Once an early bird, now a night owl
A strange transformation - I for decades of my life was a morning person; up with the sun, to sleep at dusk.
Ask my grad school housemate, as winter set in in Michigan (decidedly short days and long nights) I slept 12 hours many days. As dark fell, off to sleep I went, happily, cozily, restfully.
Now, as Eliza Dolittle might sing, "One am, two am..." finds me longing for sleepiness.
I think my sleep cycle fell to the ravages of prolonged stress, fatigued adrenals, and the resulting circadian disrhythm.
Advice abounds, "practice proper sleep hygiene" (which is a term I abhor - cleanliness? strange application of a concept!) Tips include:
1. go to bed the same time each night
2. arise the same time each morn
3. avoid screens one to two hours before bed
4. take a warm bath (with lavender or chamomile) before bed
5. avoid caffeine (especially after 10 am)
6. don't eat after 7 pm
7. get 40 minutes of exercise daily (especially before evening - morning or early afternoon is best)
8. don't take naps
9. drink soothing herbal tea
10. use the bedroom for only sleep
11. make sure the room is dark, or wear an eye mask
12. make sure the room is quiet, or wear ear plugs
13. practice deep breathing to relax your nervous system
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
All useful, practical, relevant advice.
Which occasionally helps.
Not helpful is the 'kind' suggestion to "just concentrate on sleeping". NOPE. uber counter productive.
Sometimes accepting that when I am sleeping then I can sleep until I wake (I need the sleep afterall) wins out over arising at the same time everyday.
With those words, I bid you good night and sweet dreams.
Ask my grad school housemate, as winter set in in Michigan (decidedly short days and long nights) I slept 12 hours many days. As dark fell, off to sleep I went, happily, cozily, restfully.
Now, as Eliza Dolittle might sing, "One am, two am..." finds me longing for sleepiness.
I think my sleep cycle fell to the ravages of prolonged stress, fatigued adrenals, and the resulting circadian disrhythm.
Advice abounds, "practice proper sleep hygiene" (which is a term I abhor - cleanliness? strange application of a concept!) Tips include:
1. go to bed the same time each night
2. arise the same time each morn
3. avoid screens one to two hours before bed
4. take a warm bath (with lavender or chamomile) before bed
5. avoid caffeine (especially after 10 am)
6. don't eat after 7 pm
7. get 40 minutes of exercise daily (especially before evening - morning or early afternoon is best)
8. don't take naps
9. drink soothing herbal tea
10. use the bedroom for only sleep
11. make sure the room is dark, or wear an eye mask
12. make sure the room is quiet, or wear ear plugs
13. practice deep breathing to relax your nervous system
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
All useful, practical, relevant advice.
Which occasionally helps.
Not helpful is the 'kind' suggestion to "just concentrate on sleeping". NOPE. uber counter productive.
Sometimes accepting that when I am sleeping then I can sleep until I wake (I need the sleep afterall) wins out over arising at the same time everyday.
With those words, I bid you good night and sweet dreams.
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