i need to break this cycle.

[ILoveItWhenYouCallMeBoo]

over christmas i got into a habit of staying up very late and sleeping in later everyday. i need to break it. today i didn't get up til 1pm (mum had the dcs overnight) and i know i will never get up in teh moring to take ds to school and even when i do, i will go back to bed with ds2 afetrwards. i can't do this anymore. i need to break it. getting up early and being tired isn't working because i amd just so tired i go back to bed. i want to go to bed tonight, latest 11pm and i want to sleep.

what can i do? i cant take sleeping tablets as i have the dcs and no partner. how do i get myself ready to sleep at 11pm?

You need to come at it the other way - make yourself get up early every day. And start a bedtime routine for yourself - even just Ovaltine, wash, book would do it.

I've tried the getting up early but when i do i am always so tired that dy that i go back to bed anyway and then I'm not ready to sleep come bedtime.

Then set your alarm 15 minutes earlier each day. I go this way if I'm not careful and just toughing it out for a couple of days sorts it. But you could do it more gradually. Also baths before bed work, the temp drop when you get out makes your body think it's falling asleep.

ok i will have abth tonight. does anyone know whether it's true that lavender can actually keep you awake? i think I've read that somewhere.

Aaargh me too! It's a vicious circle, I end up tossing and turning in bed at 3am cos I can't get to sleep, then go back to bed when dd's gone to school cos I'm exhausted, then can't get to sleep at night (and spend all day disgusted at how much of a lazy cow I am!)

I'm back at uni the week after next so need to get a grip quickly or the 6am mornings are sooo gonna kill me

I've just been googling and yes it looks like stickers is right maisy. we need to get up in the morning and fight the tiredness for that day and gho to bed at the 'normal' (say 10/11pm) that night and hopefully the pattern will break. still going to try the bath tonight.

You have to get up at a reasonable time & take a multivitamin with iron with your breakfast .... then force yourself to stay awake at all costs, be active around the house and then go outside and take a long, brisk walk about 2-3 hours before you plan to go to bed. Follow up with a good supper & hot bath....

Multivitamin & breakfast recommended because sleep/fatigue issues sometimes have a nutritional/poor general health base. (You may even find it's a good idea to see your doctor for a medical check-up) Fresh air & exercise recommended to make you physically tired as opposed to mentally weary.

thank you chil, i hadn't considered my nutrition as a factor. i will try that and hopefully break teh cycle.

Boredom's another biggie, of course. If you've got nothing worth staying awake for it's tempting to lie down. Could you get some kind of absorbing project going at home, perhaps?

i think that is a huge factor chil. i left work last may and am waiting to be registered fro CMing so have nothing at the minute apart from the school run and general housey stuff to get up for.

Buy one of my relaxation cd's to help you drift off!!!

ohh frosty, you have just reminded me. i got hynotised about a year and a half ago for an eating issue. the hypnotism didn't work except for the fact that the cd he gave me to listen to for a month was very good in putting me to sleep. must see if i can dig it out.

There you go... Sounds like you need to find something that gives you a sense of purpose. DIY projects are my solution to boredom but it's not everyone's cup of tea :) Maybe rather than coming straight home after the school run you could head out for the day and find something fun to do with your youngest for the morning? Go to a library/museum/gallery? Visit a friend?

Glad to be of service Boo! In fact maybe a strange coincidence I am a hypnotherapist and my cd uses a technige I use with my clients!!

yes i think that should be the plan. i think i have, no, i know i have just gotten into this terrible cycle that i leave myself in a situation where i know i have to face the house (it's a mess) at some point so rather than plan to go out i plan to go home and get on with things but then i never do, tehre is no joy in sorting the house so i don't attactk it with any vigour and then before i know it the day is done and nothing has been achieved, but i do think starting my days off properly again will be the best way to get things going again.

coincidence or fate frosty?

on a side note, as a hynotherapist, would there be any reason why my session wasn't succesful? it was expensive and i don't want to try again if it just a case of me not being hypnotiseable (is that even a word? )

Did you beleive it would work Boo? There are very, very few people who can't be hypnotised! If you can sleep at all (even if it is at the "wrong" time of day!)then you can be hypnotised as it is only really being in a relaxed state of mind. You have to want the change though as no-one can MAKE you do anything you don't want to - not even a hypnotherapist!!

Another thought might be how you felt about the therapist. Did you trust them? We don't get on with everyone in real life and therapist/clients are no different.

well, i was and, still am a bit dubious about hypnotherapy, not helped by my evercynical dad telling me i was wasting my money. i didn't feel at all relaxed when it was happening. i kept thinking "nothing's happening" i know that sounds really stupid, as it isn't magic but i did expect to feel an obvious relaxing of everything. i desperatley wanted it. i think i have given up wanting it now because i have resigned myself to being this way and i think, I've survived this far. if it wasn't for my chidlren it wouldn't be an issue but for them i think they deserve a good role model, and at the moment i am not able to be that.

That might explain it then! You should feel relaxed during the session if nothing else. I think it is a shame that you feel resigned to living with your "issue" though. Hypnotherapy can be very powerful but I do think that it isn't for everyone! Do you live near me, I could try again for you??!!

Hopefully though if the cd you were given helps you drift off to sleep now then it wasn't a complete waste of money!!

i am in northern ireland.

yes that was the silver lining on the cloud, the fact the cd was so good at sending me off. really must go and dig it out.

Mmmmm a bit far maybe - I'm in South Wales!!

Dig out the cd, have a nice warm bath and relax into your nice comfy bed. Tomorrow you'll feel refreshed and ready to start the day and not want to go back to bed after the school run. Do it again tomorrow night and very soon you'll be back to your normal preChristmas routine with your cm charges under your feet!!

luckily, (for them ) i have no charges yet. I'm still waiting to be registered.

but yes, once corrie is over I'm heading to the bath. CD was in the cd player! imagine that

What an imaginative place to keep a cd??!!

Enjoy your bath and hope you have a restful evening and a good nights sleep!

thanks frosty, and others for advice.