What about after multiple nights of shit sleep?

chirality

I can't... actually give advice, since if I don't have work and can sleep through the day, I'll sleep in, and then go to sleep properly in the evening, anyway.

how hard is it to fall asleep if you've slept during the day?

I try to stick with my schedule. I know I'll fall out like a rock later on, at least. Everybody's different, though.

I find that it depends on a few things... How badly did you sleep for the past few nights? Can you function today without extra sleep? Will you sleep at your normal time if you mess up your schedule?

I'm not sure if you're like me, but sometimes, when I am really badly overtired, I am too tired to sleep, which really sucks.

So in those cases, a nap or something will help me sleep better in the night...

But everyone's body is different.

it depends on how soon after being shit exhausted you can go back to sleep. biologically it's better to get some sleep, so the trick is to

take some short naps throughout until you can get back to your normal schedule. short as in one rem cycle, so like 45 minutes

do that every 5 to 6 hours until your normal sleep schedule again and it will minimize sleep debt

I always strive to maintain my schedule, just go to bed an hour or two earlier than usual (since for me the problem has always been staying up late, I don't have to worry about screwing up my rhythm that way)

I'm generally really good at building and maintaining a sleep schedule, but I've had difficulty sleeping recently due to a combination of

a certain medication and extreme stress. Which is what's more concerning, because I foresee this continuing a few more nights.

chirality: I'll try the mini naps, thanks

if you can manage to fall asleep to do them, it's absolutely the best thing for your system, physiologically.

Seconding maintaining your regular sleep schedule and supplementing with power naps. I try to stick to my schedule, but if I am falling asleep on my feet and just can't keep my eyes open, I'll take a 20min nap

just make sure you don't nap for too long, or else you'll be throwing off your scheduel

Yeah I normally avoid naps like the plague because I feel like they always ruin everything, but I hate sleeping in too. :|

Usually I just power through entirely exhausted, but I'm going to need the energy.

naps will only ruin it if you sleep for too long. 20 to 40 minutes is an okay interval.

I read something about how you can nap 20-40min or 2hrs+ but should never nap in between that. Good article. But I'm really shitty at the short naps.

Mainly because it takes me so long to fall asleep usually (when stressed) so idek how to set my alarm for that.

yeah that article is correct! basically, you want to wake up in between REM cycles, not during one

and 1 - 2 hours is always during one

thedarkfields: This. I do this. I don't nap well.

I took like a 35-ish min nap in the middle and it didn't seem to hurt or help. /shruuuuuug. It probs will help overall, so at least there's that.

the difference is in how you'll feel tomorrow, haha

you won't be nearly so jetlagged if you've napped