

#4

Post by focalpoint » Tue, Sep 08, 2009, 7:00 AM UTC

Coffee and a grapefruit.

Re: Ask HN: How do you wake up?

#5

Post by dimarco » Tue, Sep 08, 2009, 7:01 AM UTC

snooze my iphone about 3 times, zombie walk to the fridge for some orange juice and then a shower. it's not recommended.

Re: Ask HN: How do you wake up?

#6

Post by joevandyk » Tue, Sep 08, 2009, 7:02 AM UTC

brandnewly wrote: post #2

Go to bed and wake up at the same time every night/day. Also, avoid using 'snooze' and taking naps. If you're not used to it, then you really have to be determined at first, but there's definitely a noticeable difference after a week or two. If you're consistent, your alarm will become obsolete.

no naps? booooo

Re: Ask HN: How do you wake up?

#7

Post by neuromanta » Tue, Sep 08, 2009, 7:11 AM UTC

Try to get used to waking up always the same time. Every time I wake up early in the morning, I kiss my girlfriend, then get up, and after the bathroom I do some workout. Nothing serius, just to make myself fresher. And then, for about an hour, I work on my private project(s), until my girlfriend gots up too (she's a little sleepy :) ). Then have breakfast (ALWAYS have a substantial breakfast), and then I go to work (I always get a shower before I go to sleep). This way I always start my day with good mood, and by achieving something, which makes me confident.

Re: Ask HN: How do you wake up?

#8

Post by thedevelopment » Tue, Sep 08, 2009, 7:14 AM UTC

First alarm: iPod plugged into a stereo playing something pleasant. (7.20am)

Second alarm: iPhone alarm 40 minutes later. I now mega-loathe the "Harp" alarm tone. (8.00am)

Third alarm: Girlfriend kicking me out of bed between 5-10 minutes later. (~8.10am)

Works like a charm every time.

Re: Ask HN: How do you wake up?

#9

Post by FreeRadical » Tue, Sep 08, 2009, 7:14 AM UTC

Live at home and my Mum wakes me up.

Re: Ask HN: How do you wake up?

#10

Post by jacobroufa » Tue, Sep 08, 2009, 7:14 AM UTC

If it's a good day and I'm paying attention to my body, I just get up whenever my I first wake up, usually before my alarm goes off. Sometimes I think it is the cats that wake me, other times I think I wake the cats... I can never tell. If it's a bad day I don't get up right away and then proceed to sleep through multiple alarms; often I will snooze them and go back to sleep until I run out of snooze cycles and then wake up hours later wondering why my alarm went off. I sleep snooze.

I have noticed though, that when I wake up first without (before) an alarm and promptly get out of bed and start my day I am usually less groggy and more inclined to be productive. My body has ~1.5hr sleep cycles, meaning if I sleep in increments of roughly 1.5hrs I tend to get better sleep. I learned all this about myself when I was practicing a polyphasic sleep experiment. I don't recommend this to anyone as an actual method of sleep or rest (my experiment was less than successful) but I sure learned a helluvalot about my body and tolerances.