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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get up and do the housework at this time?!

15 replies

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 09/02/2023 02:15

Went to bed with DS at 7pm as he is a bit poorly (nothing a bit of time, cuddles, and cbeebies won't fix hopefully!) & was expecting a really unsettled night. He has woke a few times and I've managed to cuddle him back to sleep. I now feel wide awake & am very tempted to have a coffee and quietly tidy up the housework I've had to leave due to toddler being glued to me over last few days. I wouldn't run the hoover until the morning, and there's only me and my son here so wouldnt disturb anyone.
I've perused MN for around an hour and now feel that I should either just get up and do something useful or really try to get back to sleep. Hmm- am i practical or is it lunacy to get up and tidy up at this time?

OP posts:
Goandplay · 09/02/2023 02:18

I would if I could as you. All my housework is upstairs so trapped unable to sleep and unable to be productive.

HirplesWithHaggis · 09/02/2023 02:20

Do it! It'll feel great when you come down in the morning to a tidy house. I used to cook in the small hours, things like chilli or spag bol, easily reheated the next day

Original poster
Wavescrashingonthebeach · 09/02/2023 02:23

I used to do stuff like this when I was pregnant I was sleeping really odd hours then I'd get up at 3am and walk the dog and clean and watch the sunrise.
But yes lying in bed awake it's that limbo between rest vs productivity. F* it I'm going to put the kettle on 😂

OP posts:
MarshaMelrose · 09/02/2023 02:47

I live in a semi-detached so I wouldn't want to risk disturbing next door. But when I'm looking after my mum's detached, I often start the housework at about 11pm. I'm so productive at that time at night.

Shangrilalala · 09/02/2023 03:04

I used to be a middle of the night ironer. Can’t abide just lying awake and fretting about not sleeping. Low noise/potential to disturb and marvellous to see the bottom of an empty ironing basket the next day.

Rightsraptor · 09/02/2023 04:05

Yes, get up and do quiet things. I've just woken after 3.5h seep, as I often do and am back in bed with a brew & you. I believe it's very common in some societies (and was in ours once) to have 2 sleeps and people got up and did things.

I live alone, so not too concerned about anyone else. I'll often unload the dishwasher or do a bit of general tidying up/sorting out. Nothing noisy..

Now I'm hoping to bore myself back to sleep playing patience on my tablet.

Summer2424 · 09/02/2023 04:57

Hi @Wavescrashingonthebeach i would defo opt to do the housework, feels so good when everything is tidy and clean 👌

ThreeblackCats · 09/02/2023 04:58

Do it!
my most productive hours are usually between midnight and 4am.

I love summer as the dawn arrives early and it doesn’t feel like night time once it’s light.

I usually clear my ironing, a nice quiet job, until the night I woke my husband because I was singing too loudly! I had the radio on, of course.

PatsysBeehive · 09/02/2023 05:01

Yeah I would, hopefully you might get a nap with your son later. Hope he feels better soon. I couldn't sleep either so got up and put a wash on at 4.

Turkeyneck101 · 09/02/2023 05:11

Used to find that if I couldnt sleep or woke up very early, if i got up and did some housework and then had a cuppa and a bit of toast I could go back to bed and sleep. Sometimes just the tea and toast. Unlike now lying in bed on my phone and not get back to sleep. (Like now).

GrumpyPanda · 09/02/2023 05:19

You're thinking about Roger Ekirch's work on biphasic sleep in history. Here's a good description:

www.bbc.com/future/article/20220107-the-lost-medieval-habit-of-biphasic-sleep

704703hey · 09/02/2023 05:22

Turkeyneck101 · 09/02/2023 05:11

Used to find that if I couldnt sleep or woke up very early, if i got up and did some housework and then had a cuppa and a bit of toast I could go back to bed and sleep. Sometimes just the tea and toast. Unlike now lying in bed on my phone and not get back to sleep. (Like now).

I read something about what you said is best, if you're just lying there then get up and do something then it should be much easier to go back to bed and sleep.

OP that sounds fine if noise permissible

BabyOnBoard90 · 09/02/2023 05:54

Whatever makes you happy dear

Original poster
Wavescrashingonthebeach · 09/02/2023 07:45

Good morning all, thank you all for your replies. I got up, had a coffee looking at some stuff on my phone, put a hair mask on, went through my kitchen cupboards and meal planned til payday, then cleared all the toys out of the living room. There were so many- really need a charity shop run!

I was about to start cleaning the living room when the tiredness came back so went back to sleep and just woke up with DS now.

Think il do the same tonight go to sleep with DS and try and have a wee small hours organised!

Roll on Summer when it gets light at 4am 😃

OP posts:
ImustLearn2Cook · 09/02/2023 08:47

GrumpyPanda · 09/02/2023 05:19

You're thinking about Roger Ekirch's work on biphasic sleep in history. Here's a good description:

www.bbc.com/future/article/20220107-the-lost-medieval-habit-of-biphasic-sleep

That’s a very interesting article @GrumpyPanda.

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