I am trapped in the body of a theatre kid and have the work schedule of a swim club kid.
Almost 60 years ago, Mom put me in morning kindergarten to try and break me of the habit of sleeping late. Early morning classes and a full career of early morning meetings (plus getting kids ready and out the door to school before my workday started) hasn’t entirely broken my of my night-owl ways.
I am really struggling to get enough sleep, especially with sore muscles, arthritis pains and three cats who demand late night or early morning cuddles. I rarely fall asleep before 11 pm, and sometimes have to be in my lifeguarding chair for 5:30 am swim practices.
When I try to go to bed early, it’s not unusual to wake up 4-5 hours later and be unable to return to sleep.
I know some ways to improve my sleep hygiene: I already broke out the winter duvet so my bed is comfy. I’m reading magazines before sleep instead of looking at my phone, though I do need to move my Duolingo practice to earlier in the day. I am trying to remember to hydrate more throughout the day instead of suddenly feeling the need to drink a litre of water out before bed; that one is very much a work in progress.
What are your best tips to get enough good quality sleep at the times you need it?
Since retiring, so generally having no need to get up at a specific time, I often wake up after 4 or 5 hours of sleep. My best way of getting back to sleep is to read a gentle book I have already read. Think: P.G. Wodehouse. Pleasant enough, but no need to turn the page to find out what happens.
I also try to avoid sleeping extra time in the morning. That’s likely to make the next night a bit trickier.