Comments on: How to get up in the morning: the forceful approach http://www.heuristicism.ca/2009/09/15/how-to-get-up-in-the-morning-the-forceful-approach/ life is one big tradeoff Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:42:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Phil H http://www.heuristicism.ca/2009/09/15/how-to-get-up-in-the-morning-the-forceful-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-69 Phil H Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:35:48 +0000 http://www.heuristicism.ca/?p=79#comment-69 White noise may be your answer here. White noise will prevent you sleeping (I don't know why) but is not particularly annoying when you are awake. This way you just switch the white noise on for the full 'armed' duration, 7-9, and going back to bed will achieve nothing. Usefully this works without sensors, so it's more robust. When I was having trouble waking up I set a detuned radio to feed a mains-powered speaker, and a timer plug. Worked well, but now I have the wife solution. So use the same setup but have it power a speaker emitting white noise (might be able to generate that with your SBC), and cut a grille in the case. White noise may be your answer here. White noise will prevent you sleeping (I don’t know why) but is not particularly annoying when you are awake. This way you just switch the white noise on for the full ‘armed’ duration, 7-9, and going back to bed will achieve nothing. Usefully this works without sensors, so it’s more robust.

When I was having trouble waking up I set a detuned radio to feed a mains-powered speaker, and a timer plug. Worked well, but now I have the wife solution.

So use the same setup but have it power a speaker emitting white noise (might be able to generate that with your SBC), and cut a grille in the case.

]]> By: Aditya http://www.heuristicism.ca/2009/09/15/how-to-get-up-in-the-morning-the-forceful-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-64 Aditya Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:36:32 +0000 http://www.heuristicism.ca/?p=79#comment-64 Ariel: I've considered sleep apnea, but been too lazy/busy to bother looking into it further. I don't ever wake up gasping for breath or anything like that though (that I can remember...). I also read about this sleep monitoring device that costs a few hundred dollars and checks - the person reporting on it found out that he/she actually was awake for a few hours when he/she slept, but didn't remember it. Dan: That's one of the things I tried. Didn't work. DigitalBliss: Yeah, but once I'm out I'll guarantee that I'll lose the habit. Chris: I can't shut the blinds on my window, because my air conditioner is in the way. So as soon as it becomes light outside, I get it inside as well. Ariel: I’ve considered sleep apnea, but been too lazy/busy to bother looking into it further. I don’t ever wake up gasping for breath or anything like that though (that I can remember…). I also read about this sleep monitoring device that costs a few hundred dollars and checks – the person reporting on it found out that he/she actually was awake for a few hours when he/she slept, but didn’t remember it.

Dan: That’s one of the things I tried. Didn’t work.

DigitalBliss: Yeah, but once I’m out I’ll guarantee that I’ll lose the habit.

Chris: I can’t shut the blinds on my window, because my air conditioner is in the way. So as soon as it becomes light outside, I get it inside as well.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.heuristicism.ca/2009/09/15/how-to-get-up-in-the-morning-the-forceful-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Aaron Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:33:13 +0000 http://www.heuristicism.ca/?p=79#comment-63 Sell your couch. ;) Sell your couch. ;)

]]> By: Danno http://www.heuristicism.ca/2009/09/15/how-to-get-up-in-the-morning-the-forceful-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-61 Danno Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:05:08 +0000 http://www.heuristicism.ca/?p=79#comment-61 Perhaps a robot that beat you up until you managed to beat it up enough. Perhaps a robot that beat you up until you managed to beat it up enough.

]]> By: Chris http://www.heuristicism.ca/2009/09/15/how-to-get-up-in-the-morning-the-forceful-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-60 Chris Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:23:30 +0000 http://www.heuristicism.ca/?p=79#comment-60 Have you tried light as an alarm? Mimicking sunrise. Makes a huge difference, especially in winter. My current one ( http://www.lumie.com/shop/products/bodyclock-sunray-100), ten + years old, is on the blink so have been looking at putting together a replacement clock project, perhaps adding gradually rising audio. Have you tried light as an alarm? Mimicking sunrise.
Makes a huge difference, especially in winter.
My current one (
http://www.lumie.com/shop/products/bodyclock-sunray-100), ten + years old, is on the blink so have been looking at putting together a replacement clock project, perhaps adding gradually rising audio.

