joannqn Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 I bought a couple more lamps, and we're getting used to the dimness in the house but... Everyone sleeps in two hours later than our old normal. DS9, who used to be one of the earlier risers, is still sound asleep at 8:55. He has 5 minutes to wake up, get dressed, do his chores, and eat breakfast before school starts (old routine). Obviously, that isn't going to happen. And it isn't just him; no one else has gotten beyond waking up. Even DH who always wakes ridiculously early, sleeps in two hours later since moving here. We're all having a hard time getting moving in the morning once we are awake too. It's weird. Is there any hope of getting back to waking up naturally at an earlier time? Or are we stuck with the new reality of choosing between sleeping the day away or using alarms and forcing groggy bodies to move? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threeturn Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 No help here but I wish I had your problem. Our new house is dark too but it doesn't make a difference. 5:30-6:00 is still wake up time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess in the Burbs Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 same here. when the sun shines the upstairs front bedrooms are too bright and we are up early. when it's cloudy like today we could all sleep until 10am. I have been making the kids get up by 8am during the week if they need the help due to dark/cloudy days. hoping they will eventually wake up regardless of light coming in the window. I still haven't put up curtains and with winter almost here I am thinking we won't. we need to light to get up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allearia Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 How about one of those alarms that just has a light that gets brighter but no sound? Or (probably cheaper) putting a light on a timer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wabi Sabi Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 I'd readjust the schedule. Sleeping later? Start school later. Unless the sleep is starting to be excessive I'd just assume that their bodies are simply needing more sleep and consider this a good thing. Does going to bed any earlier make a difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted November 28, 2011 Author Share Posted November 28, 2011 Continuing to use DS as an example...He used to sleep about 9 hours a night. Now he's getting 10-11 hours a night. But it isn't just him. It's everyone. Dh, who used to wake up anywhere from 4-6am is now sleeping until 7-8am unless he sets an alarm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 Lamps with daylight bulbs on a timer next to the bed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetMissMagnolia Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 oh my-I'd love it if my ds even slept in 1/2 that time LOL....what about one of those "natural wakening" sound machine things.....can't think of the name.....I'll google and see if I can find it....and one of those things that ALLEARIA is talking about a few posts up from me.....that's what I'm thinking about.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trresh Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 I wonder if there could be other factors contributing to it. Call me paranoid....but if everyone is more lethargic throughout the day, I'd worry about molds and such. We recently had a time change, too. That always messes us up whether we're moving the clocks forward or backward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 How about one of those alarms that just has a light that gets brighter but no sound? Or (probably cheaper) putting a light on a timer? Lamps with daylight bulbs on a timer next to the bed? :iagree: Best wishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted November 28, 2011 Author Share Posted November 28, 2011 I wonder if there could be other factors contributing to it. Call me paranoid....but if everyone is more lethargic throughout the day, I'd worry about molds and such. We recently had a time change, too. That always messes us up whether we're moving the clocks forward or backward. We just moved out of a house with mold issues. I could tell this house was better within the first couple of days. Time change has never done this to us. I think it is simply the fact that the house is dark. It's nearly pitch black at night, and it's dark all day. Even with lights on, it's darker than what we are used to without lights on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfgivas Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 :grouphug: its going to be a continuing problem.... so more lights, different lights, music, alarm clocks, going outside for a walk to start your day..... a chain saw..... a moving van.... lights and music and a walk to start the day will be cheaper and easier.... :grouphug: some people live at latitudes where this is the way it is, every winter..... ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted November 29, 2011 Author Share Posted November 29, 2011 DH just installed a CO monitor. It is not telling us to leave the house so I'm assuming we're ok there. I always deal with significant changes in sleep needs and energy levels. I need significantly more sleep and have significantly less energy during the winter than during the summer. I haven't seen/notice that kind of difference in the other members of the family though. It's just been since moving here. This house is like living at night 24/7, which is why I assume it is the lack of light. I guess the best option is to rely on alarms to get us up and use will power to get going in the morning. I just really hate alarms. I have told the kids to leave their blinds open at night to see if that helps. It doesn't change the lighting very much but maybe it will