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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think some people don't prioritise sleep enough?

156 replies

Hadtocomment · 15/12/2021 16:26

Reading the other thread where various posters seemed to be getting somewhat competitive about how early they get up etc. I was genuinely curious as to if people getting up seriously early also go to bed really early. We know sleep is important to health and people maybe need different amounts too. I was also taken aback by judgemental comments implying that the op should look at her diet and exercise if she was needing so much sleep as though enjoying sleep was some sort of health problem! So I just wondered. How much sleep do you need/get? And those getting up super early are you going to bed super early too to get enough hours or do you naturally not need much sleep?

myself I reckon I need around 8 and a half to 9 hrs to feel optimum and I've always been like this. I can manage on a bit less for some days but catches up with me and have to make it up at some point.

(I understand those with small children may be getting a lot less sleep for a while or broken up sleep and don't want this thread to be ignorant towards those struggling with sleep as I know that can be really tough. )

OP posts:
Couchbettato · 15/12/2021 17:27

I know I need 8 and a half hours of sleep to feel rested and energised.

My ex always used to tout "scientists have proven if you sleep over 6.5 hours you'll die earlier" and "nobody NEEDS more than 7 hours sleep".

Honestly wanted to put him under the patio.

Dear ex, hope you're well. May we never speak again.

GoodTid · 15/12/2021 17:27

I can sleep for hours, that's Multiple Sclerosis for ya !!

Usually get between 9 and 10 hours a night (go to bed early - need to be up for work) and will often sleep in my lunch break.

I don't function very well on less sleep.

Want2beme · 15/12/2021 17:29

I'm fine with between 5 to 7 hours. I can't imagine going to bed before midnight. I really feel for anyone who struggles with not sleeping. My DM has this problem. She's able to fall asleep, but wakes up a few hours later.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 15/12/2021 17:31

I always get jealous on threads like this. I've never slept more than 5-6hrs (not including the multiple times I wake up during those 'sleeping hours'.
A few years ago it dropped to about 4hrs and I can survive on that. But over the last couple of months I'm lucky to get 2hrs. I'm absolutely shattered, short tempered, bad memory, affects my job, constantly ill etc.
I'm 7mths pregnant so will soon be kept up all night anyway. Having 2 under 2yrs will probably tip me over the edge.

Campervan69 · 15/12/2021 17:32

I love my bed. Usually asleep by 11pm. Up at 7.30 am. So around 8 hours every night.

CMOTDibbler · 15/12/2021 17:38

I need 8 hours, much better on 9. Chronic pain means that the quality of my sleep isn't great

HangOnToYourself · 15/12/2021 17:41

Reading this is as an insomniac is painful 😂 on a really good night I will get 6-6.5 hours bit usually 4-5. I feel horrendous most of the time.

Original poster
Hadtocomment · 15/12/2021 17:56

I'm really sorry to those who are struggling with sleep. I have before and it's rotten. And I didn't mean to start a thread that was painful to read. I was just curious and the judgementalness on the other thread towards someone who seemed to be getting a good night's sleep and everything else done as well made me very curious because sleep is so important that I found it strange how people equate prioritising sleep with laziness rather than seeing it as much of a priority as exercise or any other looking after yourself measure.

But at the same time I really appreciate that not all of us have the luxury of sleeping as long as we'd like or as much as we really need - whether through difficult shift working hours or illness or small children or even hormones etc. I had a period of time where I had a very bad injury where I got very very little sleep indeed. It was hellish. And made worse that it was long miserable hours in a lot of pain as well. Thankfully this was temporary - although it was for a period of months. But it made me appreciate how important sleep is and how i wouldn't take it for granted again. It feels like an enormous relief being able to get proper sleep again. But having gone through that I do know how rotten it is to do without enough night after night and didn't want to start a thread that made anyone feel worse. For all those struggling I hope that it improves for you soon whenever life and circumstances enable that - or that you can get some help to sleep better if it's more of a chronic problem.

OP posts:
hangrylady · 15/12/2021 17:59

8 is ideal but in reality I usually get more like 7. I can just about function on 6 but not ideal.

KatyMac · 15/12/2021 18:01

I have ME/CFS/FM so I could sleep for Engalnd 9-10 at night and hour at lunchtime and an hour at 6ish!

Then surgical menopause and I stopped sleeping for more than about an hour at a time - I was not functioning at all

Hrt and I found a new regular of 11-7
Plus 2 mid afternoon

Now post Covid, 10/11 until 2 then 4/5 till 11 plus a 2-3 hour nap mid afternoon

It's killing me!

HangOnToYourself · 15/12/2021 18:04

@Hadtocomment

I'm really sorry to those who are struggling with sleep. I have before and it's rotten. And I didn't mean to start a thread that was painful to read. I was just curious and the judgementalness on the other thread towards someone who seemed to be getting a good night's sleep and everything else done as well made me very curious because sleep is so important that I found it strange how people equate prioritising sleep with laziness rather than seeing it as much of a priority as exercise or any other looking after yourself measure.

