how do you sustain energy levels when you wake up early

[Ozark Plateau]

I'm up at 5 and in bed by 10 daily. Caffein when I wake up and a few nicotine pouches throughout the day. Plenty of water. Don't eat big during the day. I can't nap. Works for me.

 

[Globe_trotter21]

What normal society would call an unhealthy amount of coffee. But before 12 noon. Anything past that and it disrupts overnight sleep, which defeats the purpose.

 

[Braaap]

Lots of good advice so far. The only thing I’ll add is getting natural sunlight in your eyes in the morning especially, and evenings. This means no sunglasses, or looking through window glass etc for an hour or more in the morning. I don’t mean looking directly at the sun, just natural light. It sounds like you’re outdoors so this should be easy and maybe you’re already doing it.

 

[HuntHarder]

Cold brew in the am, decent lunch then some legal booger sugar before the gym around 3-4pm. (Woke AF) I'm good until 9pm so long as I'm not watching a movie.

If I need a pick me up, I'll drink one of the v8 energy drinks. It's basically green tea ish I think 80mg of caffeine

 

[RadialJett]

@welkin , you are waking up during the part of the morning your body wants to sleep, that’s going to take a toll.

The sleep cycle is something like 90-120 minutes for most people. If you can track your sleep stages with a wearable, time your nap so you are waking during a lighter stage of sleep. That’s usually a short power nap or prolonged “I live in a socialist state” length siesta. Also, if you can delay to an afternoon nap that will help you sleep when your body is programmed to.

There’s a ton that goes into proper sleep at night, to include avoiding light sources, such as RS glowing on your phone.

 

[Hunting183]

Electrolytes really help me! They seem to keep me going and give me a second wind

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Cocaine

 

[brancher147]

I have a similar schedule and 2 young kids when I get home. I try to eat healthy, no bread, no sugar, no processed foods. I do have half caff coffee in the morning but no energy drinks ever. Stay hydrated. As others have said shorter naps are better for me if I have to have one but I very rarely take one.

 

[Fatcamp]

Sleep hygiene. Research it and see if you are actually getting any sleep.

As a nurse I and my coworkers struggle with sleep due to stress and changing schedules. Once I started taking it seriously I noticed a dramatic change. It's easy to get off a pattern though. I'm pretty wasted right now but I've been sick for weeks.

 

[Wprinkle]

Have you had you T levels tested?

 

[Poser]

I get up at 4 every day and just stay on that schedule regardless of what I have going on. Occasionally I'll sleep in and that looks like getting up at 5:15. Sometimes, I need to get up earlier for hunting or skiing, but getting up at 3:30 when you're used to getting up at 4 is no big deal. Once you get used to getting up and doing work: gym/conditioning/training or whatever, then its just not that big of deal. Its when you suddenly have to change your sleep schedule dramatically that it impacts you. If you're used to getting up at 7 and then have to wake up 3 hours earlier, its going to be difficult.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

My regular summer schedule is up at 4 am and to shooting spots by 4:30-4:45. I can then be back for work meetings starting around 8am.

A nap is key for me, usually around noon and I sleep for an hour minimum. I’m then normally asleep by 10:00 or earlier most nights.

If I can get 6 hours minimum of uninterrupted sleep at night with a 1-2 hour nap mid day I don’t have any issues at all.

 

[Ramem7mm]

There are lots of good advice already stated. To add and reiterate maybe see a doctor and have blood work done to see how that looks. If you are in good physical shape and not overweight and eat healthy then you should normally be ok. Keep hydrated and have electrolytes as others mentioned would be a big help if your not already doing that.