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Will I ever have a lay in again?

66 replies

LivingDeadGirlUK · 03/10/2026 05:41

I had an exhausting week and went to bed at 9pm as I couldn't keep my eyes open. No plans today. Yet here I am wide awake at 5am. I know our sleep changes as we get older, I previously had quite a long thread about waking up at 4am (turned out to be due to stress!) but is that now it for lay ins? Will I never be able to sleep like my 20s and 30s again?

OP posts:
Philandbill · 03/10/2026 05:47

I fear not. I went to sleep at ten, also exhausted. And here I am on blasted Mumsnet and wide awake when I don't need to be awake for another hour at least. I could sleep for a ten hour stretch before I had my children. DD2 is a young adult now and has inherited that superpower. I am missing it.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 03/10/2026 05:51

My partner could still happily sleep for 10 hours if left to it. Men don't seem to have this issue!

OP posts:
MinnieMountain · 03/10/2026 05:52

Welcome to the club OP. I don't need to be up for ages. 5:30 today was actually a good day.

At least getting up at 4:00 tomorrow for the charity swim I'm doing will feel normal.

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Philandbill · 03/10/2026 05:53

LivingDeadGirlUK · 03/10/2026 05:51

My partner could still happily sleep for 10 hours if left to it. Men don't seem to have this issue!

DH currently fast asleep next to me. And he doesn't even like having a lie in.🙄

DallasMajor · 03/10/2026 05:56

On Monday morning I will be fast asleep and woken rudely by my alarm.

MinnieMountain · 03/10/2026 05:58

My DH will at least admit to enjoying a lie in. We've been sleeping in separate rooms for the last 5 years. Absolute game changer for me with my stupid early waking. I can nest in bed rather than sneaking downstairs.

shiverm · 03/10/2026 06:00

I like the wee hours the best so I’m enjoying it. House to
myself to have a cup of tea and do whatever- write, tasks for
me, nothing much. You get to start your day selfishly when no one else is awake. But then I haven’t slept for extended hours since I was a teen or very ill.

DiscombobulatedHedgehog · 03/10/2026 06:00

Tbh I’d love just to sleep all the way to my getting-up time (7am), that would feel like a lie in!!! I’m awake at least half and hour and often a couple of hours before it every single day.
Because I had children young I’d never actually experienced adult lie-ins pre-kids (my Mum wouldn’t allow you to stay in bed after 8am so didn’t even experience them as a teen!). I do like to get a cuppa and have a read and relax in bed without needing to get up though, but it is frustrating when I’m always tired.

ChocolateCinderToffee · 03/10/2026 06:05

I have a train to catch this morning and I daren’t go back to sleep in case I miss it.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 03/10/2026 06:08

Philandbill · 03/10/2026 05:53

DH currently fast asleep next to me. And he doesn't even like having a lie in.🙄

Mines also beside me and is snoring to rub it in.

OP posts:
LivingDeadGirlUK · 03/10/2026 06:10

DallasMajor · 03/10/2026 05:56

On Monday morning I will be fast asleep and woken rudely by my alarm.

I cannot remember the last time I was woken up by my alarm. I am always awake before it.

OP posts:
HappiestSleeping · 03/10/2026 06:10

LivingDeadGirlUK · 03/10/2026 05:51

My partner could still happily sleep for 10 hours if left to it. Men don't seem to have this issue!

Yes we do. Awake since 3:40am 🤦‍♂️

Gotthattee · 03/10/2026 06:11

Same, sick of 5am! After a little scroll I'll try rest while listening to podcasts at least.
DH never has this issue.

MinnieMountain · 03/10/2026 06:12

@DiscombobulatedHedgehog that was mean of your mum. What was her reasoning?

LivingDeadGirlUK · 03/10/2026 06:12

HappiestSleeping · 03/10/2026 06:10

Yes we do. Awake since 3:40am 🤦‍♂️

Stand corrected!

OP posts:
Posywosey · 03/10/2026 06:14

I feel you. DD has started to sleep in, and DH loves a good lie in. Stress is hitting hard atm, which has always meant insomnia for me. (Usually the type where I can't stay asleep) 😭

Fell asleep for about 90 minutes at 10, and haven't had a solid stretch since- up and down until 4, when I put headphones on and have been listening to a podcast about spying.

I daren't go downstairs until 7 as I don't want to disturb the dog (and get a fabuppusly dirty look from her), so I am hiding out in the spare room.

I wouldn't mind, but I haven't slept past 4.30 all week!

LivingDeadGirlUK · 03/10/2026 06:17

Now I don't have the stress wakings its not even like its having a detrimental impact on me waking so early. I just miss that feeling of snoozing for hours.

