Get more sleep challenge! May 22-June 22

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spdaphne
spdaphne Posts: 262 Member
in Challenges
Hi All,

I read Arianna Huffington's book The Sleep Revolution a couple weeks ago and I was appalled at the impact of our how not getting enough sleep impacts all areas of our life. This goes hand in hand with eating and our body having time to recover each day while we sleep to get us ready to function the next day. Have you got a few hours of sleep and all you want the next day are carbs, sweet stuff and then you feel like crap because you're tired? Then kick yourself for making not the best food choices for the day?

Let's make sleep a priority for the next month. This means doing what you can to get enough sleep so that you wake up feeling rested and ready to go, even if it means squeezing in a nap to get through the day. Just post daily at the end of the day how many hours you got the night before and how your energy was for the day. Did you see your cravings go down/up? Did you feel crabby or super focused? It's interesting to see what happens!

Let's start tomorrow through June 22nd!
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Replies

  • Svanel
    Svanel Posts: 6,255 Member
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    I'd like to join
  • ugwux004
    ugwux004 Posts: 47 Member
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    Am in
  • Miss_Hattie
    Miss_Hattie Posts: 49 Member
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    Wow, I need this! I have trouble falling asleep..... so I'm up all day wanting to eat and snack.... and then often half or all night, too! The more sleep time you get, or at least for me, is more time I'm NOT eating or tempted to it. If I'm not well rested, I'm feeling too tired to exercise or even move at all.
  • spdaphne
    spdaphne Posts: 262 Member
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    How you all doing so far?? I got about 7 hrs, woke up tired and needing another hour :(
  • MichelleH1304
    MichelleH1304 Posts: 140 Member
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    I'd like to join too :)
    I've been working on making sleep a priority for about a week now and I'm starting to feel happier and more awake in the morning. I'd like to get rind of my napping after work habit too... in the last month I've started to come home to bed and it's not the best plan :D I'd rather be up and getting things done.
    I'm aiming to get 8 hours sleep every night.
  • MichelleH1304
    MichelleH1304 Posts: 140 Member
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    @spdaphne Last night I slept for about 7 and a half hours. Also woke up quite tired :( it can be hard to get going then...
  • dafthorse
    dafthorse Posts: 6 Member
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    I really, really need to make an effort for this, i'm terrible for staying up late and with a very active job it's wearing me down.

    Last night i got 8 hours, I need 9 minimum to feel any way rested but i never learn :/
  • orochiwarrior
    orochiwarrior Posts: 97 Member
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    I think this is great, I need to watch my sleeping pattern more.
  • Svanel
    Svanel Posts: 6,255 Member
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    I'm either really good at getting the amount of sleep i need or really bad. Right now, I've been bad with it. Last night, i stayed up reading till almost midnight. Woke up at 6am, snoozed the alarm and slept another hour. So approx. 7 hrs. I need at least 8 to feel rested.
  • spdaphne
    spdaphne Posts: 262 Member
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    Well, I made it through the day! I went in a walk in the afternoon on my work break and the Ghirardelli shop with the ice cream bar sounded good, but I kept walking. I don't really crave/eat ice cream, but for the moment, it did. I did have my moments where I felt tired so I'm going to aim to get to be earlier and do what I can to power down before bed tonight. Maybe I'll color or journal or read (sans mobile phone).
  • spdaphne
    spdaphne Posts: 262 Member
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    Here are some tips that can hopefully help you get to sleep:

    How to Get Better Sleep, Starting Tonight

    Here are 12 tips I recommend for better sleep:

    1. Create a bedroom environment that’s dark, quiet, and cool (between 60 and 67 degrees).

    2. Turn off electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime.

    3. Don’t charge your phone next to your bed. Even better: Gently escort all devices completely out of your room.

    4. Stop drinking caffeine after 2 p.m.

    5. Use your bed for sleep and sex only—no work!

    6. Keep pets off the bed (sorry, Mr. Snuffles).

    7. Take a hot bath with Epsom salts in the evening to help calm your mind and body.

    8. Wear pajamas, nightdresses, or even a special T-shirt—it’ll send a sleep-friendly message to your body. If you wore it to the gym, don’t wear it to bed.

