Tell me about times you didn't sleep before a big event

[orchidlilyrose]

Just that! I've always had issues with sleep before big events (exams and interviews but also day trips I'm excited for, birthdays, other people's weddings etc.) I've tried over the counter sleeping aids with no effect, am always careful with sleep hygiene, avoid caffeine etc. I sleep ok most other times but have always had this problem. The anxiety is about not being able to sleep, rather than the event, which ironically then keeps me awake. I think having a routine of hot drinks, low caffeine, meditation, nytol etc. actually makes it worse as I'm even more focussed on whether I sleep!

Anyway, I'm getting married in now under one week and, whilst I'm not worried about the day or marriage itself, I'm so worried about not sleeping. This isn't helped by the fact that, normally if I'm struggling to sleep, I drop off around 4am. However, on this day, I have to be up at 5(!) to start the day (unfortunately this is due to vendors and is non-negotiable, I've tried very hard to push this later!).

I'm already feeling worried about not sleeping and having restless nights. I've convinced myself that I'll be exhausted and ruin the day, will have wasted lots of money etc (yes, I'm aware these thoughts are definitely not helping!). I've now decided to take a new approach and, instead of stressing about sleep the night before, accept I'll be resting, rather than sleeping, and will get through the day on adrenaline.

It would be really helpful to hear of positive stories of people who didn't sleep before their wedding / big event and were totally fine on the day.

My mind always races before events. I think you are doing the right thing, just accept you won't sleep well the night before your wedding and will catch up afterwards! Get lots of sleep in the week leading up to it and take the pressure off yourself. Adrenaline will push you through your wedding day so you will have a great day and won't feel tired!

I reckon I got about 2hours sleep the night before my wedding due to a combination of anxiety and my mum snoring like a freight train.

I’d paid £600 for my hotel room and ended up sleeping on a little sofa because she was driving me mad.. but that’s besides the point.

I was fine - you will be fine. The adrenaline will get you through it. I don’t remember feel tired for a single second of the day - the next day I was knackered though!

I can never sleep before any kind of event. I struggle to drift off before good friends weddings nevermind my own!
Get lots of sleep in the lead up to it. That night plan to do whatever relaxes you best - good book, bubble bath, favourite old movie..and just rest 🧖‍♀️

I also didn’t sleep the night before my wedding. At all. It was totally fine and I got through just on adrenaline. I still remember the sleep the night after I had got home after it as being the best sleep of my life.

I didn’t sleep before running a marathon, and still managed to run the marathon. I remember that if there’s any time I can’t sleep and I’m worrying about the impact on the following day.

good luck for your wedding!

I was awake at 1:30 on the morning of my wedding as I was just so happy and excited! Took about an hour or so to get back off to sleep I think. I felt amazing on the day. I was on such a high I honestly think if I'd have had much less sleep I still wouldn't have noticed. You'll be so full of adrenaline and excitement on the day you'll feel great regardless of sleep, try not to worry

I also didn't sleep before my wedding. I still had a lovely day! I find whenever I'm thinking, "it would be a disaster if I can't sleep", that automatically means I won't be able to sleep. You have to try not to care if you sleep or not. Which the night before my wedding, I just couldn't do. I hope you have better luck, but if you can't sleep it won't ruin the day off you remotely, the adrenaline will carry you through and you'll forget all about the night before.

I’m quite old and don’t sleep now even if I have to set my alarm for a gentle outing.

I didn't sleep a wink the night before, I think I got through on pure adrenaline and alcohol!

Night before wedding - couldn’t sleep a wink due to nerves and excitement. Didn’t wake up feeling amazing, but didn’t feel bad and it didn’t negatively impact on the day. Please don’t worry 😊

I slept terribly the night before my wedding (mainly alcohol endured) and felt mega hungover and knackered when I woke up. Absolutely had no impact on the day at all other than I think the poor make up artist had to work extra hard!

I look at it that I'm not going to force myself to sleep I'm going to rest and as long as I'm lying in bed relaxing I'm resting and usually I just drop off

Buy yourself a sleep meditative cd (I'm a dinosaur) and pop it on with headphones for you to drift away.

Or count backwards from a hundred really really slowly, imagining you're writing each number down, really really slowly. I always lose count and don't manage to get to zero. Unless I've had a red bull.

