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Post by larataylor on Sept 29, 2014 7:15:41 GMT -5
I couldn't fall asleep last night until very late. But I stayed in bed with my flashlight and a new book. Did not get on the computer or turn on lights. I like that I can just click off flashlight and leave both right on my bed if I feel drowsy. No getting up and putting away.
I woke up to the 6:00 alarm, hit snooze a couple times, but now I'm up. Got DH to take DD to school. But I'm fairly happy if I'm just sitting up and drinking coffee by 7:00. Sets the stage for success tonight. And a whole week of school nights ahead of me.
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Post by larataylor on Sept 30, 2014 7:48:01 GMT -5
I had a good night last night, pretty much on schedule. That was after a night of deprivation. But it seems easier to wake up at 6:00 or 7:00 now, even without enough sleep.
I think spending some time outside, even just 30 minutes, helps a lot. I even took a nap yesterday, and still got to sleep at 11:00 or 12:00 I guess. I just read with my flashlight with all the lights off and no computer until I got drowsy. I'm not sure what time it was, but I went right to sleep.
I think this is an important piece. When the drowsiness hits, I can just click off the flashlight and go to sleep. Much better than feeling drowsy and still having six or seven things to do before bed. By the time I do that stuff, the feeling is gone.
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Post by lostchild on Sept 30, 2014 10:30:30 GMT -5
I think you might want a chore curfew. If you haven't finished you may not do such and such after 9:30 otherwise you won't shut down for day!!
I have to stop at 10 otherwise I'll keep working then be too energized to sleep and then because I am energized I figure what's one more thing then I keep going till I can't get up in a.m.
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Post by cricket on Sept 30, 2014 10:40:55 GMT -5
I was sticking to my schedule and sleeping so well it didn't seem like a challenge anymore, but yesterday was a bust.
It started with delaying my jog until noon. I was incredibly fatigued after that for the rest of the day, just couldn't recover or catch my second wind. I usually exercise first thing on the days I do it, and all I can think is that the timing made a big difference. The rest of the day was torture and by bedtime at 10pm I expected to just drop unconscious in my tracks, but instead I couldn't sleep and was up until midnight. Then I woke at 4am, finally gave up and started my day at 4:30.
Surprisingly, I feel okay today, a little tired, but not bad. And some muscles aches from my exercise, but that's to be expected. I have a feeling I'll sleep tonight, hope I'm not jinxing myself predicting it.
Larataylor, good insight about the flashlight and being ready for drowsiness to hit. I should have tried that last night, maybe gotten to sleep earlier, but now I know for next time.
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Post by larataylor on Sept 30, 2014 14:27:45 GMT -5
cricket - I've OFTEN had that experience of feeling ready to drop in my tracks, and then getting over it and staying up too late. You're so right about the chore curfew. One thing leads to another. I have a chair next to my bed because my bed is so high! I have to reach over that to turn off my light. Just doing that is enough to rouse me a little. I'll have to make sure I have batteries for the flashlight because that works really well. We also have some LED lanterns that could work, but they need batteries. I think if you get used to getting up at the same time, and energizing yourself then, that pattern can stick even when you stay up too late. I'm hoping eventually that will work for me on weekends and when I have things to do in the evening.
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Post by larataylor on Oct 1, 2014 8:34:31 GMT -5
Yay! I went to bed a little late. Stopped the chores, put away the computer (away from power source, without which it doesn't work), turned off all the lights, and went to bed with book and flashlight. As soon as I felt drowsy, I went to sleep immediately.
At 6:00, my phone alarm went off, and I got right out of bed and stayed out. Amazing! Made coffee, took computer to living room where power is, and started checking online stuff.
Felt like it would be nice to go back to bed, but no overpowering need. Awesome.
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Post by ohblondie on Oct 1, 2014 10:42:03 GMT -5
I think we need to be tuned into our body clues. Our body tells us when it is tired - and it sounds like you guys are tuning into that "drowsy feeling" and going to bed.
I try to repect my need to sleep and try to stop at 9pm and start relaxing for bed. Some days are easier than others as there are some days when there are extra chores that need to be done. Esp when I have to stay awake for that last load of laundry.
Ridle me this - whe is is easy to work through that drowsy feeling and not be able to sleep and be awake at night and the SO HARD to work through that drowsy feeling in the morning and drag butt out of bed and stay awake in the morning?
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Post by larataylor on Oct 1, 2014 10:56:38 GMT -5
ohblondie - Good question! Why is my mattress so uncomfortable when I go to bed, and so unspeakably perfect in the morning? I'm thinking that we need to be fully prepared to ACT on those feelings of drowsiness and wakefulness when they happen. For some of us, they can be quite fleeting, so we need to jump on the opportunity.
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Post by ohblondie on Oct 1, 2014 10:59:38 GMT -5
lollarataylor - Great question!!!
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Post by lostchild on Oct 1, 2014 12:17:41 GMT -5
Went to bed late due to finishing homework. Bed at 11 and settled to sleep at 12:45. Epic fail. Wanted to sleep earlier but took medication late. Still slept okay...daughter up at 5 for breakfast.
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Post by larataylor on Oct 2, 2014 9:36:07 GMT -5
Last night was pretty good. Though my family was not particularly helpful. I still have to bug them about keeping lights off and locking up the house. DH went out to get a food item, and took ages to come back. DD was listening to French songs in the next room, which was probably homework, so I didn't complain. She could use headphones, though. She did mention that I've "stepped up your Mom game" lately, and she really likes that. So I need to keep stressing that getting me to sleep is an important part of that. So I missed one bout of drowsiness, but just kept on reading in bed until another one hit. I woke up before my alarm went off, and buzzed around doing chores. It's *definitely* better for me to just leave things till morning and get into bed. I had most of my list done in about half an hour before DD even left for school. Laundry takes longer, of course. And I had to come on here to look at my list and see whose bed sheets to do on Thursday. And of course got wrapped up in the Language thread immediately and for a long time.
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Post by ohblondie on Oct 2, 2014 11:24:34 GMT -5
lara - sounds like you are on track!! woohoo!!!!
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Post by larataylor on Oct 2, 2014 11:55:33 GMT -5
lara - sounds like you are on track!! woohoo!!!! Yes! I'm very pleased. It's been three? nights in a row now that were successful. The dreaded weekend is just ahead!
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Post by lostchild on Oct 2, 2014 12:06:02 GMT -5
Went to bed at 10:00 but not sleep till 11:45-12:15 or thereabout.
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Post by larataylor on Oct 2, 2014 12:39:31 GMT -5
Went to bed late due to finishing homework. Bed at 11 and settled to sleep at 12:45. Epic fail. Wanted to sleep earlier but took medication late. Still slept okay...daughter up at 5 for breakfast. Did you stay up after DD's breakfast or go back to bed? I'm finding that half an hour of yard work while the sun is up makes a difference in my ability to sleep. And also I start planning for bedtime right after dinner. Actually I guess I need to plan all day, starting with getting up early, getting some sun and exercise, no caffeine after 3:00 pm, chore curfew, computer curfew, lights off, etc. I need to get the whole lifestyle down. Hopefully with time and habit, I'll be able to do it without so much thought and planning, and it will still work even when I don't do *everything* right. Is that a sleep med or a med for something else that makes you wakeful?
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