Also consider caffeine intake and eating too close to bed time. Both can be disruptors. “I can drink caffeine any time if day and it doesn’t mess with my sleep.” I lied to myself too for years while working 2 jobs and horrifically stressed. I get it, we deal with our struggles when they exist. But during 2020 when I wasn’t working I decided to figure out how to sleep. Turns out stopping caffeine around 1-2 pm and not eating within 3hrs of going to bed made CRAZY improvements. If possible, reduce room lighting/no overhead bright lights the hour before bed too.
Life doesn’t always let us make these changes, but if you can it can help.
I mean, there’s other sources of caffeine. Assuming you’re not drinking caffeine, then that’s not disrupting your sleep.
As for food, like I said - our lives aren’t always conducive to healthy habits. Working third shift is bad for our health, but sometimes it has to be done. If possible, a meal with protein and fiber will help keep you satisfied longer. Potatoes are good for that too. If I’m still hungry before bed I try to eat something easy like a protein shake, piece of cheese and a handful of crackers. The idea is really just to not eat heavy too close to going to bed, as it’s disruptive to sleep.
You want to try waking up at a multiple of 90 minutes, or using an alarm that wakes you up in line with your sleep cycles. Eight hours usually wakes you up in the middle of deep sleep
90 minutes is the average sleep cycle, but it varies between people. Some need to find their own cycle time. Phone apps that use the accelerometer to detect tossing and turning can help with that.
I get 8 hours sleep and consistently feel tired and awful every time. 10 hours, 6 hours, far better experiences.
since i quit caffiene i went from 9 hours of sleep and feeling tired all day to 6 and a half hours of sleep and feeling fine
Also consider caffeine intake and eating too close to bed time. Both can be disruptors. “I can drink caffeine any time if day and it doesn’t mess with my sleep.” I lied to myself too for years while working 2 jobs and horrifically stressed. I get it, we deal with our struggles when they exist. But during 2020 when I wasn’t working I decided to figure out how to sleep. Turns out stopping caffeine around 1-2 pm and not eating within 3hrs of going to bed made CRAZY improvements. If possible, reduce room lighting/no overhead bright lights the hour before bed too.
Life doesn’t always let us make these changes, but if you can it can help.
”If possible, reduce room lighting/no overhead bright lights the hour before bed too.”
Laughs in Finnish summer nights.
Another classic also is “make sure your bedroom isn’t heated up” as well as “avoid noise”.
laughs in climate change and apartment building
What if you don’t drink coffee and go hungry if you don’t eat just before bed and can’t fall asleep?
I mean, there’s other sources of caffeine. Assuming you’re not drinking caffeine, then that’s not disrupting your sleep.
As for food, like I said - our lives aren’t always conducive to healthy habits. Working third shift is bad for our health, but sometimes it has to be done. If possible, a meal with protein and fiber will help keep you satisfied longer. Potatoes are good for that too. If I’m still hungry before bed I try to eat something easy like a protein shake, piece of cheese and a handful of crackers. The idea is really just to not eat heavy too close to going to bed, as it’s disruptive to sleep.
You want to try waking up at a multiple of 90 minutes, or using an alarm that wakes you up in line with your sleep cycles. Eight hours usually wakes you up in the middle of deep sleep
90 minutes is the average sleep cycle, but it varies between people. Some need to find their own cycle time. Phone apps that use the accelerometer to detect tossing and turning can help with that.
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E.g. “sleep as android”, best app I ever bought