How in the World Does Anyone Get 8 Hours of Sleep?
LadyPaleo
Posts: 24
Hello my Fellow Paleo and Primal MFPers,
In my continued attempt at following a true paleo/primal lifestyle, I've identified a lack of sleep as one of the HUGE detriments to my overall health. If you are one of the people who manage to get a solid 8 hours of sleep every night, I would love to know your secrets.
My story is in no way unique, especially for the region where I live:
- I wake up at a time that allows me to get ready for work, including a 15 minute walk with the dogs.
- I have a relatively long commute: 45 min to 1 hr each way.
- I typically work 9-10 hours a day (no lunch break).
- Come home, prepare dinner (or go to a kettlebells class before dinner; this was pre-shoulder injury).
- Eat dinner.
- Go for a 45 minute walk with my husband (on non-kettlebell evenings).
- Do the dishes.
- Sit down and relax.
- Take dogs for a pre-bedtime stroll.
- Get ready for bed.
- Start over.
There is no wiggle room for the long workday (I do leave at a reasonable time every chance that I get), and no opportunities to live closer to my job. I make meals ahead of time on Sunday, or opt for really easy meals on weekdays.
With this setup, I average 6 or 6.5 hours of sleep per day. I have ZERO sleep problems: I fall asleep easilly and stay asleep for the most part .
Anyone have some genius ideas on how I could squeeze in an extra hour or two fo sleep? What do you do to make sure you catch your ZZZZZZZZZZZ?
Thanks!
In my continued attempt at following a true paleo/primal lifestyle, I've identified a lack of sleep as one of the HUGE detriments to my overall health. If you are one of the people who manage to get a solid 8 hours of sleep every night, I would love to know your secrets.
My story is in no way unique, especially for the region where I live:
- I wake up at a time that allows me to get ready for work, including a 15 minute walk with the dogs.
- I have a relatively long commute: 45 min to 1 hr each way.
- I typically work 9-10 hours a day (no lunch break).
- Come home, prepare dinner (or go to a kettlebells class before dinner; this was pre-shoulder injury).
- Eat dinner.
- Go for a 45 minute walk with my husband (on non-kettlebell evenings).
- Do the dishes.
- Sit down and relax.
- Take dogs for a pre-bedtime stroll.
- Get ready for bed.
- Start over.
There is no wiggle room for the long workday (I do leave at a reasonable time every chance that I get), and no opportunities to live closer to my job. I make meals ahead of time on Sunday, or opt for really easy meals on weekdays.
With this setup, I average 6 or 6.5 hours of sleep per day. I have ZERO sleep problems: I fall asleep easilly and stay asleep for the most part .
Anyone have some genius ideas on how I could squeeze in an extra hour or two fo sleep? What do you do to make sure you catch your ZZZZZZZZZZZ?
Thanks!
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Replies
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Do you feel ok getting this much sleep? If so, I wouldn't worry about it. I've been finding that I am falling asleep later and waking up earlier on my own, yet I feel better than ever during the day! I think the 8 hr rule is kind of dated at this point anyway. I suffered from insomnia for a LONG time, so this is a subject I researched A LOT! I remember reading somewhere that people who slept 5-7 hrs actually did better than those who slept more than that. Please don't quote me on that.....it's just something I remember reading.
PS : Aside of using a crockpot for meals, having your hubby do the dishes, or getting a get up and go hairstyle, I'm not really sure where you could cut back on your routine :ohwell:0 -
Hello my Fellow Paleo and Primal MFPers,
In my continued attempt at following a true paleo/primal lifestyle, I've identified a lack of sleep as one of the HUGE detriments to my overall health. If you are one of the people who manage to get a solid 8 hours of sleep every night, I would love to know your secrets.
My story is in no way unique, especially for the region where I live:
- I wake up at a time that allows me to get ready for work, including a 15 minute walk with the dogs.
- I have a relatively long commute: 45 min to 1 hr each way.
- I typically work 9-10 hours a day (no lunch break).
- Come home, prepare dinner (or go to a kettlebells class before dinner; this was pre-shoulder injury).
- Eat dinner.
- Go for a 45 minute walk with my husband (on non-kettlebell evenings).
- Do the dishes.
- Sit down and relax.
- Take dogs for a pre-bedtime stroll.
- Get ready for bed.
- Start over.
There is no wiggle room for the long workday (I do leave at a reasonable time every chance that I get), and no opportunities to live closer to my job. I make meals ahead of time on Sunday, or opt for really easy meals on weekdays.
With this setup, I average 6 or 6.5 hours of sleep per day. I have ZERO sleep problems: I fall asleep easilly and stay asleep for the most part .
Anyone have some genius ideas on how I could squeeze in an extra hour or two fo sleep? What do you do to make sure you catch your ZZZZZZZZZZZ?
Thanks!
This is me to a tee....well except for the dog part as I have a cat. And my commute is 1 - 1 1/2 hour each way. I've been getting up at 4am to workout because it's the only time I have.
I try to go to bed around 9pm, but sometimes it's 10 or 11 pm and since I'm a insomniac I rarely get over 4 or 5 hours a night! I just try to do the best that I can.
p.s.- I recognize that pig in your profile pic.
Anita0 -
I can (and have) functioned on 6 hours or less for a long stretch of time when I was in graduate school, but I function far better with 8+ hours. I don't have anywhere near as busy a schedule as you so it's not really a problem.
I'm curious, what do you do for work? In the US by law you HAVE to given time to eat lunch. At least 1/2 hour per 8 hour shift.0 -
I couldn't function without 8 hours,
Day goes get up at 6 leave for work at 7 get there at 7.40
Work till 5 drive home, prepare dinner, work out 7-8
Eat dinner, walk dogs I'm in bed by 9:30, head hits the pillow and I'm out for the count!
Think it helps that all exercise/cooking/walking dogs I do with my other half and see that as my down time.0 -
I'm curious, what do you do for work? In the US by law you HAVE to given time to eat lunch. At least 1/2 hour per 8 hour shift.
This is true is you are hourly, but not so much if you are salary. I have often foregone lunch in order to be able to leave at a decent hour. I pack my lunch and eat it at my desk. I have the right to an hour lunch, but I am expected to have my work complete and sometimes they overlap.0 -
Anyone have some genius ideas on how I could squeeze in an extra hour or two fo sleep? What do you do to make sure you catch your ZZZZZZZZZZZ?
Can you do catch-up sleeping on the weekend? That would help reduce your sleep deficit. Can you make a really firm commitment to yourself that it will be 9 hours, but not 10, that you work per day? It looks like it's the commute that's killing you here. There's really no way to be closer to where you work? If you could bike to work you'd get exercise in and have a reduced commute simultaneously! But, I'm in a similar situation--my work is too far to bike, and it's a job where I can't really arrive sweaty.0 -
Hi Everyone! Thanks for the comments. To answer a few questions:
1) I feel sleep deprived. I wish that I could function on the 6 hours, but I feel as though I am dragging all day long and that it is detrimental to my health..
2) My lack of lunch is due to deadlines, workload, and a crappy work/life balance. I am a contract worker, and I technically could take a lunch, but I really can't imagine leaving work any later than I currently do.
3) Unfortunately, my place of work is located in an incredibly expensive area. My husband is in school, so there is absolutely no budget wiggle room for more expensive rent.
4) Cycling to work is not an option. The 45 minute commute is done going 70 MPH most of the way. I'm afraid that cycling would cut into my sleep even more.
I appreciate the input. Clearly I need a work/life balance overhaul!0 -
I have no advice here, but I love to hear other people secrets.
I have a bodymedia , which measure the actual length of the sleep and show the sleep patterns etc. Even before I got it I knew I was getting way too little sleep. Now I actually know that lat 28 day stat is 5 hr 13 min sleep on average
For me it is the baby waking at night is the killer part.
For you 9-10 hr workday plus 1-1.5 hr commute adds to 11 +hr devoted to your job a day. If I were you, I would think about a job change on the long run, or moving closer to our workplace of both.
I am staying home with my baby at the moment, but I would only do such a long workday temporarily. My husband previous job was something like that and after a couple of years we decided it is not something that worth it. We sat down, and discussed our finances and he looked for an other job. This was 5 yrs ago and it made a major difference in our life, relationship and in pretty much everything. He had to take a paycut, but it surprisingly wasn't that much as we thought it would be. We we ready to give up 20% of his salary for human working hrs, but at the end it only meant 10% slaray cut. Now he leaves 7:40, but he is home before 5 pm every day. He has time for the kids and me
Since your husband is in school, it sounds like there is not much you can do at the moment. However school doesn't last forever.0 -
If your husband is in school I'm guessing (from my own experience so please excuse my assumption) that his day is not as long as yours? Could he possibly do the morning and evening routine with the dogs? That might give you an extra half hour anyway :-) Maybe on your non kettlebell days you could not do the evening walk but make the last outing with the dogs earlier but slightly longer. Go to bed earlier on those nights and make up that exercise in the weekends if you feel you need to?
