Burning the candle at both ends, I'm going crazy

[Keego]

I've been getting no more than 5 hours of sleep every night this week. I was watching "Sleepers" last night with my g/f and I didn't know how long it was (or how bad of a movie it was) and ended up staying up till 2am, where I'm now up at 7 for work at 8. Night before, it was the same deal, only I went to sleep at 2, to get up at 7 to work out with my sister.

I've been a real ass to everyone, at work, at home, emotional and junk. Maybe it's that time of the month My g/f was pissed at me last night.


:| I can feel my body starting to revolt! I need to turn up the alarm's volume a little more every day just to get up!


:|

 

[Derango]

Try going to sleep earlier

 

[smp]

No way man you're fine. I've been averaging 4 hours a night this week, and yeah, I feel like crap, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. I went to bed at 9:00 am on wednesday morning only to get up at 11:30 for work.

 

[Draco]

At least you weren't up until 4:30 the other night because of a 3-some...and then had to be at work at 8:30.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Kyguy
I've been getting no more than 5 hours of sleep every night this week. I was watching "Sleepers" last night with my g/f and I didn't know how long it was (or how bad of a movie it was) and ended up staying up till 2am, where I'm now up at 7 for work at 8. Night before, it was the same deal, only I went to sleep at 2, to get up at 7 to work out with my sister.

I've been a real ass to everyone, at work, at home, emotional and junk. Maybe it's that time of the month My g/f was pissed at me last night.


:| I can feel my body starting to revolt! I need to turn up the alarm's volume a little more every day just to get up!


:|

Hi. My name is MichaelD; you may know me from the Anandtech Forums. For the past 4.5 years, Mon-Fri, I have not gotten more than 4 hours sleep per night. Sometimes less. I work two jobs b/c I like to live like I make really good money...and I really don't.

Last night, I walked in the door at 12:10AM. I started a load of laundry, made a 10-minute phone call, jumped in the shower. Put laundry in the dryer and sat down on the couch. It was 12:50AM. I opened a magazine...and passed out. I fell asleep on the couch, with the lights on. I woke up at 4:15AM and crawled into bed.

Oh yeah, BTW; I get up at 5:30AM to be at Job#1 by 7:00AM. I've been doing this for 4 1/2 years. I look like my Avatar. That's why I picked it when I joined...it was too ironic not to.

So, welcome to the Land of the Damned, Home of the Walking Dead. Try going to bed earlier. You have no excuse not to...you're not working a second job, dealing with a screaming baby, etc. Ah, to be young and stupid again....now I'm old and stupid...at least then, I was 12 pounds lighter. *sigh*

 

[Draknor]

I've been running short, myself. I've found my ideal sleep time is 7-8 hours a night. When I'm doing that, I feel good, I'm healthy, I've got energy. But I've been avg'ing 5-6 hours for a while now, + I've been doing a lot of driving recently, and I just don't have any energy. I feel like I always have this haze or fog around my head, I get drowsy the minute I stop doing something active, etc. It sucks

Oh well - one more week of this and then I'll be back at school and then I can sleep in! Woohoo!

It's gonna be hard next year when I have to make the adjustment from college -> "real world"...

 

[Draknor]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Hi. My name is MichaelD; you may know me from the Anandtech Forums. For the past 4.5 years, Mon-Fri, I have not gotten more than 4 hours sleep per night. Sometimes less. I work two jobs b/c I like to live like I make really good money...and I really don't.

MichaelD - I don't know whether to be impressed by you or slap you upside the head

To put up with what you're are doing for as long as you have been doing it is very admirable - that takes an incredible amount of discipline. But, a part of a me is screaming that it's just so wrong, so very wrong.

I don't know your situation, so obviously I'm not going to judge your decisions. And since I'm still in college and not yet totally separate from the parents (mostly, but not completely), even knowing your situation in words might not be enough to help me really understand where you are coming from.

I guess what I'm curious about is - Why? Why put yourself through what appears to be a living hell? Of course you don't have to answer - I'm just wondering if there are not any other alternatives. Maybe there are, and you have decided this was the best one. If that's the case, then I wish you the best of luck and I hope you achieve whatever goals you have set.