I didn't really sleep the night before my wedding but I was fine, don't remember feeling tired and still enjoyed the day! I maybe fell asleep for an hour then was up reading, had a bath, went for a walk (hotel staff seemed to think I'd lost it!) then managed another hour before getting up and on with the day. It honestly was fine.

I never sleep before anything remotely stressful, it's never been an issue.

Had two labours lasting all day (DC born around 7am the next day) having not slept the previous night due to combo of contractions/nerves/excitement. All fine, although exhausting.

Moved country on no sleep.

Various job starts or exams. Performed fine, got through it.

I actually can't remember if I slept before my wedding but perhaps I did as I don't remember crashing out - once everything is over I tend to go into a really deep kind of sleep that I haven't experienced any other time.

I too am terrible for sleeping badly the night before any big events. It has got lots easier since I had my DD though, I basically didn't sleep for 4 years and was able to survive so realised I didn't need to worry as I can survive on little to/no sleep and consequently often get better sleep! My DH also loves to remind me that olympians often don't sleep well the night before big race and smash it on adrenaline.
Funnily enough the night of my wedding I managed 5 or 6 or so hours, I tried to be really zen about it, like it didn't matter. I was fine, went for a short run on the morning to help wake me up.

I cant have had more than 2 hours sleep before my wedding. A combination of excitement, nerves, a puking Bridesmaid and my DF being taken to hospital after falling down the stairs in the hotel. All I can say is make up artists and adrenaline are wonderful things.

I'm not expecting sleep tonight, mind is racing...and I'm hot..and menopausal..

I have always struggled with sleep ahead of any type of event or out of the ordinary day ahead. Its nothing new, just worse at the moment.

I couldn't sleep the night before my MSc dissertation viva exam. I didn't even really feel anxious, I just couldn't switch my brain off. It was absolutely awful, I was away from home in a hotel and I just lay there from 11pm until about 6.30am when I finally dropped off. I got woken 15 minutes later by DH texting me to wish me luck. I could have cried. Viva was at 9.30 so I just gave up at that point and got up and got ready.

Anyway, I absolutely rocked my viva, got 85% in it and won a prize for my dissertation. So yeah, it's possible to manage without sleep for a night!

If you struggle then I would try and just rest your body as much as possible so that you're physically rested at least. Hope you will get a good night's sleep though!

I'm with you tonight @paddingtonstares !

You'll be fine op, I often struggle with sleep and am another who doesn't sleep before big events (and even not so big events too)!

You've completely got the right idea, if you tell yourself you'll just physically rest even if you can't sleep it takes the pressure off.

On nights like that I take a good book to bed, have a box set lined up to watch on my iPad or just plan gentle relaxing things I can do to distract me while I get some physical rest.

And like others say the adrenaline will get you through!

Same, I can never sleep before any important event. It used to really stress me out but what works for me now is reminding myself that it's completely possible to do any big event after no sleep, but also to give myself some 'extra' sleep options afterwards.

So it might be something like, ok I'm not going to sleep well tonight, but I will be fine for the music festival tomorrow, and I have a few hours to myself at x time the day after, which I can use to catch up on sleep. If I know I can get in "extra' sleep after it somehow makes me feel less stressed about it.

Try taking a strong antihistamine before bed. It will make you drowsy but has no bad after effects. DS does this go get into a healthy sleep cycle as he is naturally nocturnal.

I barely slept the 2 nights before having both my kids as I was in for induction and was being constantly checked and monitored and so on and was in pain and just excited too. Had my baby and then couldn't sleep after when baby was sleeping because of the adrenaline and so on. The midwives came and scolded me and told me to sleep. You'll be fine! You'll have so many people around you geeing you up sleep will be the last thing on your mind.

I'm exactly the same and what I've come to realise is that you just power through the day. You can function on no sleep for 1 night. You'll be swept away by all the excitement that you won't even think about being tired. After having DC who didn't sleep through until he was 2 years old it's amazing what you can manage on very little sleep.

Also, a 20 minute power nap always helps.

Just realised I never returned... thank you all who gave reassurance and advice. Turns out I was so exhausted from decorating, organising etc. that I managed 4 hours on-off sleep before the day, which I was pleasantly surprised by! I then needed about 14 hours sleep the following day... 😁