Snooze..zzzz
Not a day goes by without someone distressed about sleep depravation either because they’ve had only four hours sleep, broken sleep or gone to bed late. It doesn’t matter what time they call it a day, it’s still difficult to switch off. It’s the most discussed topic I’ve been involved in daily. It’s not just a problem faced by the elderly; children, young adults and adults alike all go through this dilemma.
Although I can understand that parents with young children are woken up periodically during the night by the cries of their young ones.
Getting enough sleep could be one of your best feelings; we could possibly get so much satisfaction out of it. Some of us survive on five hours, while others on eight or even nine. A Nocturnal will have a different sleeping pattern due to night shifts or other reasons.
Beauty sleep
If you’ve slept well the night before, you are likely to be alert and lively during the day whereas insufficient sleep will leave you feeling cranky. My brain works well after a good night’s sleep. We function better and time is saved.
Needing to catch a flight in the early hours means sleep will be lost but this can be recovered on the flight if you are able to.
Get a good night’s sleep
Being in a hectic job, like a newsreader, which is in full view of the country or the world at large, must be challenging – how will you keep your eyes open during the day? I guess these professionals just need to retire to bed early.
Researcher’s recommendation
Poor sleeping patterns could have an impact on cholesterol levels, body weight and our metabolism.
Slumber
Leaving technology completely out of your bedroom is paramount, including mobile phones! I have started to take action on this. Turn tablets, X boxes, PC’s, TV’s and Play stations off before bedtime and make sure they are not in your room in the first place. Getting children to follow these gentle tips is good practice and there will be a limited chance of being tempted to use them.
Keep lights dim, stick to a set bedtime and comfortable room temperature. Bedrooms need to be treated as they are.
Keep your room airy and spacious if possible by clearing out clutter to allow you some breathing space. Items that haven’t been used for a year or two are probably not needed. Pass them on.
What works for me:
Read an interesting magazine before nodding off.
Soaking in a hot bath at least one hour before.
Exercise before dinner.
Have a healthy dinner by seven o’clock if possible.
Have a hot chocolate or milky drink (Not ideal if you are Lactose intolerant).
Do you struggle to fall asleep, wake up too early or have broken sleep? These sleeping patterns can be disruptive to your lifestyle. How do you combat this problem? Feel free to drop me a line as always.
PS: This blog post is not a medical recommendation!
Sleepcouncil.org.uk
Sleep has always been a struggle for me because it seems like such a waste of time. I know the recommendations and I try to keep a regular routine and do my best to get enough sleep but if I wake up in the middle of the night I don’t waste time trying to go back to sleep because I’m one of those people who is alert from the moment I wake up. This is a good reminder though, and I’m happy to share. Thanks!
I suppose you could find other things to do, like reading a book. Much better than wasting time over lost sleep. It’s a nutural process that can’t be controlled. Thanks for stopping by.
I have no problems falling asleep – my issue is going to bed at a decent hour. A natural introvert, I like time to myself once the children are sleeping and I have prepped for the next day. Hubby retires to bed 10/10.30pm and I stay up for another hour. I enjoy sleep but generally allow myself 5 to 6 hours a night during the week.
Sounds great and a bonus to have some quiet time to yourself at the end of the day.
HI Bola. 2 reasons for my poor sleep: menopause and tinnitus. Unfortunately, there is not much I can do about either.
It’s shame you have to go through this.
I have been a bad sleeper all my life. Of her four kids–I was the one who kept mom up at nights (of course as a teen, I kept dad up. hahaha). Yesterday morning I awakened praising God for 8 hours of perfect sleep. This morning I woke up growling after 4.5. Who knows? I do the things you’ve suggested and I still either sleep or I do not. Such is life!
True! Sleep is unpredictable and those 8 hours are not even guaranteed.
Good points, Bola!
I have been facing sleep disorders for the last 1-1.5 years now!
Guess, it is high time to keep my phone away!
Sounds like a brilliant plan Tuhin! Thanks for visiting.
I semi-regularly wake up between 2:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. and then can’t fall asleep again. I am not cranky the following day but I am ‘physically off-kilter’, shall we say – I can handle menial tasks but serious work (e.g., writing a blog post) does become more of a challenge.
A single culprit isn’t to blame: sometimes I am woken up by noise, to which I am highly sensitive; sometimes my bladder compels me to get up to go to the bathroom; sometimes the ambient temperature in my bedroom becomes too hot or cold for my comfort during the night. Such are the trials and tribulations of being an ultralight sleeper.
Noise during those hours is quite distractive as well as all the other factors disturbing your sleep. I agree that those mental tasks that need attention, can be challenging indeed as I have the same woe.
Waking up too early is my issue. I should try that suggestion of not eating after 7pm.
I hope the suggestion works. Some people find that having their dinner around 6:30 pm also helps.
Hi Bola,
It’s great to read your post. I was busy with my projects, that’s the reason I was inactive a bit, specially reading & commenting was completely off.
But Anyways, Thanks for the interesting & informative read. Keep up the good work and enjoy the holidays.
A Very Happy New Year Bola! Cheers
~ Donna
Glad you’re back Donna. A very happy new year to you also 🙂