Night owls?

I was awake at 4am because I'm a terrible insomniac, but I wasn't reading GN/MN.
IF, and that's a big if, I get any sleep at all, it's usually about 2hrs from around 10am, but today, it was a little later, I thought it was going to be another sleepless day but I think I must have nodded off around 11, and I woke just after 1pm.
It's annoying, but after almost 3 decades of sleep problems, I think I should be used to it by now

I awaken every morning between 5 and 6 am. Never asleep before 12,30 am.
I so desperately want to go back to sleep and toss and turn, but no. It’s impossible.
If I wake up at 5am, I know the day will be sh.t for me.
I will be so tired that I usually have to cancel any arrangements to meet up with friends etc.
If I wake at 6am, I’m not too bad. I can usually cope ok with a nap in the afternoon.
This desperation for more sleep is making me feel depressed.
If I don’t sleep well, then I don’t have enough energy and life becomes dull and grey.

I am often wake intermittently through the night.
A few weeks ago I was awake and reading at 4.30am. I thought I heard someone knocking at the door but I decided to ignore it. (There are better ways for friends to get my attention) If they were burglars they were obviously seeing if anyone was in. My husband said he was woken up by someone talking loudly outside, so he knocked on the window and they disappeared. He was too dopey to set off the alarm There is unfortunately a public footpath across our property so we could not prevent them walking but I maintain that human right legislation says I am entitled to the peaceful occupation of my property, which doesn't include being woken in the middle of the night.
This event disrupted my sleep for several weeks as I was listening for sounds in case they came back. We also upgraded our alarm system for a bit more peace of mind.
I am still waking up every couple of hours, but have plenty of good books

I’m unfortunate enough to be in hospital due to a foul cough (5 weeks and counting). Last night was so bad, not one wink of sleep was had. The nurses moved three patients in the middle of the night with all the bother that caused. Took a lady with a broken hip to theatre at 2am to give her a nerve block. Chatted, stomped around and disturbed us all constantly and to cap it all woke up the sleeping ladies at 5.30 to do blood pressures. Most of the others are very old and poorly. It’s been awful. Got to stay in tonight too (argh no) and dreading it. The lady who snored like a hog has been moved. She also had an unfortunate bottom habit. I long for the quiet of 3am, a cuppa and an audio story at home.

I’m sorry about your hospital admission, Nanatoone and hope you managed to have some rest.
I’m awake again, been so for about an hour. My mind is in turmoil. You see, I’m moving out of my house in less than 3 weeks, but my own vendors haven’t given me a moving I date yet. I shall be homeless…. On top of that, I was widowed last July and my husband dealt with all the faff of buying/selling the house.
Today, I have an assessment for a cataract operation, probably tomorrow, so shall, of necessity, be out of action for over a week…. Grr..😡
I’ll have a nap this afternoon before going to the eye hospital.
I hope all you night owls are asleep. X.

So sorry Ginster….I too have a sinus problems at night….thank goodness for ‘Sinex’….I’m always up and down at night as I’ve only ‘cat-napped’ for 20 years! 2 hours sleep …one hour awake… one hour sleep 2 hours awake….every night !! I have now come to terms with it…and don’t fight for sleep anymore! On the other note …my little granddaughter ( 10) you couldn’t wake with a mallet!!!

There are swathes of us awake at 3am. It’s a good time to playWords with Friends.

Try 478
Breathe in to count of 4
Hold breath for count of 7
Breathe out to count of 8
After a couple of rounds you will be yawning
Then 💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤
Works every time for me

I think I don’t sleep and wake frequently. However I have a Fitbit which tracks how I sleep and it is never less than 7 hours!

