23 September 2008

help!!! any & all advice needed...

I need your advice, methods, creative juices, prayers, habits, counting techniques, thoughts, recommendations...all of the above on...s.l.e.e.p.

A little background...since we have moved my sleep schedule is off...way off! Since July I have only had one week that I was able to get on a schedule and get to bed before 11:30pm/12:00am. {do you know how many months that is!!!} That nice little week was accompanied by the Olympics the following week and my schedule went south! I haven't been able to get back on one since! {although I don't know if one week even counts at this point} I can't seem to stop working and get to bed. {make note...I am have become a horrible night-driving boss!} Now...I do still get my hours in of 8.5-9 hours of sleep...but they aren't the hours I want!!! I would ideally like to be in bed by 10pm and up at 7am. I tried fighting my body last week into getting up early hoping that it would force me to bed on time that night...didn't work...I fought a migraine all day! I don't really want to go the tylen*l pm route because messing with meds also messes with my headaches. I just don't understand why my body seems to demand late nights! I just can't seem to quit working and get downstairs to bed...

Here are the facts...
...yes I have one cup of coffee {most mornings}
...no I don't have more than one cup
...no I don't have any coffee after 11:30am
...I have tried washing the sheets more often
...I have tried adding more pillows
...I have tried sleeping with pillow in different positions {hubby gets a kick out of this theory!}
...stanley begins crying for bed around 11pm or so and I distract him for 45min or so to get a bit more work in
...yes I have tea in the afternoons
...no I don't have it past 5pm
...we do not eat a late dinner {usually}
...I do "get up" early to see hubby off {depending on the day}
...I fall back asleep with no problem
...I have counted sheep
...I can hear the silence if I listen hard enough
...we use a ceiling fan on high
...I pray, but it turns to rambling thoughts {although I don't think God cares if its fragmented}
...I toss
...I turn

I am at a loss...do I just give in to my body and become "ok" with being a night owl? If this is what it means for a baby to have its days and nights mixed up I am going to be a pro at that hurdle!

{ image borrowed from superstock.com }

8 comments:

rosemarie said...

Exercise missy! Take the dogs for an hour long walk, try running, get a bike or join a gym. Really try and exhaust yourself by other ways than just working. Try a yoga dvd for relaxation. You are working hard, but work tends to cause stress, even if it is good stress!

Clarke said...

took the words right out of my mouth. expend more physical energy! you should be too pooped to pop when you try to go to bed :)

Nicole Marie said...

ditto ! walking my dog everyday for at least 30 minutes-1 hour has made me sleep so much better lately. Actually yesterday I didnt even have 15 min to take him outside and I tossed and turned until 1am before I could finally fall asleep and i blame it soley on not walking.

Its hard for me to get my butt out the door so i try to walk to a reward...like walking to starbucks or ice cream!

ps. DON'T walk at least 2 hours before you want to go to bed. Your body will become wide awake. and try to stop working and read a book or watch tv 30 minutes before you want to go to sleep.

(wow longest comment ever! sorry!)

Lisa said...

yikes - I have no words of advise, I am in bed by 10pm everynight and up by 7am! sleep has always come easy to me, but gosh that must be awful!!!

wishing you early sweet dreams....

Sarah said...

try taking a bath, it always helps relax me and I sleep so much better!

paisley peacock said...

come visit ohio. soon.

Connie Mac said...

Good News! Bad News! Your Dad is a total night owl and your Mom is NOT! Get on a routine and STAY! Turn OFF the computer and GO to Bed--- in about 10 days you will establish a routine, you were a trip as a baby and routine was not your love language----the choice is yours make it and get happy with it:)

Anonymous said...

I just stumbled across your blog and I had to leave a comment about sleep. I've suffered for so long and thanks to a suggestion from my accupunture doctor I am cured!! It's called the Alpha Stim. I wouldn't say it should be your first choice but, for chronic sleep porblems this is one amazing thing. It works by calming your central nervous system and it's all natural.
Good luck and remember not to workout close to bedtime...
Sweet Dreams to you!

Stacey~