]]> By: DigitalBliss http://www.heuristicism.ca/2009/09/15/how-to-get-up-in-the-morning-the-forceful-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-59 DigitalBliss Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:36:24 +0000 http://www.heuristicism.ca/?p=79#comment-59 Go into the Army. 5 bucks say Basic Training will create the habit in you. =) Cool project! Go into the Army.

5 bucks say Basic Training will create the habit in you.
=)

Cool project!

]]> By: Richard http://www.heuristicism.ca/2009/09/15/how-to-get-up-in-the-morning-the-forceful-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-58 Richard Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:27:50 +0000 http://www.heuristicism.ca/?p=79#comment-58 Aim a spotlight at your head and get it to turn on at the appropriate time. Aim a spotlight at your head and get it to turn on at the appropriate time.

]]> By: Dan http://www.heuristicism.ca/2009/09/15/how-to-get-up-in-the-morning-the-forceful-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-57 Dan Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:26:11 +0000 http://www.heuristicism.ca/?p=79#comment-57 For me, I found that the real trick to getting up when my alarm goes off was just learning to not argue with the alarm clock. When the alarm clock goes off, it's time to get up. Immediately. No discussion allowed. No thinking "I can sleep 5 more minutes and then just shower faster", etc. Alarm goes off, get up. End of story. (The Snooze button, of course, is Right Out.) If you've spent decades building up a "go back to sleep immediately when the alarm goes off" reflex, it might help to retrain yourself with the new reflex under easier circumstances, like in the middle of the afternoon. Just set your alarm to go off in 1 minute, then lie in bed until it does, then get up. Repeat until reprogrammed. (Switching to a new alarm clock might help too, since the new alarm noise and new off button location may help to remind you of your new rules.) For me, I found that the real trick to getting up when my alarm goes off was just learning to not argue with the alarm clock. When the alarm clock goes off, it’s time to get up. Immediately. No discussion allowed. No thinking “I can sleep 5 more minutes and then just shower faster”, etc. Alarm goes off, get up. End of story. (The Snooze button, of course, is Right Out.)

If you’ve spent decades building up a “go back to sleep immediately when the alarm goes off” reflex, it might help to retrain yourself with the new reflex under easier circumstances, like in the middle of the afternoon. Just set your alarm to go off in 1 minute, then lie in bed until it does, then get up. Repeat until reprogrammed. (Switching to a new alarm clock might help too, since the new alarm noise and new off button location may help to remind you of your new rules.)

]]> By: Ariel http://www.heuristicism.ca/2009/09/15/how-to-get-up-in-the-morning-the-forceful-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Ariel Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:16:15 +0000 http://www.heuristicism.ca/?p=79#comment-56 Being that tried in the morning means you probably have sleep apnea. Do you wake up with a headache? If you take a nap are you more tired after then before? Depression? All of those are signs of sleep apnea. Are you over weight? Because that can cause sleep apnea (but it can happen without it too). If you can afford it, go to a sleep lab. Hmm, your domain is .ca - I wonder if canada pays for sleep labs. Try recording yourself sleeping (with audio). See if you stop breathing for 30 seconds or so while sleeping. Or just get a CPAP (APAP) machine, with automatic pressure setting, and see if it makes any difference. Being that tried in the morning means you probably have sleep apnea.

Do you wake up with a headache? If you take a nap are you more tired after then before? Depression?

All of those are signs of sleep apnea.

Are you over weight? Because that can cause sleep apnea (but it can happen without it too).

If you can afford it, go to a sleep lab. Hmm, your domain is .ca – I wonder if canada pays for sleep labs.

Try recording yourself sleeping (with audio). See if you stop breathing for 30 seconds or so while sleeping.

Or just get a CPAP (APAP) machine, with automatic pressure setting, and see if it makes any difference.

