get a good nights sleep?

lulabell

I'm a bit of a night owl but I need to be up ideally at 7am to get the kids up for school.
I find it hard to relax and wind down at night - I finish work at 10pm, and go to bed at 12.30 or 1am.
Yet my mind doesn't switch off and I don't seem to be able to drop off until about 1.30 or even 2am
I then get woken up at 5am when Mr. Lulabell gets up >:( even though he does try to be quiet ::)
I go back to sleep and wake up with a shock when I realise it's gone 8 o clock.
It's then a mad rush to get things done and I turn into Mrs. Grumpy until about 9.30 :-[
Has anyone got any tips or suggestions they could share with me?
A very awake Lulabell

Allexie

I find it hard to relax and wind down at night ....

Yet my mind doesn't switch off and I don't seem to be able to drop off until about 1.30 or even 2am

Has anyone got any tips or suggestions they could share with me?
A very awake Lulabell

Do you have time during the day for a nap?

Someone once gave me a 'sleep-spray' thingy - you squirt a fine mist of aromatherapy-type stuff,(it was lavender and something ???), on your pillow. Or I guess a herb pillow would work the same.

If all else fails I find a couple of large glasses of red wine does the trick!

  =  

Nile

To help you get off to sleep, keep the bedroom well ventilated with a window open.........even in winter.

If you wear some soft foam ear plugs, they might prevent you form waking at 5am but even if you do wake, they'll muffle any noise your partner makes.......helping you to drift off back to sleep.

From your description, it sounds like you don't have or use an alarm clock. If you set an alarm clock for 7am (or just before), you can relax and not worry about sleeping in.

I always have two alarm clocks set, just in case one fails to work or I drift off back to sleep after the first alarm.

SnowyOwl_2

Hi Lulabell

Maybe it would be worth having a go at trying to wind down earlier. You do finish work very late it's true, but maybe you could start a bedtime routine as soon as you get in. Eg don't have any drinks with caffeine in, just fruit/herb tea or low sugar drinks, no alcohol (or max just 1 small glass) as it's a stimulant, have a small snack type meal as soon as getting in, have a warm bath, get changed into nightwear, small amount of telly (cos it can stimulate the brain if it's an action movie or whatever and the brain needs to relax). Also, if you do anything as a matter of routine when you get in, eg ironing or washing or emptying dishwasher, or whatever maybe reorganise those tasks to daytime before you go to work rather than when you come in.

I think the earplugs thing is an excellent idea - though I'm not sure how you'd hear the alarm clock! Your other half sounds very considerate so I am sure he'll help you if you want to make any readjustments.

Snowy Owl.

DIRK_GENTLY

Aroma Relaxer with Nature Sounds Was £24.99
Now £9.99

starlite_2

neals yard sell a 'sleep blend' natural tea which has always worked wonders for me and my flatmates..not sure if its a psychological effect but try having a couple before bed......not too much though or your bladder will keep you up even longer

lulabell

Thanks everyone for your replies!
I do have an alarm clock and it's set for 7.20 but I'm a bit naughty and turn it off when it goes off :-[
I've taken on board everyone's tips and have ordered a sleeptherapy spray from Avon and Set another alarm clock to go off on the other side of the room
I try not to drink anything alcoholic after work as I find the next morning I wake up with a furry tongue! :P
And no food, coffee, tv or pc after 11pm for me ::)
I'm off now for some light reading before bed
Goodnight!!
Lulabell

Savvy_Sue

I do have an alarm clock and it's set for 7.20 but I'm a bit naughty and turn it off when it goes off :-[

I set alarms and reminders on my phone. The boys get up at different times and I check they are moving then go back to bed.

Although this morning one of them failed to go off, so one boy was an hour late getting up.

Nurse_Bambi

If i have a cuppa tea after 7.30-8.00pm i'll be wide awake till 1am. My last cuppa at that time is always decaff tea.

I use foam ear plugs which really helps.

I keep a book by the bed and sometimes will read a few pages of that to switch my mind off other things. (the books not too exciting so i don't start thinking about that!)

Crisp clean sheets help me get to sleep. theres something really nice about getting into a clean bed when you are all freshly showered.

As for getting up! I have alarm clock, i set my mobile to ring and i have a telly that doubles as an alarm and comes on at a set time. Mind you, i have been known to turn all three off whilst still asleep.

temin

Try using Natrasleep, three tablets about half an hour to an hour before going to bed. I find this very helpful.They are herbal tablets containing valerian and hops.
If you don't like swallowing tablets, use 30 drops of Bioforce Valerian tincture in half a glass of water.
You can get both above from most chemists or Health food stores.

If you are really having problems, there are two other products that are very helpful, l-theanine and melatonin, which I get from the US(for my insomniac 18 year old son), as they are not available here(well theanine is, but is expensive) and are much cheaper to get from the Us even if you include postage.
Let me know if you need more info on this one.

msraec

the french have been using valerian flower for ever as a sleep aid - no chemicals completely natural and available in health stores and some supermarkets - i find the lavender pillow spray helps too