I should have added this to my sleep poll…
Basically I really value getting enough sleep. I love going to bed and listening to the radio as I fall asleep. I have this new plan to go to the gym in the morning and work my ass off before heading into the office. This requires getting up at 6:30am, so I am going to push my bedtime back to 10:30pm. Going to bed before 11pm seems to fly in the face of American normalcy, however. I think it is seen as being an “old person” thing to do (even though the elderly actually require less sleep than middle-aged and younger people).
I am from a family that watched tv a lot at night. Stayed up to watch the news and then Carson. Sleep deprived, probably. But sleep is so terribly important to brain function, a healthy body, healthy digestion, and healing of my back. And since I am a light sleeper and it always takes me a half hour to fall asleep (Brian is asleep in like 5 minutes, no joke), I will have to try to be under the covers by 10pm, reading a book. Which to me, actually sounds lovely. And I also figure I should get it now while I can, since after we have a kid, I hear I won’t get more than 4 or 5 hours of sleep a night, hahaha.
unless i am going out (which is rare these days) i am asleep in bed or on the couch by 10. before the dogs, i loved getting up early in the morning and going to the gym. now that we walk the dogs twice a day, i’d rather be spending quality family time then running off to work out in the wee hours of the a.m.
i told sam it is imperative that we go to the gym today. both of our boobs are getting bigger…
best ways for sleep
1. Start the cycle by getting up early, therefore making you tired earlier.
2. Have something NICE waiting for you when you get out of bed: coffee already made, warm clothes under the sheets or on a radiator.
3. Tell yourself how much FUN it will be to get up early. Its always easy to get up early when you WANT to get up, if something is going on that day. Just trick yourself a bit into thinking, “have to get up now, I am going to have so much fun!” (does that sound lame, believe me, it works) Think about how beautiful the city is early in the morning.
4. Relaxation- Something I learned in Yoga. When going to sleep at night, concentrate on your breath. Take relaxed breaths but try to take as long as possible everytime you exhale, like a slow leak in a tire. When you exhale your heart rate slows down. So the longer the exhale, the more it will slow. Do this for a while and you won’t remember when stopped focusing on your breath and actually fell asleep.
sleep
Unfortunately, lark or owl, may be determined by age. I used to be a night-owl, but then due to job circumstances I had to get up at 5:30am (yea, I know that hour does exist beyond catching a plane!) Now I wake up at 5:30 even on Saturday and Sunday (eeck!)Of course, I don’t need as much sleep now (only 7 hours) So I still can be at bed by 10:30 and not feel sleep deprived, however I have found it safer to tape the 10:00 TV program (which often is the only one worth watching)because I fall asleep before the end. Maybe by the time I’m 70 I can watch Letterman again (actually I’d watch NightLine). Mom
Re: best ways for sleep
When you start preparing for childbirth 🙂 It’s all about breathing and focus, except its about with a focal point eyes wide open, however, It’s amazing, close your eyes and you can be asleep in 1 minute. whether for a 15 minute cat nap or instant sleep.
I like the idea of warm clothes, oneof the reasons I have a clock thermostat on my furnace, is to have the furnace come on 45 minutes before the alarm is to warm the house before I get up (also the sound is an auditory cue. I also have the radio come on 15 minutes before the alarm to further stir me from dreamland. If you are tempted to use the “snooze” put the alarm on the other side of the room. Having your feet hit the floor does wonders for the biorhythms. Happy sleeping. Love, Mom