How much sleep do you get?

I used to sleep as long as possible when i was younger, 9-10 hours. Then the menopause hit and since then, major problems sleeping. I get very warm in bed, cant sleep with a window open but have a fan on all night, get up for the loo 3/4 times a night (only have one kidney), so very disturbed sleep. Don’t take painkillers on the weekend as I enjoy a little tipple so it is nothing for me to be staring at the clock until 3am+ whilst my husband is snoring. I also have sleep apnoea but do not sleep during the day - no treatment required at this time but I get very disturbed sleep. I am used to it, so the only time I really get tired is on the weekends and take it easy on those days.

merlotgran

May I politely ask what those of you early risers actually do when you are awake at 4am? Doesn’t it make the day really long in winter?

I often peek at the Good Morning thread and the early birds post about what they will be doing from about 9am onwards but what about the four or five hours before that?

It’s the middle of the night for me. 😂

Hi. If I’m awake very early I usually read or watch something I’ve recorded on tv. I took Phenergan last night. I was awake between. 1 and 3 am and then slept until 7.30. Feel much better for it.

Took a sleeping pill last night, hoping for a decent nights sleep. 😴
Woke at 4 am this morning, didn’t get back to sleep so as usual listened to world service.

I had 7 hours last night, only managed one page of my book in bed. I spent the day indoors because of the heat but make sure to spend an early 15 minutes outside in the early sun yesterday, that sets the circadian rhythm

Well, I’m far from alone! Maybe it’s just the new normal for me and I actually sleep better than I used to. I gave up drinking a year ago (recovering alcoholic) and now I don’t struggle to fall asleep, wake in the night feeling anxious or consumed with regret on waking.
When I wake at 5.30ish, I meditate with an app, make myself a cup of tea and go online/read for a couple of hours.
Then some exercises, a potter in the garden and out with the dog.
So could be worse I suppose. Just wish my bladder wasn’t ageing like the rest of me because that’s what wakes me in the night!

Marydoll

I had about two hours sleep last night.
I rarely get a full night's sleep, due to chronic pain.

I would add, and admit I have not read the full thread, that it is quality every bit as much as quantity
I wake up most nights at one or two hour intervals because of shoulder pain, presumably rolling over in my sleep.
There’s no pressure for me to be up early so I can make up the hours but not the quality of a decent period of uninterrupted sleep.
As for waking up refreshed ? - no me neither!

Merlotgran I often read when I wake very early, I have a Tassimo coffee machine in the bedroom so I enjoy a coffee too.
The dog and I often get out before 7, I love early morning walks when it’s peaceful and no one around.
Then it’s the usual household chores, gardening, baking or whatever. Generally by midday I’m ready to get lunch then I can always find something to do in the afternoon, crochet, knitting, reading, needlework etc.
I have a very quiet life, I don’t go out much but am quite happy 😊

Yes Merlot as I said upthread the long, dark Winter hours really do take their toll. In addition, since I’ve experienced my 20 hour days, since 1992, I’ve piled on the pounds as I often have another ‘meal’ before bed!
I tend to go out by 9.30 most mornings, but there’s plenty of time for a shower and hair wash/blow dry. Full makeup (always) then dressed and I’ll make the bed. When DD2’s Little Dog stays (a couple of nights every 2 weeks, plus all their holidays and more) I’ll take him to a nearby area for an early walk, before the hordes of professional dog walkers arrive.
I’ll check emails, send a couple, check my bank etc and pay any bills due. I might wander around the garden, deadheading at this time of year and have my first cup of tea outside. Tubs, baskets watered before the sun gets to them. Any laundry (I do DD2’s) washed overnight is to hang out. Sometimes I’ll put the TV news on, or read a couple of chapters in whatever book I’m reading.

Written down, it looks as if I’m looking for work, which is partly true, but staying in bed once I’m awake isn’t an option.
There’s no pressure to get things done, so jobs aren’t done at breakneck speed.
Most weekends see me at DD1’s on a Sunday and DD2’s on Saturdays by 9am, so I’m up and out by 8am then.
Fortunately, when I am asleep it’s a deep sleep, but I’ve learned not to go to bed until I’m actually tired, then I drop off within minutes.

I usually get about 7 hours, but not always.As a shift worker often working nights at times, my sleep patterns are all over the place.I drop off pretty instantly which is good.I need a cool room to sleep well.

My DH is a terrible potterer. We usu start going to bed at about 9.30 but it’s often nearly 11 before he’s ready to turn the light out. I tend to have difficulty getting to sleep and my trick is to mentally relate the plot of a Jane Austen novel. Once asleep I usually sleep well until about 6.30 but sometimes fitfully. Rarely need to get up in the night. Get tetchy if I don’t sleep well.

Sleep well now but didn't always. Now going up to bed just before midnight and getting 6-7 hours. When I was sharing a bed, I would get woken because my OH would stay up watching TV then come to bed around 2am. He would then get up around 6am, which would wake me again. I decided not to put up with 'his hours' affecting my sleep and he's now in another bedroom. Suits me much more as my sleep is more important than him.

I find that strong painkillers keep me awake if I have up to 3 in the day . I can toss and turn until 2am when this happens. I am always up at least twice to the toilet . What makes my nights more bearable are talking books . I listen for 40 minutes before trying to sleep listen again in the night if I just cannot get back to sleep and enjoy an hour of thr book from 7 to 8 am . I set sleep timers and use my Alexa device so no need to put on the light or fiddle with buttons. It must be years and years since I had a full night's sleep anf envy friends who can actually have a sleep in .