]]> By: AdamN http://www.heuristicism.ca/2009/09/15/how-to-get-up-in-the-morning-the-forceful-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-55 AdamN Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:03:11 +0000 http://www.heuristicism.ca/?p=79#comment-55 If you plug the toroidal collar into an external power supply, the circuitry wouldn't need to be so small. Precede the shocking by a distinct bell and after a few shocks over a few mornings, you will no longer need the shock - just the fear of the shock will be enough to get you to wake up (thank Pavlov for that insight). If you plug the toroidal collar into an external power supply, the circuitry wouldn’t need to be so small.

Precede the shocking by a distinct bell and after a few shocks over a few mornings, you will no longer need the shock – just the fear of the shock will be enough to get you to wake up (thank Pavlov for that insight).

]]> By: Aditya http://www.heuristicism.ca/2009/09/15/how-to-get-up-in-the-morning-the-forceful-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-54 Aditya Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:36:35 +0000 http://www.heuristicism.ca/?p=79#comment-54 Interestingly, the same friend that helped build the case also suggested shocking myself, perhaps just charging up a capacitor or something. The problem with a collar is that it's difficult. All of the circuitry has to be small and shaped into a toroid. And then there's the issue of storing enough power to shock me several times. Interestingly, the same friend that helped build the case also suggested shocking myself, perhaps just charging up a capacitor or something.

The problem with a collar is that it’s difficult. All of the circuitry has to be small and shaped into a toroid. And then there’s the issue of storing enough power to shock me several times.

]]> By: Peter http://www.heuristicism.ca/2009/09/15/how-to-get-up-in-the-morning-the-forceful-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Peter Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:28:09 +0000 http://www.heuristicism.ca/?p=79#comment-53 I've got a better solution for you. I mean, the alarm thing is an interesting, but far too timid. What you need is a shock collar/bracelet. Basically, when you go to bed, you put this thing on and it locks. The lock would be time sensitive so that you couldn't unlock for a certain period after it is engaged. So, in the morning, your google alarm goes off and the shock collar activates. It first gives you a prolonged (10 second) shock, to get you out of bed. Then it keeps giving you occasional shocks until you're outside of say, your wireless network's range. At that point, it disables the alarm, but not the collar (so you can't just leave your apartment and come back). Once you've been outside of range for say 15 min, then it will disable the lock and let you take it off. Maybe, eventually, the pain will train you to get up properly and you won't need it at all! :P I’ve got a better solution for you. I mean, the alarm thing is an interesting, but far too timid.

What you need is a shock collar/bracelet. Basically, when you go to bed, you put this thing on and it locks. The lock would be time sensitive so that you couldn’t unlock for a certain period after it is engaged. So, in the morning, your google alarm goes off and the shock collar activates. It first gives you a prolonged (10 second) shock, to get you out of bed. Then it keeps giving you occasional shocks until you’re outside of say, your wireless network’s range. At that point, it disables the alarm, but not the collar (so you can’t just leave your apartment and come back). Once you’ve been outside of range for say 15 min, then it will disable the lock and let you take it off.

Maybe, eventually, the pain will train you to get up properly and you won’t need it at all! :P

]]> By: James Bell http://www.heuristicism.ca/2009/09/15/how-to-get-up-in-the-morning-the-forceful-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-52 James Bell Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:27:01 +0000 http://www.heuristicism.ca/?p=79#comment-52 Hey Adit, That sounds really cool. It's also really similar to my job - my company does projects exactly like you did for our clients (pcccinc.com). Though I write everything in C. I'm pretty sure that you can find C code for ARM7 stacks somewhere. (I mean free code; I know for sure you can buy it.) Oh, and the wife solution works pretty well... except that mine now gets up later than me, so I have to wake her up. Hey Adit,
That sounds really cool. It’s also really similar to my job – my company does projects exactly like you did for our clients (pcccinc.com). Though I write everything in C.
I’m pretty sure that you can find C code for ARM7 stacks somewhere. (I mean free code; I know for sure you can buy it.)
Oh, and the wife solution works pretty well… except that mine now gets up later than me, so I have to wake her up.

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