How much sleep do you get each night?

fitzroy

patchwork_cat wrote: »

10 things you need to know about sleep earlier this year had Dominik Diamond on you can't watch the programme on iplayer, but he wrote this article - on page 2 read about his experiment it was very succesful. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6255708.ece?token=null&offset=12&page=2 . Colin Espie has written a book overcoming insomnia and sleep problems.

I watched the programme and saved it to dvd. Have also read numerous books, listened to numerous cds. Changed my room around; have done relaxation routine before bed and so on. Some people are just prone to the problem and it's a question of finding a solution to living with it rather than becoming so stressed at not finding a permanent solution.;)

sarahs999

Sugar is a big culprit here. I was interested to see you mentioned that you could feel sugar slumps and spikes, which may suggest you are somewhat sugar addicted, like I was. I went on a low carb diet and I can honestly say it was an utter revelation. I was like you, always tired no matter how much sleep I got. Now I wake and am ready to go - very different to the person I was before. It takes about a week to get over the sugar addiction, but then you have no slumps and spikes any more, which is incredible when you've likved with them all your life.

londoner1998

nm123 wrote: »

I think I need to sleep less... Usually I start thinking about going to bed at 10pm and get up just before 7am and then have a mad rush to leave the house by 7.30am. I would love to have extra time in the mornings and quite often set my alarm for much earlier - then hit the dreaded snooze button! My OH leaps out of bed as soon as the alarm goes off so I take that as my cue to roll over and get some more zzzzz's.

Perhaps I should try 11pm-6am. I'm sure getting up and going for a walk before having a shower would help if I can just do the getting up part. I read somewhere about "practising" getting up (darken a room, get in bed, relax for 10 mins, have the alarm go off and then get up - keep doing it to programme yourself to get up as soon as the alarm goes off until it becomes natural), but haven't had a chance to try that - plus if I get in bed I'm likely to want to stay there - I really am a proper sleep monster. I'm going on holiday next week so once I'm back I'll try and put this all into practice................

Ah, the old snooze button... I have had that sluggishness problem too, but for different reasons. My losing my father I spent almost a couple fo years with chronic insommia, not halped by very noisy neighbourds in my old flat. What I have foudn is that I need to be in bed between 10-10.30 pm. I get up at around 7 am, but I also tend to smooze for a long time (alarm goes off at 6.50 am, normally out and about 7.15...)... it seems when I do that I get into another cycle of sleep and the have to get up half way though...I tend to wake up refreshed and alert these days, if I go to bed at 10 -10.30 pm (Lights off by 11 pm) and avoid sensory stimulation (computer makes me very wired, is awful). I also have very light meals more often than not a glass of hot milk with chocolate. If I go to sleep later, it just doesn't happen: I don't fall asleep easily and the quality of my sleep is very poor. I avoid computer and TV and it just works for me. When I feel super-mega tired I find that is harder to fall asleep as well. I do a sequence of yoga specially tailored to combate insomia and is the only thing that got me sleeping after my bereavement. Somehow it took the edge of my fatigue. I noticed the difference in the morning- I woke up clear-headed for the first time in two years!! For those who think going to bed at 10 pm is a waste of time, try going to bed at that time with a good book (or good company ) for a few days and see what happens. Sleep is the single most important things in our physical and mental (spe. mental!) well-being, that's when we resolve our problems...I woudl say I sleep around 7-8 hours normally, but I am sure I could do with 6, bar the snooze button...

londoner1998

londoner1998 wrote: »

Ah, the old snooze button... I have had that sluggishness problem too, but for different reasons. My losing my father I spent almost a couple fo years with chronic insommia, not halped by very noisy neighbourds in my old flat. What I have foudn is that I need to be in bed between 10-10.30 pm. I get up at around 7 am, but I also tend to smooze for a long time (alarm goes off at 6.50 am, normally out and about 7.15...)... it seems when I do that I get into another cycle of sleep and the have to get up half way though...I tend to wake up refreshed and alert these days, if I go to bed at 10 -10.30 pm (Lights off by 11 pm) and avoid sensory stimulation (computer makes me very wired, is awful). I also have very light meals more often than not a glass of hot milk with chocolate. If I go to sleep later, it just doesn't happen: I don't fall asleep easily and the quality of my sleep is very poor. I avoid computer and TV and it just works for me. When I feel super-mega tired I find that is harder to fall asleep as well. I do a sequence of yoga specially tailored to combate insomia and is the only thing that got me sleeping after my bereavement. Somehow it took the edge of my fatigue. I noticed the difference in the morning- I woke up clear-headed for the first time in two years!! For those who think going to bed at 10 pm is a waste of time, try going to bed at that time with a good book (or good company ) for a few days and see what happens. Sleep is the single most important things in our physical and mental (spe. mental!) well-being, that's when we resolve our problems...I woudl say I sleep around 7-8 hours normally, but I am sure I could do with 6, bar the snooze button...

ETA_ Magnesium helped me no end when I was desperate... it really evens out your mood swings and improves energy transfer between the cells/blood. I highly recommended it , it holped with my fatigue massively at my lowest point...

faithcecilia

patchwork_cat wrote: »

On your other thread you said you ar elosing weight and I read that you can't sleep, someone on the other thread said they thought you should have your thyroid checked, did you manage to do that? They could be stress or anxiety too, but it might be an idea?

Not yet. I still think its most likely 'just' stress, I will see how it goes for a bit.

Amanita_2

About 5 hours at best. I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow whatever time I go to bed. I also wake up 5 hours later regardless. Rather than wake up in the wee small hours I go to bed very late - generally between 1 and 2am. This works better for me than tossing and turning trying to get back to sleep.

red_devil

I generally sleep well and I do dream and remember most nights.

kindofagilr

I sleep from about 10pm - 5.20am so 7 and a half hours

GrammarGirl

I go to bed between 11-12 and wake at 7am, but also feel very tired. I'm usually exhausted on my commute to work, luckily I lift share with a friend so she keeps me awake in the car! Then I'm okay when in work, when my mind's busy. I get home around 7pm and feel exhausted again.

It's interesting what some posters say about the sugar highs and lows. I can feel them too, much more just recently. I moved to a different job 4 months ago which took my commute from 20 mins to an hour each way. I've been relying on sugar to pick me up when I'm tired, and my new job has a tuck shop and canteen which hasn't helped! Maybe cutting right down on the sugary stuff would help my energy levels? I do try eat lots of fruit and veg, although it could always be more. I eat lots of white pasta too.

Nixxx

melancholly wrote: »

do you get much exercise? that may help with general energy levels (also with the mild depression suggestion as well). a good multivitamin could never do any harm either, in case you are low in a few.

I think exercise is a key factor here? Are you fit and healthy? Do you excercise regularly. I read somewhere that people who have a good exercise routine require less sleep and have more energy.