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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

2 hours sleep and big day at work, so cross with myself

63 replies

EezyOozy · 05/02/2024 07:12

Oh god

i suffer from insomnia from time to time, usually before an important event

ive been in my new job 2 weeks and it’s quite full on learning everything new. I also have some non work related worries but have generally been sleeping okay.

on Saturday night I didn’t sleep great (maybe 5 hours) and last night I got 2! Lay awake for hours, nodded off for a bit, woke up at 4.30 for a wee and stayed awake despite doing all the right thing

today is a big day at work, I have to do something important and complicated . I’m so annoyed with myself. I’m exhausted ! Why does my brain sabotage me like this :-(

I’ve got two young kids to get ready and do the delightful school run first , then rush to work.

Any advice ?!!!!

OP posts:
MamaBearsss · 05/02/2024 07:14

Coffee

StuffLoriThangs · 05/02/2024 07:14

No real advice for long term. But short term, your body will just need some fuel today. The brains preferred fuel is sugar, so sugary type drinks could be your friend today.

Curlewwoohoo · 05/02/2024 07:15

I'd probably go for coffee, sugar, and depending on the situation and people, honesty with a couple of colleagues that I hadn't got much sleep. Hope that they're understanding. Good luck op!

Original poster
EezyOozy · 05/02/2024 07:16

My manager is nice and has had children and knows about being tired. I think I’m going to explain and be honest. I think I’ll feel better for it

OP posts:
Zaranj · 05/02/2024 07:16

Good luck. If you were in bed you would have at least had some rest. Shower, breakfast and crack on with the important things first.

UmaniCaroline · 05/02/2024 07:16

I have similar problems with sleep.
If I know I must have a good sleep for a particular reason I take a Nytol. Does the trick for me.

Original poster
EezyOozy · 05/02/2024 07:16

Thank you everyone. I really need a friend today. I get so cross with myself when this happens.

OP posts:
RNBrie · 05/02/2024 07:17

Sorry to say it, but I think this is really common. If you're not a great sleeper anyway, it's always going to be worse when something stressful is happening.

In my experience, the adrenalin of the stressful situation will carry you through it, but you're likely to feel like absolute shit tonight!! Try and clear your evening so you can get to bed at a sensible time and hopefully manage a restorative sleep tonight.

Have you seen a GP about your insomnia in general? There are various things you can try to do to help. Mine is largely under control but I still have a shit nights sleep whenever something big is happening the next day.

You'll be great, I'm sure Flowers

Curlewwoohoo · 05/02/2024 07:17

My daughter has sleep problems, she listens to guided mindfulness meditations on audible. Could be worth looking into that for the future.

UpUpUpU · 05/02/2024 07:18

Agree with sweet coffee and lots of carby food.

Not the same at all but when I do night shifts I often do the first one with no prior sleep and you do just get through on grit and determination.

Good luck OP and I hope you sleep better tonight.

Barbarbaranne · 05/02/2024 07:18

I hear you, you sound just like me!
Don't go for the sugary drinks and food they'll make you feel awful.
Have something proteiny for breakfast (eggs, Greek yoghurt) plenty of water and coffee is your friend here! Eye drops if you have them for tired eyes, plenty of moisturiser on your face, let it sink in before you put any make up on. Good luck - you can go back to bed in 12-13 hours!

Pippa12 · 05/02/2024 07:19

This happens to me often, likely due to shift work- 50% nights/days.

If I haven’t slept for a night I often find I perform ok on that day, it’s the day after I suffer. Hopefully you’ll be the same and get through today on adrenaline. Don’t keep thinking or saying I’m tired repeatedly, push it to the back of your mind and crack on!

Original poster
EezyOozy · 05/02/2024 07:19

yup I’ll be going to be very early tonight that’s for sure

OP posts:
lifeispainauchocolat · 05/02/2024 07:19

Coffee and a decent sized breakfast.

Spirael · 05/02/2024 07:20

For longer term advice... How old are you? Could it be peri-menopause? The first and most debilitating symptom I had was insomnia, and the only thing that truly fixed it was HRT.

Before I got to the root cause, other things that helped were playing white noise at night, a weighted blanket, cutting out all caffeine, and occasionally using half the lowest dose of sleeping tablet before critical days.

Original poster
EezyOozy · 05/02/2024 07:20

I’m so glad people understand !

OP posts:
Original poster
EezyOozy · 05/02/2024 07:23

Im 38 but I think this is just my personality. I’m an over thinker. I’m very efficient and organised etc etc…. But this is the other side of that

OP posts:
Createausername1970 · 05/02/2024 07:23

The 3 C's. Coffee, carbs and chocolate.

And a bit of honesty. If you say you had a bad night sleep because you were over thinking things, but they can see you are still present and getting on with the tasks you need too, then they should be fine.

Especially if you take bakery goods to share with your colleagues. Nothing like an unexpected jam doughnut on a miserable Monday morning!

hmmmwhattodo · 05/02/2024 07:32

EezyOozy · 05/02/2024 07:16

My manager is nice and has had children and knows about being tired. I think I’m going to explain and be honest. I think I’ll feel better for it

I wouldn't mention to your boss. You've only been there two weeks; everyone is 'nice' when you start a new job.

It shouldn't be the case; you should be able to speak freely about this and other health type issues, but some managers would mentally flag this as a potential future problem, and might consider this if you don't fly through your probation.

Sorry if that sounds really negative. Power on this morning, coffee/sugar, and hopefully a restful evening tonight :)

whereaw · 05/02/2024 07:33

I get chronic insomnia. 2 hours is quite a regular occurrence for me. I would say lots and lots of water, snack on nuts, fruit, and eat things like chicken salad for lunch. Your body needs to be filled up with goodness. I would have coffee but not too much, try to also have things like green tea too. If you fill your body with rubbish you will feel more rubbish. Also DO NOT think or dwell on how little sleep you had, tell yourself you were lying down and resting. Positive mindset is everything.

10storeylovesong · 05/02/2024 07:37

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

Heatherbell1978 · 05/02/2024 07:37

This sounds like me. When I've zero sleep, that feeling of doom in the morning is awful. Usually a few sweet coffees later and I can face the day.

barkymcbark · 05/02/2024 07:39

My body does this, especially if I know I've got a stressful day. It seems to run ok for the first few hours, so maybe try and get all the complicated stuff out the way first, and then try to soldier through the rest.

RagzRebooted · 05/02/2024 07:44

Aww bless you. That's horrible.
My DH did exactly the same last week. New job. Stressful/busy first few weeks. Sunday night he got 2 hours sleep (though to be fair he did nap in the afternoon) and although he was fine at work, that evening he was all tearful and anxious (working away so I couldn't help!).
After a good sleep on the Monday he was fine again. But lack of sleep is just awful.
Sugar and coffee and some decent meals will hopefully get you through.

Froniga · 05/02/2024 07:45

Stock up on Red Bull! Try and take yourself off at lunch time somewhere quiet, set an alarm on your phone and have a half hour nap.
Good luck

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