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How to sleep more deeply

18 replies

MistyTrains · 01/07/2023 08:01

Posting in chat for traffic.

Morning lovely ladies. I'm trying to improve the quality of my sleep (!) and curious in other's experiences.

I use a tracker and I know accuracy is not great but it seems very rare I spend more than 15% in deep sleep.

Is anyone really good at deep sleep and what do you think helps?

TIA

OP posts:
WingBingo · 01/07/2023 08:42

Depends on your age, the older you are, the less you need

kelsaycobbles · 01/07/2023 08:44

Cut out sugar / biscuits chocolate

NotOnYourNellies · 01/07/2023 08:45

Lavender spray on your pillow

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springvibes · 01/07/2023 08:47

Remove alcohol and ditch the sugar and carbs makes a big difference for me

OctogenarianDecathlete · 01/07/2023 09:32

The book Why We Sleep by Matt Walker is very good.

Preparing for sleep starts as soon as you wake up. Get outside for at least 10 minutes first thing in the morning, even if it's cloudy.

Spend as much time as you can outside. It's the brightness of the light that you need first thing to trigger sleepiness 12-16 hours later.

Do some exercise, physical tiredness helps.

Have your last meal about 3 hours before anticipated bedtime. If you feel hungry before bed (I used to) try a hot drink.

In the evening keep the light around you as dim as you can get it and as red as you get it to trigger melatonin release. (This difference between the bright light of morning and the dim light of evening is important). Make sure any screens are as dim as you can make them and use the red-shift functions if you can.

If you're woken up by your bladder overnight try focussing on hydration during the day, then switch to small sips after your last meal 3 hours before bed. (This was a gamechanger for me!)

Have a bedtime routine similar to what you'd do for young children: check the doors are locked, wash your face etc, take any medication (also worth checking whether medication has potential for sleep disruption), read a book (with a dim red light). Remove any visible clocks.

Make sure your bedroom is very dark and cool.

If you wake, it's no big deal, read your book, potter downstairs if you can't fall asleep quickly.

If you have a poor nights sleep get up at normal time so you don't push your sleepiness back at the end of the day. Yes you'll be tired for one day, but your next nights sleep is likely to be better.

OctogenarianDecathlete · 01/07/2023 09:35

springvibes · 01/07/2023 08:47

Remove alcohol and ditch the sugar and carbs makes a big difference for me

This too!

I'm not giving up carbs or sugar for anyone, but blood sugar fluctuations can cause you to wake.

I prefer to just finish eating at 6.

And if you want a glass of wine, drink it early so it's cleared your system before bed.

Jennalong · 01/07/2023 09:37

I find wearing earplugs help.

MmaRra · 01/07/2023 09:59

Try a weighted blanket, for example from Calming Blankets.

happyfoot · 01/07/2023 10:04

springvibes · 01/07/2023 08:47

Remove alcohol and ditch the sugar and carbs makes a big difference for me

Agree with this. Absolutely no alcohol as that has been shown to disrupt REM sleep. Plus, physical exercise during the day, no phones or social media or caffeine anywhere near bedtime. Listen to a relaxation session on an app like Calm , headspace or insight timer (you can find many free ones on these) to get your brain into theta state before bed which is very deep relaxation and try to find out what your natural circadian rhythm is- eg. when your body naturally wants to sleep and wake up- lots of online tests to figure this out. Work with your body to find out when it wants to sleep and wake up. Also, melatonin or 5htp supplements can help but check with your doctor if you take any meds that this is safe to take with them.

MistyTrains · 01/07/2023 12:41

Thanks for these very helpful. I'm going to try consistent application of tips and see if it helps. Also like the kiwi suggestion.

OP posts:
Lessstressedhemum · 01/07/2023 12:44

Have pink noise playing in the background helps, too.

Zippedydoo123 · 01/07/2023 14:55

Magnesium in the evenings.

Diorinthecountryy · 01/07/2023 15:16

YouTube meditation
Hot water bottle
Duvet with two heavy throws on top
Dark room
Window open slightly

Before bed I take time to relax my breathing. Put on my skin creams And do some neck/shoulder exercises.

When I do this I always have a really deep sleep.

Wishing you luck op nothing worse than not getting great sleep.

TwoFourSixEightNeverTooLate · 01/07/2023 15:17

High strength magnesium.

Zippedydoo123 · 08/07/2023 13:33

Give up caffeine entirely or at least reduce it. I reduced from four cups to two yesterday and slept eight hours last night instead of the usual meagre five or six hours. I intend to stick at two cups a tea going forward now.

LaraPeople · 08/07/2023 13:54

According to my FitBit, 8-16% deep sleep is the benchmark for "women my age" (mid fifties).
I average 15% but it feels to me like I haven't had good quality of sleep for quite a few years now (I'm assuming to do with menopause) but I don't think any age group would expect a very much higher % of deep sleep.

Light sleep is also good for us....all sleep stages give us something in terms of mental or physical recovery.

MistyTrains · 08/07/2023 15:12

Having read a bit more it's not so much the % but 80-90 minutes (basically 20% of 7 hours which is 1hr 24) is good. I can get about 1hr 15 but above that is rare...just that extra 10 minutes...😅

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