Don't remember the last time I slept through. Probably decades ago, as I'm now pushing 80. Audiobooks help. Ideally autobiographies/non-fiction, which you can dip in and out of. Daren't drink anything after about 8 p.m., otherwise I'd be on regular loo patrol all night long, which is bad enough as it is. Usually awake permanently at around 5 a.m., but try to stay in bed until 6'ish, which seems slightly more civilised. Inevitably, a Nana nap is required during the afternoon, which can last up to an hour. No complaints though, as at least I do get some sleep at night, occasionally as much as 6 hours, although not continuously. Goes with the territory, I guess.

Been awake since just after 2.00 and have completed Wordle, spelling bee and had breakfast. I was relived to waken up and find that the bug that's upset my system for a few days has finally gone and I feel more myself this morning.

I'm not a foodie, but am now enjoying a series on Netflix called The-Cook- A-Long. Gentle humour with two young men, one a DJ and the other a musician in South Africa, exploring where the food they eat comes from and then cooking a dish. I have learned a lot this morning already.

My nights are similar, NanaDana. I’ve stopped napping through the night, which is good, but still doin the day.

Been awake since 3. The change of clocks always affects me. I’m also a bit anxious re. a a cataract operation early this afternoon. Not the operation itself, but the “not bending over” and not lifting heavy weights stuff.

Wishing you well for the operation this afternoon grandeMattie. You will be so pleased you've had it. I found the drops a little fiddly, but it's so worth it.

Thank you.
I also found out that my other eye lens needs replacement. I had no idea as it had never been mentioned.

I'm wondering whether one of my permanent lenses may need changing. It's becoming quite 'misted'. I need to be disciplined and make an appointment. Hope all goes well.

Ginny it may need what my consultant called a polish they explained to me that occasionally this is needed it’s apparently a very simple 5 minute laser ‘polish’
So don’t worry

The secret of good nights is not to worry not to think about it and not to try to go back to sleep accept it older people are not made to sleep through the night and it’s normal to have at least two breaks in the night

Hope all went well with your cataract op, grandMattie. When my late Mum had it done she couldn't believe the immediate difference it made, in particular with how much more vivid colours were.

Good luck for this afternoon GMattie. Do you have someone to accompany you?

I wake frequently in the night but have given up listening to The World Service as it stops me relaxing back into sleep. My two remedies are 1. Reciting the names of US states in alphabetical order, 2. The occasional tablet of Phenergan, a remedy for allergies available without prescription which I take when I am desperate which always sends me to sleep.

Tamayra, I don’t believe it! 478 worked like a dream. Thank you.

Jaxie
I too recite the US states in alphabetical order! I’ve tried it with English counties too. Worked sometimes. But now I have the Calm app on my phone and listen to stories by different readers. I have never heard the end of most of them! And some of them are really interesting. At first I preferred male voices but now mostly listen to female ones.

Been awake for an hour. I’ve put in my first antibiotic drops for the day after removing their shield.
My op was very successful: I see clearly, without struggling to focus. I now resales how bad it was. No wonder I had permanent headaches!
BTW I’ve tried 478 and end up totally breathless. My go-to is counting backwards from 1,000 subtracting 7 each time. Get thoroughly muddled and usually fall asleep. Otherwise it’s the alphabet backwards.

I am usually very happy if I manage 6-7 hours sleep. I have had a week of doing so but last night no. I wonder why it seems to go in cycles.?
Anyway wide awake now so will read in a while , on my kindle so as not to disturb DH.

Have a gentle day ladies

Good morning Ken and all early risers / late sleepers

Glad to hear that your op was successful Mattie

Nanatoone so sorry to hear that you’re in hospital, and having such a rough time.
I hope that you are home soon.

Wishing everyone a nice day x

Another who just sleeps for a couple of hours at a time. Not a good sleeper at the best of times, but I wake for the loo at least twice through the night - usually 2.30 and 4.30. It’s not a habit, I really need to go. Often I get up after the last visit, as I don’t seem to need much sleep. Only very, very rarely do I fall asleep during the day, so I don’t dwell on it. I’ve always believed that people don’t need as much sleep as they age.