Sleeping. the joys of getting it and the pitfalls of deprivation

[Maid In Bedlam]

I have been described as a lark

 

I generally have an early night. Well I say early Normally im in bed by 10pm. But I wake about 5am Being honest I have never been one for laying around in bed. But i have been finding once i have got to sleep which isnt a problem I am only getting about 5 or 6 hours a night. Once you get up to pee and waking after a dream or such like your actual sleep time is dimmished.

 

I would really like to start getting a good 8 hours as it does wonders for the mind and body.

 

So my question is: Does anyone find there sleep regime a little unorthodox?

 

Are there any tips for a long and restful night?  Have you tried and tested method to help in restful slumber? Even if it gets you seven hours its a bonus.

 

I was given sleeping tablets once a long time ago. Yes i slept on average 9 hours a night but i was like a zombie all day so im not going back down that rabbit hole.

 

Just something that is not involving shoving tablets in your mouth or hanging upside down for half an hour before bedtime which may help will be taken with thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

[Jackie C.]

Yeah, you have to be careful with pills. Even just herbal supplements need to be a once-in-a-while thing so you don't become dependent.

 

Though saying that, my one-two punch of my blood pressure medication and progesterone will put me OUT if I'm not busy and concentrating on something else.

 

My personal regimen is in bed by 8pm (no, really, I go to bed early in my "old" age). Then I read whatever book I'm reading for up to an hour. Then I turn off the light and, if for some reason I'm still wired, I do my mindfullness routine: Close my eyes and concentrate on my breath. I'm generally tired enough at this point that I'm over the edge in under ten minutes. Then I get up at 4:45 the next day, feed the cats, make my wife's lunch and go to the gym for three or four hours. I mention the gym time because it helps make sure my body thinks I've been up and doing things so it's ready for bed again.

 

So the important things are the routine and making sure that I do something physical to tire my body out as much as my mind.

 

Hugs!

[Maid In Bedlam]

1 hour ago, Jackie C. said:

 go to the gym for three or four hours. I mention the gym time because it helps make sure my body thinks I've been up and doing things so it's ready for bed again.

 

So the important things are the routine and making sure that I do something physical to tire my body out as much as my mind.

 

Hugs!

 

Hi Five To going to the gym.

 

I try to walk and jog around 4 miles a day. weather permitting. It is Scotland afterall. ?️?️ No gym for me. Its mostly cardio from the exercise. Im not sure if my fitbit is the vain of my life or a god send. I actually really enjoy it. even if my poor feet say otherwise sometimes.

 

Routine is a good thing also. I try to go to bed between 10 and 10:30 pm its rare that I do something diffrent theres only 1 day a week that im up past that weekdays. As i have something i do online which keeps me up till then. 

 

Going to sleep isnt a problem for me. My trick is i try to shut down my mind by looking at an imaginary wall. I am normally out of it in about 3 minutes. Sometimes i even listen to white noise if that fails and that is bound to send me to dream land. The issue i have is staying in that state.

[Jackie C.]

Yeah, we're always running the white noise machine. My spouse has trouble sleeping without it.

 

My gym is about a mile away so 15-20 minutes of walking when the weather's nice. My basic routine there is weights for an hour or two then another hour of cardio. I'm tired (and really, really thirsty) when I'm done. My walks were 6km during the warm months, but that was a much slower pace and I was playing Pokémon as I went. Right now it's single-digits in the morning so I really appreciate being able to hit the gym.

 

Have you considered a sleep study? You might have a medical issue that's keeping you from getting a full night's rest.

 

Hugs!

[Maid In Bedlam]

I think they would proberly laugh if i told them im getting  6 to 7 hours. Thats more than some people get ever.

 

But its worth a go should there not be anyway to get 8 Hours without the involvemnt of outside influences.

 

Thats why i put the question out there. See what can be acheived prior to it. maybe one of the ladys or gents respectivly will have a solution or at least a insight into the world of dream land for longer.

[ValerieRun]

Usually sleep sufficiency is controlled by your body given a chance. Not everyone needs 8+ hours, and if the rest of the the time you have energy to go about your day maybe it is all that you require.

 

The factors to consider for a good night rest:

- sleep regiment (going to sleep around the same time)

- avoid excessive physical activity a few hours before the bed time

- soothing drinks (like chamomile tea), something without any caffeine

- avoid alcohol and/or foods that take longer to digest or can irritate the digestive system

- proper temperature and bed coverings (you might consider giving a weighted blanket a try)

- have a low sound follow you falling asleep (there are plenty of smart devices that can simulate anything from white noise, to rain sounds, to nature sounds, etc - find what works better for you)

- limit exposure to electronic devices that generate blue light right before bed time

- general lighting in the evening - using light around 2700K-3000K is the closest to natural light (or even lower to simulate the candle/fire light)

- consider researching/changing the mattress/pillow as those matter too

[Maid In Bedlam]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 2/20/2021 at 1:37 PM, ValerieRun said:

Usually sleep sufficiency is controlled by your body given a chance. Not everyone needs 8+ hours, and if the rest of the the time you have energy to go about your day maybe it is all that you require.

 

Thanks Valerie.

 

Thats great advise. But what i was really looking for is what we do to actually stay asleep. As most of them I do follow.

 

last night according to my fitbit i got 7 hours and 3 minutes. Perhaps getting 8 Hours for me is just not in my bodys genetic makeup and i just dont need 8 hours realistically.. I have never been one for lying around it bed and once im awake i Generally have to get myself up even if its just a walk to the kitchen for some water or something.

 

I would have blamed it on caffine once but i havent allowed that in my system for the past 2 years.

 

I must admit I havent gone down the road of changing the matress, But even when i have been away and sleeping on a diffrent one im much the same