I can't do it anymore

The Burgomaster · November 23, 2009, 05:13:15 PM

Until recently, it was pretty common for me to stay up watching movies until 2:00 a.m. - - sometimes later - - almost every Friday and Saturday night. I'd start out around 7:00 watching a DVD with my wife. Then I'd watch 3 or 4 more (often crappy . . . often from a Mill Creek 50 movie pack . . . sometimes an old TV show or two, like an episode from my KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER or NIGHT GALLERY boxed sets) before I went to bed.

Now, I'm lucky if I can do this once a month. Quite often by 11 or 12 o'clock my eyelids start closing and I end up turning off the TV and going to bed. Is this the result of middle age hitting me full force? Am I wasting away? Will I soon start going to bed at 8:00? Please save me from this horrible fate . . .

Jack · November 23, 2009, 06:08:48 PM

I rarely stay up past 10:30. 11:00 is record-setting territory for me. I haven't stayed up 'till 2:00 in the morning since I was in my twenties

Javakoala · November 23, 2009, 06:12:31 PM

Quote from: The Burgomaster on November 23, 2009, 05:13:15 PM
Until recently, it was pretty common for me to stay up watching movies until 2:00 a.m. - - sometimes later - - almost every Friday and Saturday night. I'd start out around 7:00 watching a DVD with my wife. Then I'd watch 3 or 4 more (often crappy . . . often from a Mill Creek 50 movie pack . . . sometimes an old TV show or two, like an episode from my KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER or NIGHT GALLERY boxed sets) before I went to bed.

Now, I'm lucky if I can do this once a month. Quite often by 11 or 12 o'clock my eyelids start closing and I end up turning off the TV and going to bed. Is this the result of middle age hitting me full force? Am I wasting away? Will I soon start going to bed at 8:00? Please save me from this horrible fate . . .

I don't know how old you are, but at 46, it takes some serious force of will to stay up until 1 or 2 anymore. I don't know your reasons, but mine is the fact I'm up early EVERY DAMNED DAY OF THE WEEK. I could rearrange things to sleep later on Saturdays, but I just can't. My body still wakes me up. Damn this internal clock.

So, depending on your lifestyle, it isn't old age, just the rigors of your daily life kicking yer butt.

What bothers me is that I can't seem to sit still long enough to even watch a movie from beginning to end anymore. If I don't get up and do something (which it always seems I do whether I intend to or not), I will usually fall asleep and mis most of the movie anyway.

InformationGeek · November 23, 2009, 06:22:56 PM

Well I'm 18 and I can't manage to stay up that late so don't feel bad. Some of us young people can't manage to even stay awake that long.

The longest time I manage to stay awake was until 1 a.m. to see Death Note on Adult Swim. It was worth it though!

3mnkids · November 23, 2009, 06:39:00 PM

I can stay up until 1 or 2 am only because I have insomnia. I would much rather be sleeping. Its amazing the amount of crap that is on television at that hour.

Mr. DS · November 23, 2009, 06:45:16 PM

I was an in bed by 2/3 AM during my college days. It was a given I'd be at the bar until 1 AM and have a lengthy meal at Dennys until later. I'm glad I got that in early. Its nearly impossible to do with kids around. Now bed time is standar 10/11 with a wakeup time of 7 ish every morning. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather be a night person but its not going to happen in my house any time soon.

AndyC · November 23, 2009, 07:47:05 PM

Yeah, I find the late nights harder to do than I used to. But the last few years, I've been waking up at four or five in the morning, and if I don't, my daughter is waking me up by seven. For a while, I was waking up at 3 and getting a few hours of uninterrupted TV and coffee before everybody else was up, but that seems to have changed of late.

I can still stay up if my mind is occupied, but I find it much easier to doze off than I did in my twenties, when I routinely worked late, came home and watched TV until after 2am, then headed out to work in the morning. But in those days, I had few responsibilities and could spend all my time on work, sleep and entertainment. These days, I'm perpetually short of sleep and there never seem to be enough hours in the day.

I do have to admit that a typical movie night for me used to be three movies with someone else or more if I was alone. These days, it's all I can do to fit one in.

Derf · November 23, 2009, 08:42:39 PM

I'm with you on this one: My regular sleep schedule through grad school was a 4 a.m. bedtime and sleep 'til noon. I wasn't a partier; I just found it easier to get things done late at night when all was quiet. Then I spent 14 years at a day job, and now I'm conking out at 9 p.m. most nights. Granted, I have to make sure my wife and daughter get up each morning between 6:30 and 6:45, and I've never been able to just lay back down and go back to sleep. But, like you, I want to be a night person again; I enjoyed it. It just isn't happening right now.

meQal · November 23, 2009, 09:46:59 PM

Late nights are easy for me, it's the mornings I have trouble with. Fortunately for me, I don't have to be anywhere in the mornings so I can sleep in thus making late nights possible.

retrorussell · November 23, 2009, 10:25:19 PM

I don't think ability to sleep x amount of hours or stay up till x amount of time has to do with age, just how busy you stay during the day. I've noticed that when I worked out a lot in the past I could sleep for 5 hours and that would be more than enough. I needed less sleep when I was busy. I get pretty lazy nowadays.. I get home from work at 11pm and do menial chores at best, make lunch for work tomorrow, eat dinner and screw around on the net till about 3am and sleep for 8 hours. I could survive on 6 hours but 8 hours is perfect for me at present.

JaseSF · November 24, 2009, 01:50:36 AM

I usually have an hard time getting a full 8 hours sleep most nights. I lay awake for hours sometimes. Best thing that might help me sleep is watching something dull and mind-numbing like Tv shopping late night ads...

retrorussell · November 24, 2009, 03:27:35 AM

I like to play little alphabet games in my head to get me sleepy. Think of a tv show or movie, or some other thing that starts with A, then one that starts with B, and so on. Soon enough my brain gets tired and I drop off.

Trevor · November 24, 2009, 06:40:11 AM

I must admit I got a bit of a shock when I read the thread title, Burgo ~ I thought that the 'it' you were talking about was that 'it' and that you could not perform those duties anymore.

I never went out or partied much as a teen so now, at the age of 42, I'm quite capable of staying up until 02h00 and watching films ~ Friday and Saturday nights only, though.

The Burgomaster · November 24, 2009, 09:16:28 AM

Quote from: Trevor on November 24, 2009, 06:40:11 AM
I must admit I got a bit of a shock when I read the thread title, Burgo ~ I thought that the 'it' you were talking about was that 'it' and that you could not perform those duties anymore.

I enjoy using provocative subject lines and sucking everyone into a post that ends up being a lame topic like this one.

Trevor · November 24, 2009, 09:18:25 AM

Quote from: The Burgomaster on November 24, 2009, 09:16:28 AM
Quote from: Trevor on November 24, 2009, 06:40:11 AM
I must admit I got a bit of a shock when I read the thread title, Burgo ~ I thought that the 'it' you were talking about was that 'it' and that you could not perform those duties anymore.

I enjoy using provocative subject lines and sucking everyone into a post that ends up being a lame topic like this one.

Well, you got me alright.

I can't do it anymore

Javakoala