Sleep

Night before last I went to bed at about 3:30 a.m., and got up at about 8:10 a.m.......4 hours 40 minutes. I got up when I was done sleeping, well rested, and went about life as normal.

Last night I went to bed at about 11:40 p.m., and got up at 8 a.m......8 hours 20 minutes. Again, I got up when I was done sleeping, well rested.

I go to bed when I get tired, and get up when I'm no longer tired. I figure my body and brain know what's required, and so I just go with their flow.
 
I am almost guaranteed to fall asleep on the couch, either reading or watching football or basketball.
Click to expand...

Ha, this could be a big part of your problem. I often start to fall asleep on the couch watching TV, but I try not to let myself fall all the way asleep. Being asleep for just a few minutes will deplete your sleep drive or "sleep juice." Same thing for taking a nap too late in the afternoon.

It doesn't feel good, but if you find yourself drifting off, you might get up and walk around a little.
 
TromboneAl said:
Being asleep for just a few minutes will deplete your sleep drive or "sleep juice." Same thing for taking a nap too late in the afternoon.
Click to expand...
Not for me. I sleep better if I had a brief nap that afternoon (the 10-20 minute kind). But longer naps keep me up nights, so I avoid them.
 
I set a limit of 4 PM for starting a nap. No intentional naps after 4 PM.

Also I had sex most nights which sure didn't hurt.
Click to expand...

If it hurts, then you're doing it wrong.
 
The winter season is again creating an effect that puts me right out. My leather recliner is very close to a south facing window. Around midday, the sun streaming through the bow window warms up the living room, warms up the leather, and next thing I know...zzzzzzzzzz
My laptop and I both go to sleep. :rolleyes:

My solution...here's some real rocket science for the masses. :cool:
On sunny days, every time I sit in the chair, I set a digital kitchen timer for 30 minutes.
It never fails to ding and wake me up. I get up and move around, change or fold laundry, make a phone call, shovel snow, etc.

Otherwise, I'd still be asleep in that fabulous warm sun. :blush:
 
I sit in the chair, I set a digital kitchen timer for 30 minutes.
Click to expand...

My problem with this is that I'll read for 25 minutes, then just be 5 minutes into a lovely nap when the alarm goes off. What I want is an electronic device that will ring 30 minutes after I've dozed off.
 
W2R said:
One of the best aspects of my (so far, 41 day) retirement has been the freedom to go to bed when I want to, and sleep when I want to, for however long I want to.

When I awaken like that, and can't get back to sleep, I just get up and start the next day. I will probably feel sleepy later on, and take a long nap when I feel like it.

One thing that I have noticed that to me is very odd, is that some days I need a lot of sleep (like, maybe 10-11 hours) and other days I seem to need only 5-6 hours. One would think that my sleep needs would be consistent from day to day, but I guess they are not.
Click to expand...

Yep - 16th year of ER. Neither sex nor exercise seems to make that much difference.

?? Possibly not enough of either one? :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::nonono:;).

heh heh heh - since I have mastered the art of doing nothing in particular really really well - being non regular hasn't bothered me too much.

Driving 16-18 hrs stopping to gas/pee/refill coffee cup is easy when I roll out to go 'visiting.'
 
It seems counterintuitive, but sometimes I can get to sleep by trying to stay awake. I pick a spot in the room and try to keep my eyes on it and not close them (apart from blinking, that is!). I generally find my lids getting heavy pretty quickly.

Apparently, not sleeping makes me worry about not sleeping, which keeps me from sleeping, which makes me worry, and so on... Trying to stay awake interrupts this vicious cycle.
 
I just heard on tv the other night that when the American Indians wanted to wake up early they drank gobs of water the night before. Practical solution in the age of no alarm clocks. (Just had to pass that one on.)

Wonder what they did to make themselves go to sleep?

Has anyone tried one of those small clock-size machines that puts out sounds? Everything from white noise to the sound of rain or the sound of waves on the shore (that one makes you want to pee)? I had one and loved it. I know the store Tuesday Morning was selling them this Xmas according to their flyer, but you could probably find one on Amazon.
I didn't own this model, but I do like the one on the right side of this ad--even at the price. I'd pay it if the machine lasted at least 3 years figuring what's $114 divided by 3 when it comes to sleeping well? I'd get a different machine as the reviews on this one were just so-so, but you get the idea, anyway.

http://4alarmclocks.com/whnoslma.html?gclid=CKnSo6Pi-54CFRQhnAodM0N8Kg

Here's some more ideas built into a clock form often:

http://4alarmclocks.com/nasoalcl.html

(I love the reviews on Amazon as they will guide you best as to what you should buy. But this gives you a start if you are interested.)
 
Orchidflower said:
Has anyone tried one of those small clock-size machines that puts out sounds?
Click to expand...


We use a white noise machine and LOVE it. We travel with it, and it blocks out most noises (i.e. in hotels, etc.). We love it so much, we have significant difficulty sleeping without it!
 