May I politely ask what those of you early risers actually do when you are awake at 4am? Doesn’t it make the day really long in winter?

I often peek at the Good Morning thread and the early birds post about what they will be doing from about 9am onwards but what about the four or five hours before that?

It’s the middle of the night for me. 😂

In bed by 8.30, read for an hour or so. Sleep 9 hours if I’m lucky but more usually I am awake at 4am. I never sleep during the day unless I am really unwell.

At least 10 hours every night. I go to the loo at least once but it’s likesleepwalking. Straight back to sleep.

I have variable sleep . I often find it difficult to get to sleep until about 2-3am maybe sometimes I can’t get comfortable other times no reason why just lie there. Often I get pain in my hip or shoulder. I'm happy with one pillow sleeping on my right side but my hiatus hernia is not ! So it’s trying different ways to see what works for that night, I often get up and have a small bowl of cereal with milk which sometimes helps. But once asleep I’m OK , no more loo breaks and sleep often until my alarm goes at 7.30 . I always set an alarm and try not to nap in the afternoon. Then the next night I sleep well from about 11pm
I don’t worry too much about the lack of sleep, I can manage on about 5 hours a night, never take any tablets (maybe paracetamol ) as I know it will be OK the next night usually. My father always had sleepless nights which got worse as he got older. His friend was the World Service..

I aim to be in bed by 11, but sometimes fail. Then read or play games on phone or sometimes GN. Try to put lights out by 12 but sometimes it's 12.30.
Sleep well due to Amitriptyline. Alarm wakes me at 7.45.

I try to go to bed early but 10:30 is usually the earliest. I read, say my prayers and fall asleep. Most nights. Occasionally I get up to the loo in the early hours and can wake anytime between 6 and 7, sometimes as late as 8. I think I'm a good sleeper, but reading some of these posts has made me wonder...!

Pantglas2

I’m with you on the afternoon nap Merlotgran, especially in Spain!

And I know my system only works for me because I need 7 uninterrupted hours to be as healthy as I am, whereas lots of friends and DH seem to survive on 5/6 hours - I’d be on my knees with so little!

Each to their own eh?

Absolutely!

I have a 25 yr old granddaughter who is usually in bed by 9.30pm and will often make her excuses and sneak off if we’re having a late night bash.

Her younger sister, however can party all night!

I’m with you on the afternoon nap Merlotgran, especially in Spain!

And I know my system only works for me because I need 7 uninterrupted hours to be as healthy as I am, whereas lots of friends and DH seem to survive on 5/6 hours - I’d be on my knees with so little!

Each to their own eh?

P.S.
I'm 71.
PPS I also occasionally nap from 5-6 in the evenings.
Sorry , difficult sleepers, you probably feel like putting a pillow over my head during one of my naps 😒😒😒.
The OH might get there first 🤣🤣🤣

Bed at midnight then usually 8 hours sleep with one break for the loo then I get straight back to sleep.Must have a dark bedroom. Not disturbed by noise(we often go to sleep listening to Radio 4) but terribly disturbed by light. Cool bedroom required. Like everyone I get a couple of bad nights a month then I just get up and watch telly. Like everyone else if I'm seriously worried by something I sleep badly.
Bad nights are compounded by OH who is a very light sleeper(curse him) so if I am disturbed ...... so is he.
I'm very lucky having no pain or chronic pain that disturbs but if I do get a bad night I take Melatonin which I find excellent and sends me off to sleep and no groggy after effects such as you would get from pharmaceutical sleeping tablets. You need a prescription now in the UK. Here in France you can buy Melatonin without prescription at the chemists.
I again am lucky and am fit enough to take excercise and find I sleep better after exercise.

I am usually asleep by 10. However I very often wake in the night, usually for the bathroom , and then fail to go back to sleep. I then have about 2 hours reading and might go to sleep again. Awake always at six. So probably about six hours a night.

Pantglas2

I’m obsessed with sleeping well and I do so most nights. I try to practice good sleep hygiene as the late Michael Mosley once described it!

No liquids after 7pm
no gadgets after 10pm
bed by 10.30
read for 20 minutes
radiator off in winter by 9pm
one pillow
blackout curtains
open window

If I follow the above I can almost guarantee sleeping straight through until 6am, no loo breaks. However if a snifter is partaken of all bets are off…🍷

Oh dear. With respect to the late Michael Mosley this sounds a bit draconian to me.

I rarely have a glass of wine until after 7pm.
Most nights I watch telly or check my phone
after 10pm.
I’m rarely in bed before 11pm
I read as long as I want to. Very often the telly is on at the same time.
I’ll agree with him about the radiator.
Two pillows
No blackout blind necessary but I do like thick curtains.
Closed windows now I live in a town.

I average 7hrs a night with one loo visit and I often have a short chair nap after lunch.

My sleep pattern changed nearly 20 years ago when I went through the menopause, I went from sleeping really well to disturbed nights, night sweats, palpitations, anxiety, and bouts of insomnia.
Sadly my sleep pattern never recovered. And now I can add restless legs to the list.
I generally fall asleep then wake up in the early hours and from then on is a real struggle.
I tend to get up and go downstairs then potter about a bit - this helps with restless legs. I then read a bit or do online scrabble. If am lucky will return to bed and sleep a bit more but must often I just go back to bed and lie down trying to think relaxing thoughts.