Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with nocturnal

Boogey Nights

scruss — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:11:24 -0800

Nocturnal nose-picking: how to stop something I'm not even aware of doing? [slightly gross details follow] From the number of, um, magic nose goblins around the bed in the morning, it is evident that I pick my nose in my sleep. The quantity of nostril shrapnel evinced nightly is alarming, and ms scruss finds it unattractive.

I've tried to cut down on dairy products before bed, to little effect. Sprays help a little, but have strict limits on how often you can use them. Any other suggestions, short of hypnotism or a Dremel tool?

Trying to identify Washington State bird by sound heard at night.

DCTapeworm — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:03:34 -0800

Please help me identify this bird in Washington State (nocturnal). I didn't see it, but I heard it. It was a long screech, starting at a low pitch, and ending at a high pitch. The screech lasted a full second or so. There was one right in front of my house, and another in the backyard. If it helps for region, I'm out in Snohomish where there's tons of pine trees around.

Do your limbs jerk before falling asleep?

34centstampede — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:26:58 -0800

I'm familiar with the idea of nocturnal myoclonic/hypnic jerks - sudden limb movements that wake you up from sleep, or when just crossing the threshold of sleep. But does anyone out there get these before they fall asleep, but while chasing it, relaxing in bed with eyes closed? On bad nights I get several. I should add that this symptom is a recent development in a larger clinical picture (which I won't subject you to) involving months of sleep disturbance, that my Neurologist remains stumped after exhausting all the usual tests (MRI, etc), and that I'm really not trying to push you good MeFites into diagnosing me over the internet.

However, it would really help, for my own sanity's sake, if someone out there has ever had a (benign?) bout of this same thing. My Neurologist tried to comfort me a few months back with the old "well at least you're not having crazy jerks" line, but now that I seem to be, I'd feel less worried if I weren't the only one. Thanks!

[not a morning person-filter] how do you force yourself to go to bed when you're not tired and how do you get up when you are?

krautland — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:04:17 -0800

[not a morning person-filter] how do you force yourself to go to bed when you're not tired and how do you get up when you are? I am nocturnal and it's beginning to hurt me.

you know there is a problem when people at work smile and say you're just not a morning person. especially when they're right. I find it tough to fall asleep when I'm not really tired and nearly impossible to rise when I still am. the problem is that if I get tired tonight at midnight, it'll be three am tomorrow, perhaps five am the next night and to top it all off, I'm the kind of guy who can sleep twelve hours without waking up once. I need to force myself into a rhythm better suited for a professional life. even if I get a lot of work done at night (when the phones stop ringing), I need to make sure people see me as dependable for early morning meetings.

thus a threefold question:

(1) how do you get yourself to sleep when you have to but aren't tired? if you can recommend over-the-counter drugs for the occasional really important day, both to fall asleep and wake up, please let me know.

(2) how do you get yourself back onto a rise-and-shine-at-nine clock when you've been up to five in the morning that whole week? how do you get it done fast? forcing myself to rise when I am not awake seems to result in me going through the day on auto-pilot. I don't have many ideas in that state and that's a problem.

(3) what are your tricks for not oversleeping, forcing yourself out of bed when it's really hard?

caveat: I do not drink coffee and red bull, while effective, is tough on my stomach.

Here is London, giddy London. Is it home of the free or what?

skylar — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 11:15:13 -0800

Inside, a question about nocturnal activities which will be best answered by Londoners, night-owls and lateral thinkers. I've lived in London, England for many years and know it very well. I'm also subscribed to every London-related site I can find from London by London to Londonist to London Lost and Found to Flavourpill and Urban Junkies. I read the Guardian Guide and Time Out. In short, I think I'm pretty damn switched on for things to do.

But something always stumps me in this less-than-24-hour city, and that is: things to do after 11pm on a weekday. That's when most of the pubs shut and London begins to go to sleep. We don't boast the same number of late night cafés and bars as New York, where I've never had a problem servicing my night-owl tendencies.

So I'm reaching out to you, dear AskMeFi friends, for some unusual and interesting suggestions. Late night bars are kind of obvious, but feel free to suggest any. There are about four 24-hour cafés that I know of - any recommendations? Bus journeys? Late night walks? Strange shops or clubs? Good places to break into? In short, any kooky, memorable place - or even just a route to take - which might help instigate an adventure in London during the wee hours.

It doesn't have to be legal, sensible or free. The only rule is that it must be something I can do after 11pm on a weekday in London, preferably central London.

Like moths to the flame

armoured-ant — Fri, 12 Dec 2003 17:39:14 -0800

If moths like lights so much, then why don't they come out during the day? And don't say because they don't need to come out to get light.