I need nutritional help for jury duty!

I'm a night owl and usually get to sleep around 2 a.m. Ever since I got my jury duty notice a few weeks ago, I've been trying like heck to get to sleep a bit earlier and wake up earlier. It's been hard and so I started taking a few vitamins after breakfast to jump start my day.

Today I couldn't seem to get out of bed until almost 10! I'm retired and shouldn't be bitching about this. I do feel right about fulfilling my obligations. But, oh jeez, this getting up early and feeling human is so tough. I've been trying to keep to a routine of making beds, housework, dishes etc. and yet I backslide into sleeping too late. I need to get up at 6 a.m. this coming Monday.

Any tips, nutritional or otherwise would be so appreciated.

Don't drink any caffeine late in the day. Also, drinking alcohol will make you go to sleep, but in balance it'll disturb your sleep patterns (suppress REM sleep). So, on the whole any significant alcohol drinking will tire you out.

This week, it's limited to one mug in the morning and that's that. I can go to sleep after coffee. But I bet it still gives me a less than restful slumber.

Too bad I treated myself to a very delicious port wine from Australia recently. I only have some every once in a while. But dontcha know that now I want some. Power of suggestion!

Thanks for your reply.

I have a teevee in the bedroom. I set the volume to "thermonuclear blast level" and set the timer to go off at the appointed time. Put the remote where you can't roll over and reach it.

Its jarring (there are fingernail marks on the ceiling to prove this!) but effective.

Sparkly hates me when I do this. :)

As to nutritional advice ... I dunno. Funnily enough, I always have a double espresso after supper and usually doze off minutes after drinking it! Sugar, on the other hand, keeps me wired.

I'm like you (not retired, but) I stay up waaaaaaay too late. 2 or 3 am is about normal for me. I usually get up around 8.30 or 9. Since I work from home, if I'm up by 9, I'm okay. But when I have to get out early for a meeting, there's hell to pay.

Hubby hits the hay at 4 a.m., I don't have the heart to set the tv. But if I feel evil this week, I might tell him it's one of my options. Just for grins!

Both are high in tryptophan.

A bottle of Melatonin might help, too. (Drugstore).

Schedule yourself to get 10 hours of sleep, not 8. With normal sleep cycles, 8 hours is when you're in the lowest trough of the last cycle - in otherwords, most deeply asleep. Aim for seven or 9.5 to synch up sleep cycle to waking point.

Alarm on the other side of the room, or an alarm that slowly wakes you - I set my iPod up with a playlist that activates the alarm at 5:30 when I need to be up by six, reading from a book I like. It wakes me without making me tense, and I'm a bad baby to wake up.

I forgot about the turkey factor. And to think that I was at the store today and considered getting a turkey. I like to make them every once in a while outside the holidays. I'll go back tomorrow and get a small one and make a Holiday style dinner on Sunday. Stuffed turkey, peas n' carrots and cole slaw. That should do it. No extravaganza. Then keep away from drinks and coffee.

I bought a s**t load of magazines at Soopers, too. Knowing that I have some fun reading for that boring time in the waiting room, I should be okay. I even found a magazine filled with house plans for log homes. Should be fun. I don't get a lot of magazines, so this was a major treat.

Edit: Thanks also for the information about hours of sleep. I've been reading books like a madman lately. I dropped off and picked up a few more at the library today. I can slip into bed at 7 or 8 on Sunday night and read with some milk till I drop off to sleep. And set an alarm. I don't usually need one no matter what. My internal clock is eerily alert. But I'm taking no chances.

(This photo is of the modern reproduction. The original does not have the snooze button on the top.)


Here it is, flashing (a link ... couldn't snatch the picture):
http://akamai-lq.bizrate.com/resize?sq=400&uid=245577035&mid=18900

I have five of these just cuz I love their style. They have a 25 watt bulb in them, to the left of the dial. The light starts to flash 10 minutes before the alarm goes off. It is remarkably effective .... unless you're a *really* deep sleeper. The ones I have are all flea market originals, but in googling for this thread, I see they still make them ... I think. Here's the link:
http://www.alarmclocksonline.com/moonbeam.htm

I read some reviews at the Target site and it has a ring like the old clocks with 2 bells. Neat! I love the old fashioned styles.

morning .... but its worthless for those 6 am wake-ups!

Non-narcotic prescription sleep medication. Doesn't make you groggy the next day. Supposedly non-addictive or only mildly addictive, depending who you talk to. Maybe you can call your doctor and ask about a short term prescription.

If that sounds too radical, try light aerobic exercise early in the day, no caffeine in the afternoon and a warm bath and some meditation before bed. Also, a really boring book is good. Personally, I like to read about plants when I am having sleep problems. Beautiful, serene and pretty tedious after about half an hour. No staying up half the night to find out how it turns out, lol.

As far as herbs go, skullcap is good. I also have a combo supplement by Michael's Naturopathic called Slumber Factors that seems to help. Most clerks at health food stores will have something they like and will recommend.

Can you tell I have sleep issues? The sad thing is, I really need 9 hours to be at my best, so insomnia is a killer for me.

I have always worked late hours, so I can relate to the fear of the early morning. Now that I have kids, every morning is an early morning, and I have adapted, but I miss the late nights.

I have several books about plants. My current reads are so engrossing I don't like to stop reading. So, your tip is definitely one I'll use. Plants.... ah... zzzzzzzzzznork......

I used to work 7 am to 5:30 pm and got up around 5. Since retirement, I've slipped back into my beatnik habits. I have to call in to the recording on Sunday night to see if I have to report or not. In the past I've always had to go and I expect the same for next week. If they had comfy chairs I wouldn't be worried. But they're awful. Being awake and chipper will help a lot!

Too many people try to get out of it & to hear from someone who is taking is seriously is fabulous.

That said I have no advice on changing your sleeping patterns. I'm a night owl, my husband is a morning person & since he works & I don't, I've just adapted to his schedule.

I will add that there was just a blip in the local paper they picked up from the wire service that some judge in California held a juror in contempt & fined him $1000.00 for yawning. I wish I had a link, but there's no way it made it on the paper's web page.

I never mind going. The thing is that they never pick me for a jury, so I usually sit all day waiting and then get released. I worked in social services for my career and it seems like the kiss of death to the prosecuting attorneys. Maybe being retired will make a difference.

fining a juror for yawning:


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3512526

This reminded me of how my dad used to yawn. Sort of a cross between and yawn and a bellow. You would think he was trying to imitate an elephant. Maybe that juror was editorializing a little too much. Anyhow, I'm laughing to tears and had to stop typing to wipe em off my cheeks. Thanks for the link!