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[technotheory]

Somehow I figured there are others equally distracted here.  Just curious how many times you say you're going to leave your computer and get to bed...and then don't.  You know, on a typical day?

I'm at 3x (35 minutes) right about now.

And of course, I'm generally curious how you actually commit yourself to making it there when you do?

[Jeroen Sangers]

I have the same problem when I am with friends in a bar: "This is the last beer!" 

The "I'm going to bed now" problem usually appears when you know you ought to go to bed (since it is late, or you have to wake up early the next day) and your doing something that is holding your attention, such a swatching a good movie or doing interesting work. In the case of the movie, all you can hope for is a commercial break (most movies have plenty). If your working, you either finish the job, or hopelessly screw up and realize that this is because you're exhausted.

[Jamie Phelps]

I used to experience the "going to bed now" phenomenon when I read fiction books. I would say, "This is interesting. I wonder what happens next! I'll read one more chapter." and then it would be 3am and I'd pass out in the book and ruin a few pages of the book with drool.

Now, I usually go to bed the first time I decide to. If you're doing interesting work, leave it. This is called parking on a downhill slope. When you pick up tomorrow, you'll know exactly what needs to be done and can gain your momentum back faster because you left it in an interesting state. If you're watching something on TV that late, chances are A) You've seen it B) It's not worth watching or C) It will be on again soon. The other thing that keeps me from going to bed when I say I am sometimes is when I have forgotten to do some chore. "I'm going to bed. No, wait, I haven't shaved the yak yet....Now I'm going to bed. No, wait, I didn't put out the trash bins." This last is a question of getting things done in a timely fashion.

The other thing is that you shouldn't let your clock tell you when you're going to bed all the time. Personally, if I'm really into something, I can consciously say, "I'm going to stay up and keep working on this. I'll suffer tomorrow, but I'm OK with that."

Anyway, those are my rambling thoughts.

[technotheory]

Thanks, Jeroen and Jamie!

Jamie, I especially appreciate your point here:

If you're doing interesting work, leave it. This is called parking on a downhill slope. When you pick up tomorrow, you'll know exactly what needs to be done and can gain your momentum back faster because you left it in an interesting state.

I'm going to have to mull over that a bit.

Then again, sadly I think it's pure distractability that usually keeps me away.  I wrote about how to limit one's time in front of a computer and posted that on Metafilter and someone wrote in with the idea of applying Cinderella's Electric Curfew, which is basically turning off electricity at a certain time ;-).

Either way, thanks for the time here on this.  Now maybe I ought to get to bed.

[James Mallinson]

I used to have this situation. I make sure that whatever I do, it's done before well before when I'd typically go to bed (if I was going to be in bed by 10.30 I'd be done around 9). Because all my work is done with next actions I know clearly what needs to be done for it to be ticked off as complete. I avoid that situation where I keep playing with stuff because I don't really know when I've done enough. It does help that I now only go to bed when I'm actually tired, there's no set time when I have to be done.

[SteveC]

Not quite the same situation, but closely related...

My wife and I have a routine for evenings when we're not doing anything specific, or going out.  I tend to play with the computer, or potter in the garden, while she catches up with her favourite soaps, or uses the laptop downstairs.  Then, usually at about 9.00, I migrate downstairs to join her, we watch something on the box together or listen to music and usually have a drink.

Eventually, when the TV programmes and the drinks are both finished, we decide to go to bed.

It then seems to take me about half an hour before I actually get into bed.

• I go and get tomorrow's breakfast and lunch from the freezer in the garage
• I lock up the garage and back door
• I fill two glasses with water and take them upstairs
• I turn the computers off (but check the emails first 'just in case'
• I remove my contact lenses
• ...and finally, I get into bed

Of course, it's all my own fault.  I could do most of these earlier in the evening, but don't... 

S

[Nathan Hale]

I've been trying to get off the computer earlier and read (like, a real paper book) before going to bed. I've noticed that it really helps to me to relax, and I seem to fall asleep easier than if I'm working or writing right before I hit the sack.

[Jason Echols]

Great topic!!!

I have that same issue.  I, like Nathan, find that reading helps me relax.   However, I have recently found that keeping a journal helps me on several fronts.  I turn off the TV...all the lights except the lamp by me, and I write.  There is something soothing to me about the purity of a moleskine and a fountain pen.  I can empty my emotions from the day on paper.  Sometimes, I even use my journal time to write prayers about things that weigh on my mind.  When I finish, I am relaxed.

After some quiet stretching...I am off to bed.

[Nathan Hale]

I used to journal before going to bed as well. What a great way to end your day. Maybe I'll take it up again...

[Jeroen Sangers]

Nice idea, I might try that as well. A good excuse to buy a moleskine...

[Brad Blackman]

Now, I usually go to bed the first time I decide to. If you're doing interesting work, leave it. This is called parking on a downhill slope. When you pick up tomorrow, you'll know exactly what needs to be done and can gain your momentum back faster because you left it in an interesting state.

I love that idea, Jamie. You leave some water in the well. An extreme way to do it is to stop mid-sentence like Hemingway (or was it Steinbeck?). +1 karma point for you!

[wwaxwork]

I'm a fusser.  Just before I go to bed I get the sudden urge to do all the jobs I should have done earlier in the night.  I drive my boyfriend crazy.  He still won't let me forget the time I just "had" to vacuum the house at 12.30am because I couldn't sleep if my mental jobs for the day list wasn't complete.   

I haven't broken myself of the habit completely but have focused it more into a bed time routine.   Wash my face, put away my washing, clean my teeth, wipe down counters, that sort of thing. I can do it all in 15 minutes and its enough to let me feel I can settle down and sleep.  I find if I can make myself get up and start my little routine, even if I am not sleepy when I start, I have sort of programmed my brain that its off to bed now and I find myself relaxed and ready for bed by the time I'm finished.

[Stephen Smith]

This is good, as I have trouble getting ready for bed myself. My wife likes to joke about my "ritual" that I go through before I actually climb under the covers. Let's just say that my ADD causes quite a bit of puttering around between the time I make the decision to retire and the time my head hits the pillow.

[JRT]

Glad to hear that I'm not the only person who has the sudden urge to do all the little jobs I haven't done all day the minute its bed time.  can't get out of the habbit, so by the time I've done the jobs I have little time to read or journal.  Any suggestions?

[fwade]

I used to have this problem, until  I signed up for an Ironman triathlon, and found out that I wasn't getting anywhere near enough sleep.

The solution was to set an alarm on my watch to go off at 10pm each night. 

I followed it religiously, and it worked like a charm.  I discovered that I was often more tired than I thought... and rarely spent more than 5 minutes awake, in spite of audio and text books that I would take to bed with tme