How I fixed my sleep

March 09, 2022

I have been sleep deprived for more than 7 years. The cycle is always the same.

  1. Can’t sleep until 1 or 2 AM
  2. Wake tired
  3. Take a revenge nap in the afternoon (optional)
  4. Go back to step 1

When I went to medical school I found out that most people are like this, so I wasn’t really encouraged to fix my sleeping problem. I thought that if they can handle living like that, so can I. The bigger problem is: I can’t. Looking back, I think I am the most cerebrally dysfunctional person when sleep deprived compared to my friends.

It was around a month ago that I effectively had fixed my sleeping problem. Now I wake up at 6 AM every day, by default. I wasn’t even trying. The first week this happened, I was so happy that I danced right away after realizing I’ve been waking up at 6 AM consistently. I literally cried in happiness, cause I was suffering for such a long time from sleep deprivation.

Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. I am not a sleep expert, I’m just sharing how I fixed my own problem.

The one thing that fixed my sleep is Melatonin. The habit of sleeping more than 7 hours is the key, but how exactly am I supposed to have ‘the habit’ if I’m not able to sleep 7 hours for 2 consecutive days? Building the initial streak of sleeping is the hardest, and I needed Melatonin to have at least 3 - 4 days streak of sleeping for 7 hours. I bought the 1 mg, 60 capsules melatonin, and I used 0.5 mg (half a capsule) at 10 PM then I lie on my bed so I can sleep at around 11 PM. The first time I tried it, it hit me directly, I slept at 11 PM and woke up at 6 AM. I continued it for a week, and I thought I just fixed my life. Never in my life had I woken up at 6 AM feeling fresh.

Everything else is easy for me after doing the initial streak. It’s easy to decline hangout nights that can ruin your sleep. I pushed myself every day to complete every task before 9 PM so I can wind down and sleep at 10 PM. I don’t need to take naps cause I can just work on something, watch YouTube or read anything so I can still sleep early. My sleep cycle is exactly what I want it to be.

Fixing my sleep is my biggest accomplishment in 2022. Sleep deprivation feels like the source of 80% of my suffering in all my life. I have never been happier.