How to fall asleep after being home only 2 hours...
 

As a full time college student who works 2 jobs - my day is very full. I start class at 8am everyday which goes until noon. Two days a week, I will have a break from 12-2:30pm and then go to one of my jobs from 4:00 - 8:00. For another two days of the week, I go right from class (8-12) job 1 (12-3) and then my other job (4-8).. meaning some very very long days.

I would like to start working out before class so I'd have to get up at around 6:00am. In order to do this, I would need to be in bed and almost asleep by 10pm. I do not get home until about 8:30pm from one of my jobs and I am having trouble going right to bed. Everytime I try, I feel like I am still just getting home and have no "down time". Any suggestions for training my body to be able to come home at 8:30, eat dinner and go right to sleep before 10:00pm? (P.S. - I can not eat dinner at work as I work with animals and uncaged cats and would be all over my food - plus I am usually with clients)

My husband's looking at a similar schedule predicament this fall, with one day that'll go 6am-10pm out of the house- I'm not sure we've figured it out yet, but we're in the same boat.

Do you have to make dinner after getting home? I'd try to cut the time down there in any way possible (frozen portions?). And then focus on winding down/relaxing in whatever works best for you. Try not to stare at bright screens too much right before bed. Maybe a hot shower or brief meditative practice? Etc.

I'm exhausted contemplating your schedule, tbh. :) When do you find time to do classwork?!

Just a couple years ago my full time school and full time work day looked like this: up at 5am, out the door at 5:45am, at school/hospital at 6:30am. Classes till 2, right to work till 9:30, home and in bed by 10:15pm. crap how did I do it? I kept the radio low on way home. I kept the lights dim when I got home. No tv either. Good luck!

Thanks for the advice! I do not have to make dinner at home luckily. I've already planned ahead and have made home made frozen dinners plus I am planning on buying some store bought ones

Also, dimming the lights is a good idea. I usually have the music really loud on the drive home but I can see how having it quiet would help!

As for classwork, I do (magically) have Saturdays and Sundays off from everything so those will be filled with homework. It's my social life that is going to be very non-existant!!

I think with your schedule you'd be falling asleep on the way home every night!! lol I think I would be

Haha! My problem is I am a night person. I will be exhausted from 5pm until about 9pm and will instantly perk up and be wide awake and not want to go to bed until 2am... no matter what time I woke up at that day! I instantly get a 2nd wind at night.

Beer. Glass of wine.

Works wonders.

I normally go to bed at 11pm and wake at 5.30am for the gym. It's not easy.

Looking at your schedule, you could also investigate working out in your midday break if that would work for you to get you more sleep.