Awake at 11 p.m.?

If you are -- like I am right now -- it's time to start doing something about that!

In less than a week, you'll be waking up between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. every day for a week -- probably even earlier on Day 1. It's best to get your body into that routine before the event so that your sleep cycle will be as synchronous as possible. Sleep is one of the most essential commodities on the ride, and it can sometimes be one of the most difficult to obtain, particularly if you're a light and/or difficult sleeper (like me).

Trust me, you can't sleep much past 5 a.m. in camp; there's just too much activity and noise going on around you.

In camp, official quiet time is 9:30 p.m., but things usually don't quiet down until a little bit after that, especially on Night 5 in Lompoc after the talent show and on Night 6 in Ventura after the candlelight vigil. (And remember: On Day 7, we ride out half an hour early, at 6 a.m.)

If you normally wake up around 7 a.m., try waking up half an hour earlier (and going to bed half an hour earlier) every day beginning Tuesday so that, by Saturday, you're awake at 4:30 a.m. This can help ease your adjustment into the alternate reality of ALC.

Photo credit: Dali's Melted Clock Thing, by "doublegrub" at Flickr