    9. Do some light stretching, deep breathing, yoga, or meditation to help your body and your mind transition to sleep.

    10. Choose a real book or an e-reader that does not emit blue light, if you like to read in bed. And make sure it’s not work-related: novels, poetry, philosophy—anything but work.

    11. Sip camomile or lavender tea to ease yourself into sleep mode.

    12. Write down a list of what you’re grateful for before bed. It’s a great way to make sure your blessings get the closing scene of the night.

    https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-24490/arianna-huffingtons-12-secrets-to-your-best-sleep-ever.html
  • bluenice
    bluenice Posts: 6 Member
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    Would love to join you. Got some bad sleeping habits.. this should help me focus and establish better ones.
  • orochiwarrior
    orochiwarrior Posts: 97 Member
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    I got about 7 and a half hours sleep last night. Feeling tired this morning so I know I needed more.
  • spdaphne
    spdaphne Posts: 262 Member
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    orochiwarrior wrote: »
    I got about 7 and a half hours sleep last night. Feeling tired this morning so I know I needed more.

    Me too! I need to adjust my bedtime to compensate for getting up 10 mins earlier than normal. I've had to see how much time I need to great ready for work and eat. I used to eat while prepping my lunch (I do still sometimes) so I have time to chew my food instead of inhaling it.

    Let's see how my energy/cravings go today.
  • orochiwarrior
    orochiwarrior Posts: 97 Member
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    @spdaphne I hope you can do better tonight. I feel I stayed up to late last night. I am going to try and go bed earlier tonight. Most mornings I get up with my husband to do his breakfast before he goes to work. I feel I need to remember that I am also an early riser.
  • Svanel
    Svanel Posts: 6,255 Member
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    Still went to bed pretty late. Around 1 am. I was so tired but every time i lay down, i couldn't sleep. I think my current sleeping habits are stress related. Regardless, i finally passed out around 1 am, woke up at 7 am. Six hours last night. Not good. I feel slightly irritable, but have been eating good so that helps.
    I am also working on cleaning up my eating habits.
  • spdaphne
    spdaphne Posts: 262 Member
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    @orochiwarrior thanks! Hope you get some extra sleep tonight, you too @Svanel!

    I did pretty good today, but it's currently 9:30 and I'm feeling tired. I'm gonna wash dishes, shower and get into bed. Hope to catch some extra Zzzz tonight. I ate pretty well today and didn't feel I was craving too much today. Energy was pretty good. Let's see how tomorrow goes! Sleep well all! :)
  • orochiwarrior
    orochiwarrior Posts: 97 Member
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    Hello all. I slept better last night, I went to bed at 9:30 last night. I made the point to leave my phone down stairs so I didn't get get distracted by using it. I got just over 8 hours sleep in total.

    @spdaphne It sounds like you had a good day yesterday

    I hope everyone has slept well
  • spdaphne
    spdaphne Posts: 262 Member
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    orochiwarrior wrote: »
    Hello all. I slept better last night, I went to bed at 9:30 last night. I made the point to leave my phone down stairs so I didn't get get distracted by using it. I got just over 8 hours sleep in total.

    @spdaphne It sounds like you had a good day yesterday

    I hope everyone has slept well

    Awesome job leaving your phone out of the room!! I'm still working on it and texting my boyfriend goodnight 30 mins before. I got caught up on the internet, no good. I got 7.5 hrs again.

    Today I gotta pack for camping this weekend and try to buy a sleeping bag at lunch. Fun!

    I aim to be in bed and reading at 10pm tonight.

    Hope you all slept soundly! Have a good day.
  • orochiwarrior
    orochiwarrior Posts: 97 Member
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    @spdaphne Thank you. The internet can be easy too get caught up in while laying in bed, that is one thing that keeps me awake. I hope you managed to get everything you need for your camping trip and sleep well tonight

    @Svanel I hope you get a better night sleep tonight

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