# Do you wake up in bits and pieces or all at once? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 8, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543 "2011-12-08T19:02:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/1 "2011-12-08T19:02:45Z")
Different parts of me wake up and fall asleep at different rates. When I wake up, my brain is the first to wake up (passing through the classic ‘blargh? what the hell time/day is it?’ state). My mouth is often the last thing to wake up - it can be half an hour before I can talk, if I work at it (if I force myself to talk, it ‘breaks’ it, but if I hold onto it I can hold on to the nice sleepy feeling). My stomach often wakes up after I’ve started having breakfast, so I’m not hungry when I start eating. When I get tired, speech is the first thing to go. My brain can be making all sorts of wise-ass comments, but I can’t vocalize them. Anybody else wake up and fall asleep in stages? Or am I an utter freak? (in this regard, let’s not discuss generalities for freakhood 😛 ) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/2 "2011-12-08T19:46:46Z")
Often my legs wake up first, fix breakfast and serve it to me in bed. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/3 "2011-12-08T19:52:36Z")
My dog, Chelsea the four legged alarm clock, wakes me up all at once. Cold nose to whatever body part is exposed is very effective. ---
**Author:** ![Vihaga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/4 "2011-12-08T19:59:34Z")
All at once, and fairly quickly, most of the time. I’m a little slower if something wakes me within the first couple hours of falling asleep, though. I am not a night owl at ALL. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/5 "2011-12-08T20:03:18Z")
Mind wakes first, then body gets active. ---
**Author:** ![BTEzra04](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@BTEzra04](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BTEzra04)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/6 "2011-12-08T20:04:27Z")
If I have an alarm set, then usually, ultimately, all at once. On the days when I sleep in, it can take me a while to fully think “…oh, wait…what time is it? Should I get up now?” ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/7 "2011-12-08T20:06:13Z")
All at once, usually. Sometimes my bladder wakes up first. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/8 "2011-12-08T20:19:56Z")
Most of me wakes up all at once, but the language processing portions of my brain lag behind, becoming fully operational only after at least 1 cup of coffee. My husband, even after more than 20 years, does not understand this about me and buries me under stories of what this guy did at work or how many raccoons he almost hit on the way home, then gets mad at me for “not paying attention” because I don’t know WTF he’s talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/9 "2011-12-08T20:30:16Z")
Pretty much all at once, and my partner is someone who wakes up in bits and pieces. Needless to say we don’t really understand each other on this behavior. I have a hard time understanding how everyone can’t snap awake if need be. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2011, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/10 "2011-12-09T05:25:51Z")
Usually, all at once. But now and then…it’s WEIRD! I can feel the pieces falling in to place. I can feel my consciousness assembling itself, developing like a photograph in a developer tray. About a month ago, I fell, and hurt myself, had a concussion, and passed out. I awakened from it a bit gradually. I remember having a moment’s doubt. “Was it just a dream? Aw crap…” I’ve also awakened myself by the loudness of my own snoring. In one case, I dreamed that I was hearing loud, rhythmic music. I was able to write the music down, later, and that’s how I know that I snore in 5:4 time. Weirdest of all, though, is dreaming that you’re awakening! Yep, it’s morning I’m awake, getting out of bed, la la la, standing in the bathroom, shaving, la la la… Huh? Well, doggone! Just a dream! (Only once in my life…I dreamed I saw myself in the shaving mirror. And it wasn’t my real face! I looked a little like the young Walter Koenig. Gads! I wish!) ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/11 "2011-12-09T15:09:46Z")
My eyes take a while to wake up and focus properly. And I can’t eat for about an hour after waking, so I guess my stomach does too? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/12 "2011-12-09T15:20:28Z")
> [@Vihaga](#): > > All at once, and fairly quickly, most of the time. I’m a little slower if something wakes me within the first couple hours of falling asleep, though. I am not a night owl at ALL. I wake up very quickly, too. Though I am a night owl. I don’t really LIKE waking up – I just do it pretty well, if I have to. If I know I can sleep in, I think I mentally let myself wake up slower. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/13 "2011-12-09T15:26:21Z")
For the vast majority of times it’s like a light switch, I’m asleep and then I’m not, there isn’t really a transition. Physically, I can’t really eat for an hour but other than that I’m usually good to go from the moment I wake up. Every once in a while, if I’m extremely tired or, conversely, if I’ve slept way too much, it’s a slow process and I’ll be extremely groggy for 5-10 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/14 "2011-12-09T15:31:54Z")
I’m the same - can’t usually eat until about two hours after waking. If I do I feel sick and have reflux all day. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/15 "2011-12-09T15:34:26Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Pretty much all at once, and my partner is someone who wakes up in bits and pieces. Needless to say we don’t really understand each other on this behavior. I have a hard time understanding how everyone can’t snap awake if need be. I’m UP when I get up. I jump out of bed, totally alert. My sister however, although her body might be in the kitchen sipping a cup of tea, is not such a person. People have remarked that I’m tolerant of slow starters. Interaction is futile until whatever has to happen to them has happened. 😃 You really notice the difference when you’re one-shot wake up types like yourself. I imagine it’s like someone shinning a 100 watt light bulb in your face. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/16 "2011-12-09T17:34:37Z")
It takes me a long time to fall asleep, so when I start I want to keep going. It was annoying when I had a boyfriend and I’d stay over at his place. I’d be falling asleep, and to the point where my mouth wasn’t working, and he’d ask me something. Stop it! Grr! (Also when I’m sleeping and I’ve got earplugs in. I can’t hear you!) ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/17 "2011-12-09T17:38:45Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > I’m UP when I get up. I jump out of bed, totally alert. My sister however, although her body might be in the kitchen sipping a cup of tea, is not such a person. People have remarked that I’m tolerant of slow starters. Interaction is futile until whatever has to happen to them has happened. 😃 You really notice the difference when you’re one-shot wake up types like yourself. > > I imagine it’s like someone shinning a 100 watt light bulb in your face. 😃 I know, and I try so hard to be tolerant of my SO because I love him dearly, but sometimes it really frustrates me. On a work day I roll out of bed at 8 am and 35-40 minutes later I’m ready to leave, having showered, gotten dressed, done my hair, applied makeup, had breakfast, and gotten dressed. I don’t have my first cup of coffee until I get to work and while quiet, I’m pretty alert. My SO, however, wakes up like he’s been sleeping ninety-seven years. It’s so _weird_. SilverTyger, that might be something, too. I fall asleep on average in 3-7 minutes. I get occasional bouts of insomnia but that’s all they are, occasional (and I get sleep paralysis with the same frequency). My SO, however takes about 30 minutes on average to fall asleep. Maybe more, I don’t know. I’m usually completely conked out by that time. ---
**Author:** ![Vihaga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/18 "2011-12-09T17:42:19Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > People have remarked that I’m tolerant of slow starters. Interaction is futile until whatever has to happen to them has happened. 😃 Ha! I’ve learned to be patient with my husband, who is decidedly Not a Morning Person, but it took a while. He’s actually met me in the middle somewhat since we moved in together, but he’s still pretty useless until he’s had a shower and maybe a cup of coffee. Once I recognized his disability and stopped trying to have a real conversation with him or interrupt his routine, things went much more smoothly. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/19 "2011-12-09T18:18:10Z")
All at once, and quickly. I can usually wake up and roll right out of bed and keep going (generally, straight to the bathroom first). ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543/20 "2011-12-09T18:28:37Z")
Generally my penis wakes up first. (no really, that’s not a joke) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wake-up-in-bits-and-pieces-or-all-at-once/605543.md?page=2)