help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sevilla Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 These will wake you up naturally and are the BEST 'alarm clock' that we have ever had. I never imagined it would work so well with my circadian rhythms but it does - I can become wide awake even with it technically dark outside thanks to this clock. Worth every penny - especially to not deal with an alarm buzzing ;). http://www.amazon.com/BioBrite-Sunrise-Clock-Advanced-Model/dp/B00196LFGW/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1322526033&sr=1-2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justLisa Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 How long have you lived there? Are there any other symptoms? Does your DH feel better when out of the house all day? Headaches? Not to be totally alarming,but I would have someone come out and inspect for mold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 (edited) When I lived in NYC, I lived in an apartment where I slept in a bedroom that had no windows (not pleasant, btw!). I had to install a timer on my uber-bright halogen lamp, set to turn it on about 20 minutes before my alarm went off. It was the only way I could get up in the morning! The timers are very cheap at most hardware stores. ETA: It also wouldn't worry me (WRT to carbon monoxide, mold etc.). I've found that when I fall asleep on the couch, I wake bright and early with the birds because the sun lights up the front of the house. When I sleep in our bed, I can barely drag myself out any earlier than 8:00 because I'm sleeping so deeply in the dimness. If you have other reasons to suspect physical issues, though, of course you should investigate them! Edited November 29, 2011 by melissel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted November 29, 2011 Author Share Posted November 29, 2011 I've always meant to get one of the sunrise clocks but they are so expensive that it seemed too extravagant, especially when I always have kids that have some sort of clothing needs. I just left a moldy house. Sleepiness was not one of my symptoms there. I had pretty significant allergy-like symptoms and dizziness. Those have improved significantly since moving in. The windows are all newer and don't have any condensation or signs of mold. There is only one place where there might be some (water damage) but there's nothing there that looks like mold. It's on the list I've given the property management as a concern, but the orange-tagged furnace (energy company tagged it for inspection and cleaning right away) is probably going to be a priority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK_Mom4 Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 ...writing here from the Land of Darkness... EVERYONE here at our house sleeps more in the winter. DH and I go to bed by 9pm and could easily sleep til 7 or 8 if the dogs would cooperate. The kids all seem to zone in around 10 hours of sleep. In the summer, we all get by with 7-8 hours, even DD10 and the teenagers. The daylight wakes everyone up. So....what to do? A regular schedule is the best. DS15 and DD17 have to be at band class by 6:30am, so my alarm goes off (as do the dogs) at 5:30am. I get DD10 out of bed at 8am regardless. Vitamin D really helps as well, as does eating breakfast each morning. I turn on the lights and the radio and get everyone moving - showers first thing help too. I think you just have to set the alarm clock and get everyone moving unless you want to start your day later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 You might all need more sleep than you were getting. I found when living in a darker climate and or house I needed to get outside more often no matter what the weather. I have a family member that had a guest room without windows. Wow, I do know how you feel, I left the door open and the hall light on to help orient me. It sounds like you are going to have to make alarm clocks your friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted November 29, 2011 Author Share Posted November 29, 2011 ...writing here from the Land of Darkness... I've always thought it would be great to visit Alaska during the summer. You can keep your winters, though. It's hard enough down here in Washington. The 8.5 to 9 hour days are so very short. I've lived here 19 years, and I still have difficulty adjusting to the seasonal differences. There difference between my energy and mood is really remarkable. I love manic summers, though I do need to be reminded to feed the kids because I don't get hungry until the sun goes down around 10pm, which is a bit late for dinner. If you've ever seen the Northern Exposure episode where the doctor goes to Alaska during the summer and stays up for days...that's almost what I'm like. I think maybe it is just more pronounced because the dark house is making it even darker. I didn't even manage to get breakfast made until noon today. I find it so very hard to get outside during the summer. I mean who wants to go outside and get cold and wet when you are already cold and tired? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfgivas Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 i just remembered something else we do that helps us a lot. we program the thermostat so that it is significantly colder in the house at night. then it is programmed to increase the heat by about 7 degrees F as we are getting up. the difference in temperature and the sound of the heater often is enough to get us going. hth, ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-M- Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 Are the carbon monoxide detectors working properly? Apart from the obvious (i.e., that you folks may actually need the rest and the darkness is simply enabling you to get it), that was what came to my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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