Sleep, the innocent sleep, sleep that knits up the ravel'd sleeve of care

lf you Google sleep hygiene and follow it until your bad sleep pattern is broken you should get your sleep sorted out. Also plan what you are doing the next day so you have sonething to get up for. e.g a walk, do a puzzle, pay a bill...listen to mudic/relaxation tapes(just examples you'll have your own things you enjoy).

Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could all get the recommended amount of sleep? However, we’re all different - my sleep ‘pattern’ is hit and miss and I count myself lucky if I get 5 hours. What really makes me cross is the ‘experts’ telling us all the illnesses we can get if we don’t sleep well, when we usually have no control over it.

Do you have about 7 hours across the 24? Does it matter if its not at the 'right' time? You're sleeping according to your body clock. It may change as the light increases.

3dognight It sounds as if you would be well suited to work a night shift! Funny you should say that. While I was doing my post grad work, I worked nights stocking shelves in a supermarket. It was RIGHT up my street. I liked the evening work AND I liked the lack of thought needed for it. Just putting things on shelves in nice straight lines.

That is my sleep pattern, always been a night owl. Do not know what you mean by unhealthy.

If you want to change it set the alarm and get up half an hour earlier each day until you reach a time you are happy with, it should make you tired half an hour earlier each night.

You had a 5,000 word essay?

Relax, you’re in student mode, that’s all ?

It sounds as if you would be well suited to work a night shift!

If it were me I would for sure go without sleep to try and get back on track...by this I mean I would just get up after lying in bed all night tossing and turning, miss out on that mornings sleep, try to get some fresh air, don't overdo the caffeine, then go to bed at a more normal bedtime and see what happens!
Or...
If you feel happy to, you could use an alarm clock, to bring your sleep pattern to a night time sleep with day times awake.
Start with it going off at say, 11 am, then 10.30am, the next day and so on. You might find yourself dropping to sleep in the wee hours after midnight instead of 5 or 6 am.
Good luck, and let us know if you succeed !

Esspee

There was a thread “The secret to a good night’s sleep” just a couple of days ago.
No point in rehashing all the advice, just check the previous thread OP.

I'm terribly sorry, I missed that. I was busy struggling with a 5,000 word essay that was way overdue at the time I think.

Hahaha Shrub. You won't sleep tonight if you nap!

I'm sorry GagaJo, I was dozing in the chair at the time, so not sure!

Was it any light Shrub, or did is have to be a daylight lamp?

I have heard taking melatonim (sic?) helps but have never tried it.

On Radio 4 this afternoon in Open Country, there was a guy saying how you can reset your time clock. I think it involved sitting in front of a bright light for a while first thing in the morning. Rather like using a SAD lamp.

There is a lot of information here.https://www.gransnet.com/forums/health/1290407-The-secret-to-a-good-nights-sleep

There was a thread “The secret to a good night’s sleep” just a couple of days ago.
No point in rehashing all the advice, just check the previous thread OP.

This would be near enough my natural sleep pattern if I didn't have the structure of early rising for work.

Ummm, what works for me?

Hot milk - really does help me

Camomille tea

Reading (only helps a little - if it is REAL insomnia, doesn't help`)

Getting up early. I will be tired a bit earlier. But probably still not before 1 or 2am.

I will also occasionally take 1/2 a sleeping pill. I originally got them for flying in an attempt to knock myself out (phobia). If I take it early enough, I won't wake TOO late in the morning.

??