What do you guys do to wake up in the morning?

Certifiable, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2011

I wake up, lie on my back and think "what would happen if I don't show up"? the answer is usually bleak so i basically bully myself to get up... or maybe i'm guilt tripping myself?

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Mar 11, 2011

Well I managed to sleep through my alarms the other day. From the time I called the hospital that I was going to be late to the time I was ont he floor it was 12 minutes. Nothing like running outside to 10* wind chills to wake your butt up!

newRNstudent02 · Mar 11, 2011

Dude, just move closer to school.

Emilynn09 · Mar 12, 2011

I live about an hour away from my school and my classes start pretty early...I usually have trouble waking up in the mornings when I get up and as I am getting ready. Also, clinicals at 6:30am are starting soon so any tips would be greatly appreciated..

This is my situation as well, and I have no option to move closer to school because my husband's job is up here. However, I don't necessarily have too much issue waking up in the morning. You really have to plan when you live so far away. I plan my study times, and my time to go to bed. I go to bed at 8pm or 7pm if I have to. The night before clinical, banadryl helps a lot. I get a good night's sleep and I'm able to get up at 4am or 3am or whenever I need to get up, as long as I've planned a good night's sleep into my schedule. Try not to procrastinate with school work, it really helps with getting a regular sleep schedule in. I don't have much of a life outside of school; I'm fortunate to have a husband who is understanding. He basically does everything around the house and my only job is to do well in nursing school right now. Having a good support system like that is also very helpful.

Coffee, Diet Mountain Dew, healthy snacking throughout the day and trying to work out at least 3 times a week also help me keep my energy levels up.

It sucks, but it's totally doable. Just takes planning.

MimiK · May 28, 2011

Wakin' up--same time everyday. Vitamins and minerals, java, java, java, kawfee, kawfee, kawfee... But, seriously V&M and just one Grande sized coffee. I do a morning stretch and yoga stretches during breaks in school. Diet coke is my daytime/evening caffeine supply during lecture and reading. While doing labs and clinicals just moving around keeps me awake. I'm a nite owl from decades in EMS--usually up until midnight or 1 studying.

snazzy-jazzy, BSN, RN · May 28, 2011

I transfered to a closer hospital & if you're not a morning person there is little difference between getting up at 3.30 or 5.30. Except that extra hours travelling time actually helps to wake you up.

MimiK · May 28, 2011

I used to get-up at 0500 everyday to be at the firehouse by 0630 (shift began at 0700). I have yet to get-up that early in nursing school. So far, my clinicals have been afternoon/evenings. I'm a night owl, so that works just fine for me.

CharlieT · May 28, 2011

I wake up, regret waking up, think something like a string of profane words about the day, get up, stumble around, pee, get in the shower where I brush my teeth (weird I know), get out, shave, and then get dressed. That process takes about 45 minutes. I simply do not and will not do things quickly upon waking up. On work days, which are 12 hour days, I get up at 0401; on school days without work I get up at 0701; and on clinical days I get up at 0501.
I then go out to my truck, get in, realize I've forgotten something, go back in the house with more muttered profanities, slam the door, and walk back to my truck. I get in and sit listening to my morning radio show asking myself if I really want to back out of the driveway. I don't want to, but because I like getting a pay check I leave and drive 40 minutes to either work or school. The idea when I quit my last job and moved was that I would live, work, and school in the same town. That didn't happen. I'm still sore over that. I live in my hometown again. I can't stand it. Clinicals are only once per week, and they're in a third town so the prospect of getting to take a 40 minute drive there instead of the town I work and school in is pleasing to me.
No matter where I end up I usually sit quietly until I've become fully awake and functional sometime around 0930. Prior to that you won't even get a hello out of me.
Oh, I've been that way for twenty years too, and it doesn't matter how early I go to bed. Ten hours of sleep or two hours of sleep...mornings are always the same.

Hmmm....., are we related? Are you my long lost twin perhaps? Do you drive to the wrong town sometimes because of your own confusion on where you are supposed to be that day?

Poi Dog · May 28, 2011

I have a 5lb Chihuahua that licks my ears **ewww** and then proceeds to lick my face without fail at 0530. I have no choice but to get up.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · May 28, 2011

I have a 5lb Chihuahua that licks my ears **ewww** and then proceeds to lick my face without fail at 0530. I have no choice but to get up.

Further cementing my hate for little yappy dogs.

Now that Im on night shift, I tell you it is so much easier waking up at 1500 than 0530

Poi Dog · May 29, 2011

Further cementing my hate for little yappy dogs.
Now that Im on night shift, I tell you it is so much easier waking up at 1500 than 0530

Luckily this little guy is not a yapper

GamerGirL337 · May 29, 2011

Im with the above posters...at 7am EVERY morning, no matter if its a work day or not, and no matter what time i go to bed the night before, my little Cairn starts licking my face, whining, and kicking me until im out of bed.

So every morning I'm up by 7am no matter what is in store for the day...

Usually, the first thing I do is pee, then after that 5 minute journey my Cairn is begging me for a walk, so i change, and take her for a 20 minute run or so, then a quick shower, coffee, get dressed, eat breakfast and watch tv for about 30 minutes then leave...(thats on work days...which are 5 days a week...) on the other 2 off days, it usually starts out the same only with a 30 minute run with the pup, a longer shower and more of a time difference between breakfast...and no getting dresses is involved....just pajamas...

So yeah if it wasn't for my little hyper yappy dog, I would not be able to wake up every morning, or go to bed every evening, its worse then having a child because no matter how old she gets, she will never understand what sleeping in is...lol

I can't wait until september when nursing school starts, and how she is going to deal with clinicals...