The sleep culture thread
- Thread starter Milzy
- Start date
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Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Stay off the devices after tea time, dont eat too late, weighted blanket.
Rusty Nails
We remember
- Location
- Living in the slow lane
Ditch the sleep monitor.
Watching with interest as my sleep seems to be perhaps the single-most problematic factor for my wellbeing currently...
I recall I had an uncharacteristically decent patch last summer where I was getting to bed regularly at 11 or before, sleeping through and feeling pretty good when I got up consistently at 7ish. I remember this corresponding with a notable absence of anxiety / generally a much better state of mind.
Now I'm often awake until well past 12, usually get up at least once for a leak and often struggle to get back to sleep afterwards.. while there's also no consistency from one day to the next. I've spent the holiday catching up on sleep; it's still all over the place but I am gradually feeling better for i - serving to illustrate how much running a constant sleep deficit has been hammering my mental health.
I'm aware of the need for better "sleep hygiene" at night, which in itself is a bit frustrating as I really love some mindless time buggering about on the net at the end of the day to decompress. I'm less sure how to combat the early waking - the need for night time leaks is going to become more inevitable with age but allergies also play a part - when I've had particularly bad reactions to food I've been up five or six times in one night..
The waking is only one issue of couse - the other being getting back to sleep afterwards; which I think is torpedoed by anxiety as silly O'clock in the morning seems like a perfect time to ruminate over all the stuff that's currently going wrong.
I recall I had an uncharacteristically decent patch last summer where I was getting to bed regularly at 11 or before, sleeping through and feeling pretty good when I got up consistently at 7ish. I remember this corresponding with a notable absence of anxiety / generally a much better state of mind.
Now I'm often awake until well past 12, usually get up at least once for a leak and often struggle to get back to sleep afterwards.. while there's also no consistency from one day to the next. I've spent the holiday catching up on sleep; it's still all over the place but I am gradually feeling better for i - serving to illustrate how much running a constant sleep deficit has been hammering my mental health.
I'm aware of the need for better "sleep hygiene" at night, which in itself is a bit frustrating as I really love some mindless time buggering about on the net at the end of the day to decompress. I'm less sure how to combat the early waking - the need for night time leaks is going to become more inevitable with age but allergies also play a part - when I've had particularly bad reactions to food I've been up five or six times in one night..
The waking is only one issue of couse - the other being getting back to sleep afterwards; which I think is torpedoed by anxiety as silly O'clock in the morning seems like a perfect time to ruminate over all the stuff that's currently going wrong.
Mo1959
Legendary Member
- Location
- Perthshire,Scotland
Vitamin D with getting more sunlight in the summer?
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
You’re likely staying awake worrying about what your fitness watch says, Ditch the thing.
PaulSB
Squire
- Location
- Chorley, Lancashire
I think this depends on individual need or choice. I bought a new watch in June/July, it's proved to be one that I'm comfortable wearing 24/7. Prior to this I had a Garmin which was uncomfortable to wear at night.
Although I can sleep literally anywhere my night time sleep pattern is poor. One thing I suffer from is thinking I'm awake when I am in fact asleep. Yes, it's bizarre.
A daily report showing how I've slept helps me relax more at night knowing I do sleep more than I believe I do. This may not make sense. I'm quite capable of believing I've been awake for hours when in fact I was asleep.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I think that I am awake when I am asleep, and asleep when I am awake... 
The only time that I am definitely 100% awake is when I am exercising!
It is only mid-afternoon but if I stop typing I will probably doze off despite it being less than 6 hours since I woke up.
I really do have to get to grips with my sleep problems in 2026 because they are scrambling my brain. Buying a better mattress would probably help. I sleep better when on holiday because the guest beds that I sleep on are much more comfortable than mine.
The only time that I am definitely 100% awake is when I am exercising!
It is only mid-afternoon but if I stop typing I will probably doze off despite it being less than 6 hours since I woke up.
I really do have to get to grips with my sleep problems in 2026 because they are scrambling my brain. Buying a better mattress would probably help. I sleep better when on holiday because the guest beds that I sleep on are much more comfortable than mine.
PaulSB
Squire
- Location
- Chorley, Lancashire
This is exactly what I get. You're the first person I've heard say the same thing. It's very, very weird.I think that I am awake when I am asleep, and asleep when I am awake...
The only time that I am definitely 100% awake is when I am exercising!
It is only mid-afternoon but if I stop typing I will probably doze off despite it being less than 6 hours since I woke up.
I really do have to get to grips with my sleep problems in 2026 because they are scrambling my brain. Buying a better mattress would probably help. I sleep better when on holiday because the guest beds that I sleep on are much more comfortable than mine.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
I get that too, I think I've failed to drop off so decide to get up to find that instead of looking at the ceiling/window for half an hour or so in fact over 4 hours have passed.
PaulSB
Squire
- Location
- Chorley, Lancashire
A good ride today. I'm tired tonight. I feel I got my food wrong, something I've done a lot recently. I need to smarten up on this.
Our friends are not coming as one of them is worried he's still infectious with flu. I'm sorry he's poorly but pleased I don't have to socialise as I'm nackered!
Cottage pie instead of curry for tea. That's an added bonus.
Our friends are not coming as one of them is worried he's still infectious with flu. I'm sorry he's poorly but pleased I don't have to socialise as I'm nackered!
Cottage pie instead of curry for tea. That's an added bonus.
OP
OP
Milzy
Guru
Good replies there guys, my Garmin is annoying lately. When I get more time off work I’ll naturally exercise more but my Garmin isn’t used to it so says, “woooahh woooo wooooh you’ll strain your self man!”
I started taking magnesium and for a few months I’m certain it actually helped but now seems to have stopped.
I started taking magnesium and for a few months I’m certain it actually helped but now seems to have stopped.
OP
OP
Milzy
Guru
Living after midnight
Rocking to the dawn
Loving till the morning
Then I'm gone, I'm gone.
Chris S
Legendary Member
- Location
- Birmingham
I'm normally wide awake between 3am and 5am. Apparently split-sleeps were the norm until the Industrial Revolution.
https://www.wealddown.co.uk/museum-news/two-sleeps/
https://www.wealddown.co.uk/museum-news/two-sleeps/