(I don't mean to insult you or pry into your personal life - I'm just very curious as to why someone would make the decision you have made. I'm curious b/c I will graduate next year and move into the "real world" and I don't know what kind of situations I'll face, so it's educational to hear about other people's experiences)

Edit: for spelling

 

[smp]

Originally posted by: Draco
At least you weren't up until 4:30 the other night because of a 3-some...and then had to be at work at 8:30.

Damn .. you win on #'s, but I win on endurance

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Draknor

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Hi. My name is MichaelD; you may know me from the Anandtech Forums. For the past 4.5 years, Mon-Fri, I have not gotten more than 4 hours sleep per night. Sometimes less. I work two jobs b/c I like to live like I make really good money...and I really don't.

MichaelD - I don't know whether to be impressed by you or slap you upside the head

To put up with what you're are doing for as long as you have been doing it is very admirable - that takes an incredible amount of discipline. But, a part of a me is screaming that it's just so wrong, so very wrong.

I don't know your situation, so obviously I'm not going to judge your decisions. And since I'm still in college and not yet totally separate from the parents (mostly, but not completely), even knowing your situation in words might not be enough to help me really understand where you are coming from.

I guess what I'm curious about is - Why? Why put yourself through what appears to be a living hell? Of course you don't have to answer - I'm just wondering if there are not any other alternatives. Maybe there are, and you have decided this was the best one. If that's the case, then I wish you the best of luck and I hope you achieve whatever goals you have set.

(I don't mean to insult you or pry into your personal life - I'm just very curious as to why someone would make the decision you have made. I'm curious b/c I will graduate next year and move into the "real world" and I don't know what kind of situations I'll face, so it's educational to hear about other people's experiences)

Edit: for spelling

Well, since you asked nicely...

I am waaaaay long out of college. Just turned 34 a few days ago. I live alone. I pay for everything myself. Truck/insurance/rent/cable/phone/electric/food/cellphone/you name it. That gets expensive.

Six years ago, my son was born. I am not married. I did the right thing and voluntarily went to child support court to setup my CS payments. Back then, I was making about 1/2 what I make now, so the second job thing was an absolute necessity.

As the years went by, I got small raises each year. Unfortunately, I also raised my standard of living a bit every year. Accumulating credit card debt (stupid!) was not an issue, as I make enough to more than cover the payments. Well, stupid me, those payments add up, and now I owe my left testicle to my creditors.

To my credit (ironic usage of that word...) all is not bad:
1. I have not had a missed/late payment in NINE years (excellent payment history...but I owe a lot out)
2. I didn't "blow" the money...I do have something to show for it. Drive a new truck. I have a house full of nice, quality things. PCs/tools/furniture/pots&pans/etc

3. I have money to spend on my son when I see him. I see him this weekend and I'm taking him school clothes shopping. At his mother's request, I am doing that. (Gee, I thought that's what Child Support is for...but it's for him, not her) So shopping we go.

My best piece of advice, Draknor is this: Get one credit card for EMERGENCIES only. Self discipline is very difficult for some people, like me. My ID controls me, most of the time....hopefully, you have more restraint. Credit card debt is very difficult to get out of. Dont' get into it and you'll have almost nothing to worry about.

 

[Draknor]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
My best piece of advice, Draknor is this: Get one credit card for EMERGENCIES only. Self discipline is very difficult for some people, like me. My ID controls me, most of the time....hopefully, you have more restraint. Credit card debt is very difficult to get out of. Dont' get into it and you'll have almost nothing to worry about.

Wow - thanks for the informative response!

With the exception of the whole 4 hrs sleep/night thing, it sounds like you are doing pretty well in your life. It's nice to hear when unmarried fathers actually take an positive, active stance in their child's life. I applaud you

And yeah - my credit card debt ran away from me this summer (stupid Hot Deals forum ), but I should be able to get things paid off this month, and then the trick will be to keep it paid off. I'm generally pretty good about my credit card, but, like you said - it's just so hard to control sometimes. I use it right now b/c it's infinitely easier than checks (I live in MN & go to school in IL, so trying to manage multiple bank accounts was a pain). Sometimes too easy

Good luck with your life and I hope you can work things out to live comfortably and provide for you child with at least a few more hours of sleep a night!