Put the alarm ACROSS the room. Not next to the bed.

That's how I managed the transition from student to worker. For the first year, I had the alarm so far from the bed that, by the time I turned it off, there was no point in going back to bed.

My alarm rarely goes off. I usually wake up a few minutes before and flip the switch before the alarm.

That will never happen in my life ever.

My problem is that my body clock is set to fall asleep around 11-1 and for the deepest, most refreshing sleep to happen from 5am-8am. Generally times when I need to get my ass out of bed. Makes getting up a feat on most days.

For the first year, I had the alarm so far from the bed that, by the time I turned it off, there was no point in going back to bed.

That would have to be outside for me. Just this morning, I hit the snooze button (TOOL. OF. SATAN.) got up, went to the bathroom and went back to bed for the few minutes before the snooze went off.

My alarm is across the room too. I don't generally hit snooze in my sleep, but if it were closer, I would be a lot more tempted to hit snooze multiple times.

When I make myself coffee, is it rude to not offer any?

I think because it is only one cup, it's not rude. However, I would clarify to the student how you feel about his/her use of the coffee maker. That is, if you don't mind him/her using it, say so (and add, "so long as you clean it immediately so it is ready for the next use"), or, if you're not comfortable then I think you need to say that, too. And consider a Starbucks gift card as a holiday treat.

I generally set an alarm, just in case, but I can't remember the last time I actually needed one to wake up. High school maybe. My guilty conscience (or my dog, or my baby) gets my ass out of bed.

I have a Joe. I highly recommend getting one.

TCG is just as bad about getting out of bed as I am. And sadly when you drink tea you can't set it up to make itself in the morning. My usual plan when I have to get up early is to annoy TCG until he gets up and makes the tea. He is much better about dealing with boiling water pre-caffeination.

It has helped a great deal with my getting-up issues that I get tea brought to me by a Girl in the morning. When she's away, I use my tea machine with a timer. Like a coffee machine, only TEA. Awesome.

IOawesomeN, I have a walker! A company that delivers two days after you place your order. For mobility aids. That's unheard of. I am so happy. Now I'm off to practice walking with it.

I use my tea machine with a timer. Like a coffee machine, only TEA. Awesome.

Does it make good tea? I had a tea machine before, but it was way too weak.

It's fantastic. It has settings for different kinds of tea, so that it brews for the right time and with the right temperature of water. This is the one: [link] I managed to find it cheaper than that on the high street, although I don't know if they sell them internationally.

Put the alarm ACROSS the room. Not next to the bed. Open the blinds before you go to bed, if you live somewhere where that's not a safety issue.

That would have to be outside for me.

Vortex is me. I can get up, walk across the room, hit snooze, and be back in bed asleep in no time. And do that every few minutes for an hour. Now, if it were inside some kind of puzzle box that I had to figure out, and it changed every single day... hmm. I think there might be an alarm app that makes it really hard to hit snooze. I should look into that.

Program a voice message on your cell's wake up alarm that is you, telling yourself "Time to get up, get your lazy ass out of bed, and get some shit done!" (That's my message verbatim."

I may have to try something like that. I'm also considering changing my alarm to The Muppet Show theme, hoping that it will kick things off in the proper vein.

Feel free to suggest a good wake-up song!