Another Great Idea...
A lot of my work trips are 2 day trips/"3-1's". (Three flights the first day, one leg home.) I try to get ones that get in early. My logic is that even though it's a work day...I'm home so early that I can still get a million things done!Sometimes that's true, but most times it's not.
The reason I get home early is because my flight was really early...which means I'm getting up really early. But, since I don't normally go to bed really early...the chances of managing that on a layover and getting a good night's sleep are approximately: zero.
This morning, for example: Our flight left Ontario, California at 5. Yep. That's right: 5 a.m. We were at an airport hotel so the pick up time this morning was 4 a.m. Soooo...my alarm clock was set for 3 a.m.
Ahead of time I told myself: it's okay...that's actually 5 a.m. at home. But a) that's still painfully early in my book, b) your brain still knows that the act of entering 3 a.m. on your phone alarm (and work tablet...and the room clock...) is wrong. Just all-around wrong. And then there's c) No way will you ever go to bed 8 hours before that wake-up call. Or even 7.
Our work tablet, unhelpfully, tells you how long it is until your wake up call. Last night I entered 3 a.m (and 3:05 and 3:10...just in case) and it said: Alarm set for 5 hours and 46 minutes from now. (5 hours and 56 minutes, 6 ours and 6 minutes...) So, you can't fool yourself into thinking you have...vaguely enough time to sleep.
...Gone Bad
Seeing the countdown also reminds you that the number given is only accurate if you fall asleep instantly. Which rarely happens.
But I tell myself when the alarm goes off: I feel good! I slept enough! No problem! (And the adrenaline rush I get from the 5 thousand alarm clocks blaring at once usually does make me feel fairly alert.)
By the time I'm back at DFW that little rush has long-since worn off.
I tend to get a little lift from the fact that I'm 'already done with work for the day!', 'I'm going home!', 'I get to see Ella!' (and Michael, if he's home.)
Get Up and Go Got Up and Went
By the time I'm dragging myself and my bag in the door I'm thinking: Yay! I get to take a nap with Ella! And I set an alarm...'cause I just want a quick nap...don't wanna waste my whole day.But the alarm goes off...and Ella's purring...and the bed's so comfy.
So...I sleep longer than I intend, and wake up feeling so fuzzy-headed I don't even remember the things I wanted to do. And if I remember the items on my list...I certainly don't remember why I thought they were at all important. And, instead, I text with someone, or read a book, or snooze a little more, or online browse for a random item, or watch a random YouTube video....
And realize that 'getting home early', and 'having a productive day'...aren't necessarily the same thing. And I drag through my day and vow to do better tomorrow.
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