OP posts:
itispersonal · 03/10/2026 06:17

I’ve recently started a new job and been starting later than my old job. I use to wake up my alarm at 6.20 and snooze til as late as possible and now I’m wide awake at 5!!!!!

luckily I’ve got to that point at work where I pick my working hours so I’m in the office at 7 to start my working day. So it’s having it advantages, though wasn’t so great last week when had been at a day disco, was awake at 1 and then awake again at 5!!!

It is going to horrible in winter when we’re awake at 5 and it’s freezing and dark for another nearly 3 hours

But I very rarely have a lie in most weekends I was up early (though not this early!!) I struggled in the summer holidays as I was awake early and the teen would still be asleep gone 10 and nearing to 11! Dp and I have an agreement of 9.30 wake up on Sunday with a cuppa. But I’m the one mostly up unless had a bad night when I’m awake 2-6 and just getting back to sleep til 9ish.

JuniorMint14 · 03/10/2026 06:20

Awake since 5 with 11 month old who's finally gone back to sleep on me - dare I put him back in his cot and will I even get back to sleep at this point before the 4 year old wakes up?! Slightly disappointed to hear this might happen even when the kids are older, I'm mid 30s and was hoping for it to get better not worse 😂 it's not so bad in summer when it's light and mild out but on dark cold mornings it's rotten. Husband also snoring beside me, even while baby was wriggling and squeaking. He will probably get up with the 4yo though tbf.

Posywosey · 03/10/2026 06:20

itispersonal · 03/10/2026 06:17

I’ve recently started a new job and been starting later than my old job. I use to wake up my alarm at 6.20 and snooze til as late as possible and now I’m wide awake at 5!!!!!

luckily I’ve got to that point at work where I pick my working hours so I’m in the office at 7 to start my working day. So it’s having it advantages, though wasn’t so great last week when had been at a day disco, was awake at 1 and then awake again at 5!!!

It is going to horrible in winter when we’re awake at 5 and it’s freezing and dark for another nearly 3 hours

But I very rarely have a lie in most weekends I was up early (though not this early!!) I struggled in the summer holidays as I was awake early and the teen would still be asleep gone 10 and nearing to 11! Dp and I have an agreement of 9.30 wake up on Sunday with a cuppa. But I’m the one mostly up unless had a bad night when I’m awake 2-6 and just getting back to sleep til 9ish.

Edited

DF used to do shift work (6-2, 2-10) and still finds a lie in past 5 difficult even though he retired over a decade ago...

Dullhead · 03/10/2026 06:22

What’s your plans for the day?

LivingDeadGirlUK · 03/10/2026 06:22

itispersonal · 03/10/2026 06:17

I’ve recently started a new job and been starting later than my old job. I use to wake up my alarm at 6.20 and snooze til as late as possible and now I’m wide awake at 5!!!!!

luckily I’ve got to that point at work where I pick my working hours so I’m in the office at 7 to start my working day. So it’s having it advantages, though wasn’t so great last week when had been at a day disco, was awake at 1 and then awake again at 5!!!

It is going to horrible in winter when we’re awake at 5 and it’s freezing and dark for another nearly 3 hours

But I very rarely have a lie in most weekends I was up early (though not this early!!) I struggled in the summer holidays as I was awake early and the teen would still be asleep gone 10 and nearing to 11! Dp and I have an agreement of 9.30 wake up on Sunday with a cuppa. But I’m the one mostly up unless had a bad night when I’m awake 2-6 and just getting back to sleep til 9ish.

Edited

I actually got a daylight lamp for this last year, have to get out of bed so not to wake my partner but would sit by it with my brew.

OP posts:
Meadowfinch · 03/10/2026 06:24

Have a lazy relax in bed OP if you can't sleep.

Make yourself a coffee, relax, browse the autumn clothes collections, start planning xmas or spring redecorating. If you have to be awake, make the most of it. Later, go for a long walk somewhere rural, a few miles at least. Plenty of fresh air & exercise. Then have a warm bubbly bath before bed. Milky drink, no alcohol.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 03/10/2026 06:25

Dullhead · 03/10/2026 06:22

What’s your plans for the day?

Catching up on cleaning. A hour of work perhaps and our son has a football match. Nothing too strenuous!

OP posts:
itispersonal · 03/10/2026 06:25

LivingDeadGirlUK · 03/10/2026 06:22

I actually got a daylight lamp for this last year, have to get out of bed so not to wake my partner but would sit by it with my brew.

I’ve got one of those and the light rising alarm clocks but I found it woke me up too early as soon as the light started I was awake.

All our house lights are day light colour as we as a household struggle in the winter months.

But being up early you up get to see some lovely sun risers.

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