But at the same time I really appreciate that not all of us have the luxury of sleeping as long as we'd like or as much as we really need - whether through difficult shift working hours or illness or small children or even hormones etc. I had a period of time where I had a very bad injury where I got very very little sleep indeed. It was hellish. And made worse that it was long miserable hours in a lot of pain as well. Thankfully this was temporary - although it was for a period of months. But it made me appreciate how important sleep is and how i wouldn't take it for granted again. It feels like an enormous relief being able to get proper sleep again. But having gone through that I do know how rotten it is to do without enough night after night and didn't want to start a thread that made anyone feel worse. For all those struggling I hope that it improves for you soon whenever life and circumstances enable that - or that you can get some help to sleep better if it's more of a chronic problem.

Sorry op, I certainly didnt mean to suggest that you shouldnt have started the thread, I was just having a whinge Grin It is genuinely interesting to see how much sleep others get, it does blow my mind that some people can simply go to bed and fall asleep without taking some form of sleeping tablet then spending a few hours going through varying levels of anxiety haha, I'm definitely very jealous!
nokidshere · 15/12/2021 18:08

It takes me 2.5-3 hours to fall asleep so I sleep better if I can get to sleep before midnight. But I wake frequently in the night and my average sleep time is 4-5hours. I like to be up by 8 though or I feel groggy in the day. I've been an insomniac since I was 15 though and I'm now 60 so I guess my body is just used to it.

OfMinceAndMen · 15/12/2021 18:26

I set my alarm for 6am. I don't leave the house until 7.55am, but I'd rather have a long, chilled morning than be asleep. I've always been this way.
I then struggle not to fall asleep by 9.30pm!
I never sleep through the night so I suppose I get a broken 7-8 hours a night.

WonderfulYou · 15/12/2021 18:28

I get up at 5:30am so to get 8 hours I would need to be asleep by 9:30, so in bed by 9pm.
I would love to be in bed by 9pm every night but it’s not possible.

I could easily sleep 10 hours a night if I had the time.
It’s scary how sleep affects you.
I watched a TED talk and it was vey interesting/worrying.

Topseyt · 15/12/2021 18:30

@rubyslippers

I do not get anywhere near good amounts of sleep I may average 4-5 hours in a block plus broken sleep after that I can’t remember the last time I slept after 5.30 am or got woken by my alarm Sleep has been ruined by years of non sleeping kids, health issues and now peri menopause I wish I could sleep
I have to say that I am rather like that too.

My kids were pretty good sleepers, but the rest of it still applies. I've always tended to sleep soundly in fairly short bursts and I really don't know why. It does seem worse now that I am perimenopausal.

Greenandcabbagelooking · 15/12/2021 18:30

I need about 9 hours in bed, with maybe 15 minutes of winding down/up at either side of 8 and a half hours of actual sleep.

WarmthAndDepth · 15/12/2021 18:34

Would love to have more sleep but with my job it's not going to happen. I mark and plan lessons between 10pm - midnight / 1am after I've settled my DC and washed up, put away and tidied up for the night. It's grim, but I can't seem to get it done in less than that time, there's always so much to prep. I generally get between 5 and 6 hours a night.

lockdownalli · 15/12/2021 18:34

IME "larks" i.e. those who go to bed early and get up early, get much more sleep than those who go to bed late.

This is largely because our society favours larks, and there are lots of studies showing the negative health impacts of being a natural night owl.

The people I know who genuinely just don't prioritise sleep, but carry on moaning about how tired they are, are big drinkers who stay up late drinking, despite having to get up at a normal time (7am) for work/daily life.

If I don't get a minimum of 8 hours I feel like shit. My normal sleeping cycle is 10.30 - 6.30.

lockdownalli · 15/12/2021 18:35

Oh yes, and since menopause, an afternoon nap is also very welcome Grin

TheChosenTwo · 15/12/2021 18:36

I’m okay with about 5 hours most nights, I do have some weekends where I sleep 8/9 hours for a couple of nights in a row and it recharges me!
I do however spend a lot of time reading in bed so I’m often very well rested which is also important for overall health and well-being.
I have a friend who swears she can’t function on less than 10 hours a night, I always thought that was loads but it’s probably not really. I just can’t fathom being in bed at 9 o’clock when usually I’ve not long eaten at 9!!

Tulips21 · 15/12/2021 18:38

I need a lot more than the 6hrs I get...
But I'm stupid each night and go to bed usually 12.30-1am, a v.bad habbit I need to break!

DebbieHarrysCheekbones · 15/12/2021 18:39

I dream - not literally sadly - about getting decent sleep
Since my youngest child was born four years ago I have never had a single night of unbroken sleep and not more than two hours sleep at a time

It has wrecked my physical and emotional healthy I do wonder sometimes how I’m still alive

I am insanely jealous of these to bed at 10 sleep through until 7 people

pilates · 15/12/2021 18:41

I feel good on 8 hours but don’t always get it.

I quite like an afternoon nap now and then.

80sMum · 15/12/2021 18:47

I average between 4.5 and 5 hours a night. I wish it were more.
I used to be in bed by 10.30 and asleep before 11.00, then up at 6.00.
But nowadays I find myself still up well beyond midnight.
I keep trying to train myself to go to bed earlier but have rarely succeeded in getting to sleep before 1.00am and I often tend to wake at around 6.00am, even though I'm now retired and have no need to get up early.

thewhatsit · 15/12/2021 18:48

I absolutely prioritise sleep!
I’ve not had an unbroken night of sleep for 5.5 years because of DC. Nearly 3 year old wakes a gazillion times a night. I compensate for this by going to bed as early as I feel I need, which may be 8pm often, and feel zero guilt for this.