How important is it to take your temp at the EXACT same time every morning?

Llamamama

Hi all!  Generally I set my alarm for 7 am every day except a couple days a week when I have to be up at 6:20 am.  So is 40 minutes difference going to make a huge difference?  This cycle I started listing the times of day and I noticed I got an empty circle today (my 1st early temp of this cycle). 

I can't get up at 6:20 every day if I don't have to (I am NOT a morning person) and I am afraid of setting it for 6:20 and then trusting that I will wake up on time if I go back to sleep.  So I think I have to stick with the 40 minute difference..just wondering if it will mess up my chart.  

brooklynesque

Hi, Llama.  IMO you're fine.  I try to keep to within an hour (between 6:30 and 7:30 everyday) and I get a clear pattern.  (I hate open circles on FF so I usually don't enter the time, just make a note if I'm especially early or late.)  If you find your temps are consistently noticeably lower on the days you get up early you can rethink this strategy -- some people set two alarms, one for temping, one "real" alarm.  But if you're getting a clear pattern on your chart with the slightly different times (and based on last month you are) I really think you shouldn't worry.

Tisharp

This might seem dumb, but it works for me and might work for you if you go to bed early enough.

I set my alarm for 4am every day (even weekends) to temp.  I'm never not in bed by midnight, and 99% of the time am in bed by 10pm, so it works for me.  And that way I set a second alarm for 6am during the week and whatever time I need to get up on weekends, so I don't have to GET UP get up at 4am.  It literally takes 30 seconds (I have the therm right there and the app on my phone to enter it) and then I'm back asleep.

stever

I wake up with DS and not an actual alarm and I put in whatever time it is he gets me up. It's almost always between 645 and 715 so I get solid circles for testing with that half hour and empty circles if I wake up later. 

So maybe 630 or 645 as your default time - like set your alarm for 645 on days when you have to be up at 7?

Juicy71

I thought I read in TCOYF that as long as it is within an hour you should be okay.  I have trouble getting mine at the same time every day just because half the time I wake up before my alarm goes off and so I just temp then as I generally have a hard time going back to sleep once I wake up.  I've thought of doing the 4 a.m. thing but am really afraid of not being able to go back to sleep and/or waking up DH and HIM not being able to go back to sleep.  So I'm just doing the best that I can and hopefully it will be enough to see the shift when I get a full month of temping for this new cycle.

owlprof

brooklynesque:

Hi, Llama.  IMO you're fine.  I try to keep to within an hour (between 6:30 and 7:30 everyday) and I get a clear pattern.  (I hate open circles on FF so I usually don't enter the time, just make a note if I'm especially early or late.)  If you find your temps are consistently noticeably lower on the days you get up early you can rethink this strategy -- some people set two alarms, one for temping, one "real" alarm.  But if you're getting a clear pattern on your chart with the slightly different times (and based on last month you are) I really think you shouldn't worry.

I'm the same way, and I totally agree with Brooklynesque -- you should be able to see a clear pattern with a 40 minute variation.

Llamamama

Oh good!  Thanks all for keeping me informed.  I think I will ignore the empty circles and if my chart gets out of hand I will go in and delete all the times.

Like I said I am not a morning person so I hate hearing that alarm but I have it set for 7 (even on weekends--blah) unless I have to do that 6:20 thing.  And that is only 2 times a week at most.. I thought about having 2 alarms but honestly I am kind of OCD about the 1 I have!  I check it like 20 times while I am getting ready for bed.  I think having 2 to worry about just might push me over the edge into insanity.    Good luck to all this month!