Orchidflower said:
Has anyone tried one of those small clock-size machines that puts out sounds? Everything from white noise to the sound of rain or the sound of waves on the shore (that one makes you want to pee)? I had one and loved it. I know the store Tuesday Morning was selling them this Xmas according to their flyer, but you could probably find one on Amazon.
I didn't own this model, but I do like the one on the right side of this ad--even at the price. I'd pay it if the machine lasted at least 3 years figuring what's $114 divided by 3 when it comes to sleeping well? I'd get a different machine as the reviews on this one were just so-so, but you get the idea, anyway.
Click to expand...

Oh my!! Orchidflower, what a terrific idea. I think I might really like something like this for sleeping.
 
It´s been more than 15 years since I´ve slept 6/7 hours non stop. My defective bladder has been making me hurry to the bathroom every 3 hours. By the second trip I´m fairly wide awake.:mad:
This was a real nuisance when I worked. Now that I am ER it isn´t a nice thing either... it´s a terrible long day to face being up and about at 6.30 am....At least here in Spain. My consolation is that I´ve always been an early go-to-bed guy.
My wife, who still has to work for another 13 years, gloats over the situation:D
 
Orchidflower said:
Has anyone tried one of those small clock-size machines that puts out sounds? Everything from white noise to the sound of rain or the sound of waves on the shore (that one makes you want to pee)?
Click to expand...

I bought a sound generator, returned it the next day. The sound loops were so short that what my brain heard mostly was the loop ('ok, it's about to start over ...') and not the waves or rain. Sometimes having rhythm is a curse ;-)

A radio with analog tuning can be positioned between stations. Cheap source of random noise.

I bought some mp3 files of environmental sounds. Hour long pieces with no repeating. I played them on my computer (which usually ran all night anyway) and liked it. Some of the enviornmental or ambient CDs have new age flute and other such instruments mixed in - I didn't like those at all for sleeping. Or anything else.

Environmental sounds help me fall asleep but loud random noises wake me up, so I went back to ear plugs.
 
ItDontMeanAThing said:
I bought a sound generator, returned it the next day. The sound loops were so short that what my brain heard mostly was the loop ('ok, it's about to start over ...') and not the waves or rain. Sometimes having rhythm is a curse ;-)
Click to expand...

Our is a white noise machine. Just sounds like a fan running continuously. No sound loops. That would wake me up, too!
 
simple girl said:
We use a white noise machine and LOVE it. We travel with it, and it blocks out most noises (i.e. in hotels, etc.). We love it so much, we have significant difficulty sleeping without it!
Click to expand...

I had to travel to England 10 days back so DW gave me an early Christmas gift - noise reduction headphones. They worked brilliantly - best I have ever heard an airplane movie.

PLUS, you can unplug the lead but leave them switched on and it still cuts out all the background noise making it much easier to sleep.
 
Alan said:
I had to travel to England 10 days back so DW gave me an early Christmas gift - noise reduction headphones. They worked brilliantly - best I have ever heard an airplane movie.

PLUS, you can unplug the lead but leave them switched on and it still cuts out all the background noise making it much easier to sleep.
Click to expand...

Details please Alan.....I want a pair of those!
 
Meadbh said:
Details please Alan.....I want a pair of those!
Click to expand...

DW said she looked at various makes and decided on the Koss QZ/900 because they work as regular headphones even when the AAA battery runs out, and also because the lead can be removed completely and the headphones used to simply cut out background noise.

The QZ/900 is the addition to the Koss Quiet Zone line and adds a new level of performance and comfort. The electronics package inside each Koss QZ/900 is designed to monitor outside noise received through specifically mounted microphones in each ear cup. Once this incoming noise can be analyzed, the Koss QZ/900 circuit introduces a sound wave which is 180 degrees out of phase with the incoming signal. The result is what engineer's term "zero earth" at the point of the eardrum. This means that most low frequency distractions from an airplane, lawn mower, fan, or even the din of an office can dramatically reduced. Once the QZ/900 reduces the outside noise, the sound of Koss takes center stage. Deep rich lows and sparkling highs in a stereophone you'll want to take along everywhere. In fact the noise canceling ability is so good in the QZ/900 that you'll find less need to turn up the volume and overdrive the tiny amplifier in your portable electronics. This means greater efficiency, less distortion and all the excitement of a live performance. The QZ/900 operates with or without its active noise canceling circuit engaged. A handy removable cord features an in line volume control and one standard AAA battery provides approximately 50 hours of active noise cancellation.
Click to expand...
 
I have several sleep CDs but my favorite is this one: Sleep Deeply

There's more to these than just soothing music. According to the jacket, there's some sort of subtle beat hidden in the music that "resets" or synchronizes your brain waves into the sort that you should have when sleeping soundly. Whatever, these really work. After many, many years of waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to get back to sleep I saw one of these in a music sampler kiosk and decided what the heck. It worked like a charm from night 1. I have listened to it every night for over two years - rarely do I have a problem any more. It literally "cured" my sleep problems overnight.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

F
Sleep pattern and sleeping pills
2 3 4
Replies
89
Views
6K
GenXguy
G
Romer
Hip pain only at night
2 3
Replies
52
Views
4K
Aerides
Aerides
B
shameless ask for praise for walking
2 3 4
Replies
90
Views
3K
freetodream
F
Midpack
Eight Sleep - Great Idea, Too Expensive…
Replies
15
Views
1K
donheff
donheff
P
Any disc golfers out there?
Replies
9
Views
190
yakers
Y

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom