Get more sleep challenge! May 22-June 22

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
    I'd like to join
  • ugwux004
    ugwux004 Posts: 47 Member
    Am in
  • Miss_Hattie
    Miss_Hattie Posts: 49 Member
    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
    How you all doing so far?? I got about 7 hrs, woke up tired and needing another hour :(
  • MichelleH1304
    MichelleH1304 Posts: 140 Member
    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
    @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
    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
    I think this is great, I need to watch my sleeping pattern more.
  • Svanel
    Svanel Posts: 6,255 Member
    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
    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
    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
    Would love to join you. Got some bad sleeping habits.. this should help me focus and establish better ones.
  • orochiwarrior
    orochiwarrior Posts: 97 Member
    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
    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
    @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
    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
    @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
    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
    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
    @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
  • spdaphne
    spdaphne Posts: 262 Member
    Did good on food, but by the time I left work, I was super tempted to get takeout for dinner. Ice cream, pizza or burgers sounded good to me. Overall, energy was okay. I feel it the most when I get up in the morning.

    I didn't grocery shop this week and am using up groceries from last week so my variety isn't super exciting at the moment.

    Off to handwash some clothes, pack, shower and head to bed. Hope I can do it all!! Bed sounds good right now. Get your Zzzzzzzz's!
  • orochiwarrior
    orochiwarrior Posts: 97 Member
    Hello people. Sadly I didn't sleep very well last night, I fell asleep at 9:30 but was awake by just after 3:30 am due to the hot weather at the moment. I tried to get back to sleep but it wasn't going to happen.

    @spdaphne It's not nice to get tempted by food like that, well done for staying strong.

    I feel it's a good idea to stock up only when you need to, but yes it can get boring eating the same things to much.

    I hope everyone slept better then me.
  • spdaphne
    spdaphne Posts: 262 Member
    Got 7.5 hrs again. Blah! Did ok today, worked out at TRX which was extra hard. Ugh. I hope I sleep like a baby tonight.

    @orochiwarrior oh no, that's annoying waking up in the middle of the night. I hate when it's hot and I have trouble sleeping. Hope you got a fan and a window to keep you cool tonight

    Nite all!!
  • lapesadilla
    lapesadilla Posts: 67 Member
    I'm late to this, but in a way the timing is perfect: starting monday I decided to work on going to bed on time. I'm (ironically?) a sleep tech and I work 14 hour night shifts, so to get enough sleep I need to go to bed right away when I get home from work. Being well-versed in sleep hygiene recommendations doesn't help much - like most everybody else, I waste a lot of precious sleep time playing on my phone etc when I should be getting sleep. I always mean to catch up on weekends, but trying to spend time with my diurnal fiancé often eats into that. Let's start kicking sleep's butt!
  • orochiwarrior
    orochiwarrior Posts: 97 Member
    edited May 2017
    Hi everyone Late check in.

    I had good day yesterday I ate well and spent my morning walking around town so over good day. Last night I had the same problem I got to hot again and woke up about 4 after falling asleep at 10 last night. I ended up falling asleep this afternoon while watching Television. Thankfully I did some exercise this morning

    I hope you can do better tonight @spdaphne and enjoy your camping trip

    Have a good night sleep everyone
  • spdaphne
    spdaphne Posts: 262 Member
    Hello!!

    I got back late yesterday from camping over the weekend. It was fun, though had rude neighbors who were up late and really made our nights unrestful. Ugh!

    Got about 7 hrs last night because I stayed up late catching up with a friend. I have laundry to do tonight and shopping so I'm gonna aim to start winding down at 9:45pm. Maybe even do a facial mask and make my room more relaxing. I really want to get an aromatherapy thing so it smells like a spa!

    How has your sleep been lately?
  • mca90guitar
    mca90guitar Posts: 289 Member
    I use to get 3 or 4 a night for years. Finally have myself getting a min of 6 and usually 7 or 8.

    Feels alot better. Hunger didn't change but not feeling like a zombie is nice.
  • mca90guitar
    mca90guitar Posts: 289 Member
    Also I bought a leesa mattress a few months back. Amazing, knocks me right out and no more pains when I wake up.
  • AwesomeHealth
    AwesomeHealth Posts: 22 Member
    I think it helps to sort of tire yourself during the daytime or before sleep such as going to the pool or a good 15 to 30 minutes walk with some sunshine. These are things we think makes no difference but it can.

    Try a different room while you adjust your schedule. I had difficulty sleeping in my room for some reason.

    I did a task I have been procrastinating and was able to fall asleep and wake up without feeling like I wanted to keep sleeping. I think if you have a task you are dreading to do, to do it because it might affect your sleep. Also, staying away from computer, caffeine and quieting down with a book is helpful.

    Anyone use essential oil to help you calm down?

    Ever heard of using a heavy cover and the effect of it as if someone is hugging you helping you fall asleep? Sometimes your blanket matters or even wearing socks to sleep might help.
  • spdaphne
    spdaphne Posts: 262 Member
    @mca90guitar glad to hear the mattress helped! Nice to hear you're getting more sleep too! Feeling like a zombie isn't great, so glad you're in the no zombie mode :)

    @AwesomeHealth great tips! I didn't think to switch rooms to adjust, but it makes sense it might help. My boyfriend needs weight on him to sleep, so he'll add another blanket on his comforter to help. I don't need it though. I also have some on the spot relief from orgins i got in a gift packet. It does feels soothing as does some lavender oil I have.

    I'm tired. My eyes are red since I didn't get enough sleep. Boo. I'm off to shower and head to bed. Nite all ... get some Zzzzzzz!

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