10pm Bedtime Club

[WuWei]

Ok, I know, I need more SLEEP!

Do you? Join me, I'm going to commit to getting myself in bed by 10pm at least 4 nights a week. (shooting for 7, but I'm a realist. )

If you are tired, and sick of feeling tired, consider reading this comprehensive article about Adrenal Fatigue. It'll convince you, YOU NEED SLEEP!
http://www.drlam.com/articles/adrenal_fatigue.asp

(and I most probably need more exercise--- that is next week's or next month's goal)

I'll post my actual bedtime each morning to monitor my progress. Bonus points if I eat protein for breakfast by 10am.



Pat

[Storm Bride]

I've known I needed sleep for years. Unfortunately, I'm also prone to insomnia. I've honestly always had a hard time with articles about getting more sleep, because...I don't...

[WuWei]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

I've known I needed sleep for years. Unfortunately, I'm also prone to insomnia. I've honestly always had a hard time with articles about getting more sleep, because...I don't...

The article has suggestions for that! (middle of page 3)


Pat

[Storm Bride]

I may try melatonin...haven't done that yet. I've tried everything else I've ever read (and that's been a lot). Unfortunately, I think the key for me is putting away my stressors, and I've never mastered that...

[k9sarchik]

I consider it a luxury now if I get to stay up If I stay up late it means its the weekend and I don't have to listen to an alarm clock!

But you are correct. 8 hours of sleep every night keeps you healthier.

[MyLittleWonders]

I'm in Pat. Dh and I both need it. The key is getting our boys in bed before 10pm, so we can actually have a few moments together without constant interruption. I like to actually talk with him before starting over again the next day.

[Slingin'Momto4]

I most definently need more sleep! I am IN

[tanyalynn]

I'm in. I've recently re-committed to getting to bed earlier so that I don't keep hitting that second wind and then staying up WAY too late. I need to rest so my adrenals heal. It's that simple, I don't want to feel like cr@p forever. Simple, yes? No, so I'm in!

Good idea. I tried a while back, failed, but this time I will succeed.

eta: Storm Bride, I _love_ my melatonin. Someday I will not need it, but now, yeah, it's good to me (I hear the cringing from the homeopathy crowd, sorry Pat, but I'm okay with this compromise ).

[Lissybug]

I'm in the club! I really need more sleep, sometimes it's so hard to just go to bed once the house is all quiet at night, but I know that I'll enjoy life in general more once I start getting more sleep.

[Metasequoia]

Originally Posted by TanyaLopez

I'm in. I've recently re-committed to getting to bed earlier so that I don't keep hitting that second wind and then staying up WAY too late. I need to rest so my adrenals heal. It's that simple, I don't want to feel like cr@p forever. Simple, yes? No, so I'm in!

Yea to all of that.

[Periwinkle]

I'm in. One of my new year's resolutions was "lights out by 10:30" and I've been pretty good about sticking with it. Kicking the caffeine habit completely was essential though in my being able to feel tired and fall asleep at a normal bedtime. But now that I'm 100% caffeine-free, it's amazing that my body actually starts getting tired around 9:30. Cool!

[vegasgrl]

So I'm all pregnant-sleepy and heart-burny and blah blah blah a million reasons why I can't sleep...

I'm an attorney so I can *sort of* make my own hours. But apparently they've caught on to me rolling it at 9:30 (although I stay until 6:30!!!) so my boss put the kibosh on that starting, er, now.

Basically, I've been thinking about how I need to be asleep at 10 NO MATTER WHAT since these are the last few months I'll ever sleep. It never happens and I hit snooze for 3 hours and then I'm late to work again.

SO THANK YOU FOR THIS IDEA. I'll probably fail just as miserably WITH y'all as I have the last few weeks without y'all, but at least I have some accountability this way.

Count me in.

[WuWei]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

I may try melatonin...haven't done that yet. I've tried everything else I've ever read (and that's been a lot). Unfortunately, I think the key for me is putting away my stressors, and I've never mastered that...

Have you heard of mother's little helper, Rescue Remedy?


Check these Bach Flower remedy finder links to help you select which ones most speak to you.
http://www.ainsworths.com/remedy/default.aspx

http://www.bachcentre.com/centre/remedies.htm

http://www.bachflower.com/38_Essences.htm

I get them from Vitacost.com most inexpensively. Like $9 each, vs. locally $16.



If you can't decide between them, Panserbjørne does Flower Essence consults and she could send a personal FE mixture. She has hundreds of different FEs and is very knowledgeable about the nuances between them. I'm not certain, but the consult is about $50 and the mixture about $15, I believe. It is cheaper than ordering a bunch of them that you'll only use a small amount of each!

