Getting to sleep at a reasonable time- accountability thread

[Smallsteps88]

Maybe I’ll be the only poster on this thread either way I need to sort my sleep habits and this is an attempt to keep myself on track. I would love some company and all advice is gratefully received though so feel free to join in!

Every day I wake up (tired) telling myself I will go to bed early. Every night I get to the point where my eyes are closing on the sofa and I suddenly realise I forgot to go to bed early and I still have morning prep to do.

What do you do to ensure you get to bed, and to sleep, at a time that allows you to have enough quality sleep? Do you have set routines? Do you set alarms to remind you? I have an alarm and it doesn’t worn. I ignore it. I always seem to have something that needs done before I can get ready for bed.

I'm afraid I'm one of those horrific people who will be fast asleep by 9.30 every night! In terms of tips, this is what I've found to help with it

Phone/laptop away/TV off by 8pm. Having no screens to distract me is incredibly helpful when getting that sleepy feeling

Early(ish) dinner, we have dinner at 6.30pm leaving plenty of time afterwards for washing up and any prep which needs doing for the morning

I try not to allow myself to get sleepy on the sofa, as soon as I feel my eyes going I'll get into bed.

Reading for 30mins (ish) before bed is a great way to unwind and not be overstimulated so it's easier to fall asleep

Sadly, being 35 weeks pregnant at the moment most of my beautifully crafted routines are going out of the window, and I can't see them returning for years 😅

Sadly, being 35 weeks pregnant at the moment most of my beautifully crafted routines are going out of the window, and I can't see them returning for years

Oh no, try and hold onto them as best you can! Sleep is sanity! I’m trying to undo a lifetime of bad habits.

Thank you so much for your post! im making a list!

So I'm here to hold you accountable! How have your bedtimes been so far this week?

Hi, I will join your thread!

I am relatively recently separated and have taken to binge watching Netflix at night as I am a bit sad and lonely. I do a bit of crafting (e.g. crochet) at the same time. However It's getting later and later as I have the 'just one more' mentality.
Sometimes I fall asleep on the sofa, but more often I just get annoyed I have spent the evening watching TV and not gone up earlier to read.
One thing I do tend to do is make sure everywhere is tidy before I sit down (it's impossible to get up once I have sat down I find). Do you have a list of jobs that you could make earlier and tick them off before a certain time at night?

I have an early tea with my DC and tidy up the kitchen whilst they eat their pudding. Then we all tidy up the toys together before winding down for their bedtimes.

I don't have any tips, but you have inspired me to stop Netflix by 10pm tonight and you can hold me accountable!

@Sairafina

So I'm here to hold you accountable! How have your bedtimes been so far this week?

Sunday night not good. Usual carry on. Last night was good, however I put that down to me not feeling so good and really wanting to go to bed but I do feel much better today after the extra sleep though. Am planning on being firm and sticking to it! Thanks for checking up on me.

I don't have any tips, but you have inspired me to stop Netflix by 10pm tonight and you can hold me accountable!

Yes Netflix is a real problem for me too! They should cut it off at 9pm!

I am so thankful to get a good sleep, something I thought would never happen ever again when my kids were small.
I try to do morning prep such as make packed lunches etc when I'm clearing up after dinner.
I don't have a set bed time but if I feel tired I go to bed (obviously as long as my DSs are in bed!) I always read, even a page or two to slow my mind down and that's usually enough to knock me out.

@Smallsteps88 how was last night?

I had running last night so when I got back the temptation was to flop in front of the TV. Instead I had a bath and watched 2 episodes of Grey's anatomy on the tablet...which was off at 10:20
The kitchen needed a tidy, but I did that this morning...
Tonight I am trying for 10pm again!

I need a good book to get into. I love reading but find it so hard to get started.

I go upstairs half an hour before I want to be turning the light off; sometimes that means I turn the light off early or that I read in bed for 10 minutes but it also means that if I suddenly remember things I want to do then I have time for that.

Yorkshire tea do a bedtime brew that's really nice, I make a cup of that and take up to bed with book, usually at 9 now the nights are dark, I love going up to bed early it's like a treat, but I finally have my bed to myself after divorce/child coming into my room, which has made a difference

Smallsteps88 how was last night?

Not good! Stayed up far too late. No real reason at all. Kept finding things I “just need to do”. And also the fact I had such a good sleep the night before meant I wasn’t tired when I should have been going to bed. I think I need to do some yoga or something in the evenings.