Hope you find a solution :-)0 -
I have no idea, but personally I get around 5-6hours sleep every two days.
Then again I drink about 1-2 litres of coffee on the daily, eat lots of chocolate and generally abuse- er, lovingly caress - my caffiene intake.0 -
Clearly I need a work/life balance overhaul!
I feel your pain, and I think you've put your finger on the problem right there. Join the club :sad:0 -
I don't have an excuse. I have lots of help and at the moment make the most of every minute in bed but I just don't want to go to bed before my husband which is what happens if I go to bed earlier. When he is away I struggle to sleep as we have a routine of his reading to me in bed and I get used to falling asleep to this so its actually worse when he is away which is a shame as this is definitely a time when I need more sleep. At the mo I probably get 7 hours a night which isn't too bad. I just know I need more. I am a greedy sleeper. Would take 10 a night happily.0
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I am the same, overly busy lifestyle that just doesn't allow a lot of sleep. Depending on where you work maybe there is public transportation that will allow you to work to and from so you are at the office less? Maybe a carpool option where at least some days you're working in the car while sharing driving responsibilities.
I have a pre-schooler, am trying to finish up a college degree, work full time in the military (hours or not bad but there is some extra duty), and am doing all of this as a single parent. So.. yea.... I'll just survive with caffeine and weekend makeup sleep for now. My situation won't last for the rest of my life since my child will age and my job/living situation changes every 3 to 4 years. Hopefully when your husband is done with school you can make lifestyle changes that will work for better for your.0 -
teheheh, ahhh you guys make me giggle. Ive been living on 2-5hrs (6hrs if its a really good night) for the past four years. Pregnancy, kids, and insomnia. I would die without coffee0
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I work 9+ hour days at a challenging professional job and I love it. Everyone within my life knows that my career comes first (just rescheduled my anniversary plans around a busy work week, in fact). Here are my "work-first" shortcuts...
How about going for a walk while your husband makes dinner? Or just nuking something pre-made, since you make stuff on Sundays? Or my favorite-- my husband now works in the evenings, so dinner is often a handful of nuts or pumpkin seeds, maybe some carrot sticks or chicken. You can totally eat that on the commute home (or while relaxing) and save the dinner effort-- just worry about taking a more varied lunch (I'm doing salads from the cafes at work, or salads in a jar on the off chance I make stuff at home). Same with breakfast-- I eat breakfast when I get work-- either bacon and eggs from the cafe, green juice or just tea some mornings.
I get 6 hours of sleep or so, and that's generally fine for me. I don't have any issue with it.
I also only "work out" once per week with weights-- check out slow burn fitness. So that shaves significant time off, and I get to yoga when I can. I walk a lot from the bus to my office and back, most days, and the dog plays in the backyard with minimal supervision. I take the dog with me for hiking, but we don't do regular walks.0 -
I have a pre-schooler, am trying to finish up a college degree, work full time in the military (hours or not bad but there is some extra duty), and am doing all of this as a single parent.
:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
You are a rock star.0 -
This is me to a tee....well except for the dog part as I have a cat. And my commute is 1 - 1 1/2 hour each way. I've been getting up at 4am to workout because it's the only time I have.
I try to go to bed around 9pm, but sometimes it's 10 or 11 pm and since I'm a insomniac I rarely get over 4 or 5 hours a night! I just try to do the best that I can.
p.s.- I recognize that pig in your profile pic.
Anita
Holy crap, you're practically my twin! I go to bed around 9-10, get up at 3:30 to work out, and have insomnia!0 -
I try to get all my cooking done for the week on Sunday. Then when I'm done with work, I can come home from work or the gym and re-heat my meals. I utilize the slow cooker on busy days, too. It seriously frees up about 1-2 hours of my night from prepping, cooking, and washing dishes on days I have meals prepared and waiting for me. It's a lifesaver.0
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i always sleep better and for longer after i've had an orgasm...:laugh: just sayin'!
i also purposefully wind down at about 10:00, i turn off the lights, keep my tea lights on which are a soft light, and read a book for half an hour.
but i still will wake up before my alarm, which is why i try to get in bed earlier, as it seems my body likes more sleep before 12am, and less after 6am or so.0 -
I have a bodymedia and tend to get 6-6.5 hours a night. 6.5 is about the least I can do and not feel like a zombie. I wish I could get more sleep. My schedule has little to do with it. I'm in bed by 10:30 and up around 6:00. I just don't sleep that great.0