Elm for 'temporarily feeling overwhelmed with responsibility'. And White Chestnut for 'when thoughts go round and round in your head'. And Hornbeam for 'when you doubt your ability to face the task ahead'. Those are some of my favorites.


ETA: If you try the melatonin, get the liquid and start with the smallest dose. Like 6 drops, not a whole dropper full. "Less is more" with melatonin, from what I've read. And only use for a week or two to get into a cycle of sleeping earlier. There isn't a lot of research about long-term usage, that I've found.

We've also found the aromatherapy, "Peace & Calming" has a way of making me let go of my thoughts and drift off.

Pat

[FireWithin]

Ok I'm in. I've been ignoring the whole AF thing, but I need to start absorbing that info.

[WuWei]

Originally Posted by TanyaLopez

I'm in. I've recently re-committed to getting to bed earlier so that I don't keep hitting that second wind and then staying up WAY too late. I need to rest so my adrenals heal. It's that simple,

That's why I posted, so that I have witnesses! I keep meaning to get to bed, but you all keep chatting and keep me awake. (I have an ulterior motive to get you all in bed earlier too, lol.)



Yes, that second wind about 11pm is killer.


Pat

[Storm Bride]

Oh - is melatonin okay when you're pregnant?

[WuWei]

Avoiding dairy helps with sleep, I hear. Also magnesium!! We love Natural Calm. Calcium helps some folks, it seems. Getting physical activity in bright sunlight early in the day; and then turning the lights down early in the evening has helped regulate our sleep naturally also, it seems.

Here is an old post of mine about melatonin usage. Some of the links might mention pregnancy usage. I'm not certain.

Melatonin does affect other hormones and biochemical reactions in the brain. Daily use is considered only under medical direction, although it is a "natural product". We have used it a dozen times or so. Mostly to get back to sleep if we have a hugely busy day ahead, and ds awakens at 2am, unable to resettle. Our experience giving it at bedtime was that it helped him *get* to sleep, but not keep him asleep. Apparently, some children diagnosed with ADHD and autism do not produce adequate amounts and need supplementation routinely, generally in much larger doses than over-the-counter recommendations.

Getting physical activity in bright sunlight; and then turning the lights down early in the evening has helped regulate his sleep naturally also, it seems. Eliminating wheat and dairy helped the most. (oh, and the Feingold diet).

Melatonin usage, from Medline:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...melatonin.html

Melatonin usage, from Merck Manual: https://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec02/ch019/ch019o.html

Melatonin usage, from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mel...ient-melatonin

Nutritional Melatonin, from Autism Canada Foundation: http://www.autismcanada.org/melatonin.htm

Melatonin and Children, from Medscape: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/448467

Systematic review of melatonin treatment in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and sleep impairment: http://journals.cambridge.org/downlo...840b894cced959
Results of this systematic review suggest that melatonin may be effective in reducing sleep latency in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. There is also a suggestion that the more severe the sleep disorder the more obvious the improvement. There is no evidence suggesting any benefit in total sleep time or on night-time awakenings. However, caution
is required in interpreting the findings of all three included studies because the total number of participants is very small and consequently they may be underpowered. In addition, the overall quality of evidence from the studies is limited.


Melatonin usage in Children, link with many studies: http://www.worldhealth.net/p/4187,4473.html

(Basically, there may be some benefit, but only very limited research has been done on children, over very short durations.)

Pat

[JaneS]

I so needed to see this message tonight, okay I'm going to bed NOW!

I've been so good for a long time but MDC sucked me back in! I have so much to say right now (esp. on that iodine thread... heh, heh... keeping you busy ).

But thanks to your post I'm turning off the computer, curling up with my trashy book and then it's off to dreamland...

[JaneS]

If you need melatonin, the underlying issue could be B12 deficiency.

[sbgrace]

Originally Posted by TanyaLopez

I'm in. I've recently re-committed to getting to bed earlier so that I don't keep hitting that second wind and then staying up WAY too late. I need to rest so my adrenals heal. It's that simple, I don't want to feel like cr@p forever. Simple, yes? No, so I'm in!

This is so me! I just feel so unproductive and wiped out the rest of the day though. Ok..I think I'll commit to this as well. Maybe I should wait until I get my adrenal test done next week though?

I have to have melatonin here and my b12 level is one of the few things I'm doing well with. I honestly don't know if I'd use it in pregnancy. I'd have to research it more. I do use it with one of my kids though after having it recommended again and again from everyone from neurologists to geneticists.