SLEEP

[Doolhof]

Hi All,

In the past there may have been threads on sleep and how to improve our quality of sleep.

I am starting this thread up and hope to include past thread titles.

For some of us sleep is a real issue, the more we can learn about it the better informed we will be.

Funny stories on weird places you have fallen asleep are welcome as well.

For me, I had just moved house and was very busy getting everything organised. Friends invited me to the drag races. I was so tired and exhausted that I sat down, leant against the fence right near the starting line and fell asleep for most of the evening.

Hope to read some of your stories and tips.

Cheerio for now, from Mrs. Dools

[Doolhof]

Speaking of colds and ill health, that too can greatly affect your sleep.

Do people have remedies or thoughts on how to sleep better when you have colds or are feeling unwell?

As I have this cold, I have a box of tissues next to the bed and a paper bag to chuck the tissues in so I don't need to get up in the night. I can soon resume sleeping without too much interruption.

Sometimes propping up the end of the bed with extra pillows helps as well when you have a cold. You still need to make sure you are comfortable though, especially if you have trouble sleeping on your back in the first place.

My husband had terrible gastric problems. At night it was dreadful for him, so we actually propped up the head end of the bed with blocks of wood. He sleeps with a very flat pillow so extra pillows was not an option for him.

Sometimes we just need to think about what will make sleeping better for us.

Cheers again from Mrs. D

[blondguy]

Hey Petra....yeppers...that was the word 'Courage' and well picked up 🙂 Thankyou xx

Mrs Dools..just a reminder to your 'readers'....having the mobile phone on will only leave us in a state of anticipation, even if it doesnt ring! For a really peaceful sleep...."Turn It Off"

Great thread 🙂

Paulx

[Petra]

Sleep and Pet are not getting along at all of late however Plan B is I rug up on the lounge with a big cushion for my pillow, am closer to the wood heater and listen to the crackle of the fire but more importantly the clock ticking! If I can keep focused on the tic tock I usually fall asleep for at least a couple of hours more. If my thoughts stray I tell myself "stop, listen to the clock."

Mr Woof! I can hear you saying "Pet....put down your phone..." Okay! I don't usually pick up the phone so early (it's 12:46 am). I'm putting it down now ..... tic tock, tic tock, listen to the clock go tic tock...... zzzzzzzzz

[blondguy]

I had a wood heater in a beautiful cottage in 1987 when I was 27. As Marje Simpson would say "Oh my Lord" I really miss that slow combustion wood heater. Hang on...Oh yes...I have a gas wall heater now ....Doh!

[Doolhof]

Mobile phones! Yes, they can certainly be a distraction at the best of times.

As we have very poor coverage in our home, my mobile phone looses charge every night. I put it in a room at the back of the house so I don't hear it beeping when it is flat then charge it up before I go to work.

It is interesting Pet where you mentioned that you fall asleep better if you listen to the ticking of a clock. That sound drives me nuts at night! When I go to my parents, I remove the clock from the kitchen and put it in the laundry as it ticks so loudly it keeps me awake!

At night I like to listen to the sounds outside so have the window open. Only problem is that on a still night I don't get to sleep as well!

Cheers all, from Mrs. Dools

[blondguy]

Hi Mrs Dools, its not just the cell phones and it ringing but the screens now have mega colors and are busy...the same as an ipad or a tablet. Our eyeballs dont need the visual stimulation of a cell phone, tablet or laptop before bed. They only make our mind race...

The anticipation of a incoming call can help destroy a good nights sleep even if no one calls.

Great post Mrs Dools....Paulx

[Petra]

Hi Mrs Dools

I had a tic toc clock growing up but I couldn't hear it from my bedroom. However, my love for the tic toc more so is as a result of my having spent many a sleepover at my friend's house. I liked being at her house for a lot of reasons, the biggest one being I felt safe there. I fell asleep listening to that clock, and I awoke to that clock. My friend's mum was always first up getting the lunches prepared for the day if her husband was going to work, and breakfast for us all. As simple as it was, it was so much different to my unconventional household. She was a fabulous housewife. I'm so happy I had these people in my life growing up. I guess the clock is rhythmic. Calms my breathing, and if my thoughts start to wonder I return to the tic toc, and before I know it, I'm asleep. I can't hear my clock from my bedroom so often when I awake at silly o'clock (borrowed from Paul) I come out to the lounge where I can. I can't have a tic toc clock in the bedroom. I think my husband will react to it in the same manner you do at your parent's.

We don't have a landline. I keep my mobile next to my bed in case the nursing home ring me re MIL. Also, because of the children. My daughter called me at 1 am once because she was overseas and had just survived an attempted mugging in broad daylight! She and friend gave chase! They were unharmed luckily and nothing stolen.

Pet 😊

[Doolhof]

Hi Pet and All,

There certainly are times where mobile phones and phones in general are very important to have near us. I guess the point Paul has been making is that it is okay to have the phone with you, just not to "play" with it into the wee hours of the morning.

Sleep overs can be great. I used to love sleeping over at a friend's home. I was actually allowed to sleep in! At home we had to be up at 6.00 or 6.30 every day as breakfast was at 7.00 a.m. That was weekends as well.

If I think about it, I am sure I slept a lot better at their home and didn't feel as anxious or stressed. It might have helped as well that my girlfriend had an adorable older brother! Ha. Ha.

Occasionally I have days when I am really tired. Recently I went to bed at 8.30 and didn't get up until 8.30 the next morning. I didn't sleep all night, but my body felt like it just needed that time out. I'm not always in tune with what my body needs, it is something I can work on.

I'm hoping for better sleep after a sinus operation I am having on Friday. Hopefully it will be successful and I will be able to breathe properly again. Now all I need to do is sort out my back pain and all my body aches and pains...

Cheers all from Mrs. Dools

[Petra]

Hi Mrs Dools

Yes. Know where our Paul is coming from re the mobile phone. I'm not addicted to mine like some and I don't have apps that ping and pong at all hours of the night! My phone is a practical tool only.

Met up with daughter at a cafe the other day and mid sentence she looks down at her phone and tells me a Pokemon is sitting in the chair and proceeds to take a photo of it! What? Is my daughter seeing things? I'm looking at an empty chair! Then she shows me her phone and begins to educate me about Pokemon Go?! It's the 'bomb'. Everyone's getting in to it! Apparently "mum, you should get in to it too, it's fun." "Yep, no, not going to happen!" What next?

At family dinners we have them (our very adult kids) 'leave their mobiles at the door otherwise we're talking to their hairlines as they're half listening, half answering back to us and each other. Bless 'em!

I truly hope all goes well with your sinus procedure. Lack of sleep is a pain. Looking forward to hearing how you go.

Pet 😊

[Music_Freak]

This week has been rough, sleep wise, thanks to the dreaded anxiety monster. I've been getting on average 3-4 hours sleep a night and waking up around 3-4am...it's not right 😞

I guess I should succumb to taking my sleep meds, but I always think I can fix the pattern myself by adjusting times/my body clock etc. That used to work, but nowadays I normally end up overtired and frustrated or restless because of overdoing the caffeine in an attempt to help me not nap during the day. I can't really win 😞