It was an easy incremental transition for me that took just a week to get comfortable with. I don't like the feeling of being tired and either want to be 100% awake or 100% asleep. What works for me might not work for you but I can share what works for me -- the identical routine seven days/week. Settle in at 6:30 PM, asleep at 7:30 PM, up at 3:30 AM, a bit of work organizing then CrossFit or trail run at 5 AM. I love those activities so have a bit of a treat to look forward to. For me the standard total darkness, silence, and cool (68 degrees works for me) helps. Also, I turn away from topics that are important and actionable to me (stuff I normally focus on exclusively) because they can get my mind racing. Instead, I turn my mind onto topics that are remote and often in the past so that I might be interested, but can drift off (eg I'm interested in military history problems, but can fall asleep knowing that whatever happened in the War of 1812 or whatever isn't going to be fixed or worsened by whatever I come up with in 2022. Usually takes less than 5 minutes to fall asleep. Then in the AM, no snooze, just get vertical as soon as the alarm goes off, toss on my clothes and have something I'm looking forward to listen to teed up for the car ride to CrossFit or the trail running meeting spot.
a: https://amzn.to/3z4So5V and I always run with a group. Our trails are rocky and steep and we often bushwhack, so occasional falls are inevitable, but no permanent damage so far and I enjoy it enough that I'm willing to take calculated risks. It isn't particularly dangerous, but can be consequential.
b: No. But we have a peculiar and highly specialized relationship that works for us. Doubtful that it can be particularly generalized. Suffice it to say that my long-suffering wife has earned tenure at this point. Essentially I just work and optimize my work performance with fitness and she does... basically everything else. Happily, various combination of my progeny like my activities, so someone or other frequently tags along to CrossFit on the weekends or for occasional runs. And I am happy to help them prep for stuff, I just skip the spectating part, because I don't see it as adding the same value as actually doing things together.
Thanks Chris. I must say you are an inspiration (Thanks for doing this publicly) and you look really good (unlike that geek from a couple of years ago :)).
Hi Chris, I would have a question about getting up early in the morning. How long had it taken you to get used to it? Any hacks to achieve that?
It was an easy incremental transition for me that took just a week to get comfortable with. I don't like the feeling of being tired and either want to be 100% awake or 100% asleep. What works for me might not work for you but I can share what works for me -- the identical routine seven days/week. Settle in at 6:30 PM, asleep at 7:30 PM, up at 3:30 AM, a bit of work organizing then CrossFit or trail run at 5 AM. I love those activities so have a bit of a treat to look forward to. For me the standard total darkness, silence, and cool (68 degrees works for me) helps. Also, I turn away from topics that are important and actionable to me (stuff I normally focus on exclusively) because they can get my mind racing. Instead, I turn my mind onto topics that are remote and often in the past so that I might be interested, but can drift off (eg I'm interested in military history problems, but can fall asleep knowing that whatever happened in the War of 1812 or whatever isn't going to be fixed or worsened by whatever I come up with in 2022. Usually takes less than 5 minutes to fall asleep. Then in the AM, no snooze, just get vertical as soon as the alarm goes off, toss on my clothes and have something I'm looking forward to listen to teed up for the car ride to CrossFit or the trail running meeting spot.
Thanks. Follow up:
a) how do you deal with safety while running on remote trails in darkness?
b) No issues with kids evening routine sharing with your wife?
a: https://amzn.to/3z4So5V and I always run with a group. Our trails are rocky and steep and we often bushwhack, so occasional falls are inevitable, but no permanent damage so far and I enjoy it enough that I'm willing to take calculated risks. It isn't particularly dangerous, but can be consequential.
b: No. But we have a peculiar and highly specialized relationship that works for us. Doubtful that it can be particularly generalized. Suffice it to say that my long-suffering wife has earned tenure at this point. Essentially I just work and optimize my work performance with fitness and she does... basically everything else. Happily, various combination of my progeny like my activities, so someone or other frequently tags along to CrossFit on the weekends or for occasional runs. And I am happy to help them prep for stuff, I just skip the spectating part, because I don't see it as adding the same value as actually doing things together.
Thanks Chris. I must say you are an inspiration (Thanks for doing this publicly) and you look really good (unlike that geek from a couple of years ago :)).