*This post has been sponsored by beds.net
You know how in January I launched a bunch of new blog series’ and then abandoned them because my final year of Uni was a b*tch? Well, we’re bringing those back. Let’s talk about the fact that I don’t sleep yet again.
It's a longterm problem
If you’ve been around here long enough, you will know that I am awful with sleep. I’ve written about sleep deprivation, my awful sleeping pattern, and back when I first started this blog I had a series that literally involved me rambling at 2 am in the morning.
It’s not that I don’t try, because I (sort of) do. Even when I’m lying in my bed at 9 pm, convinced that I’ll get a good sleep for the day ahead, I end up staring at my ceiling at 3 am, still wide awake and cranky that I’ve wasted so much of the day. Maybe I’ve trained my body now? Maybe I just missed that “normal people lesson” that taught you how to get a good nights sleep… I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m just starting to believe that it’s a part of me.
But there's gotta be a reason.
I am a logical person, and I like to believe that there’s a reason for everything. Therefore, with my own knowledge of myself and the research conducted by beds.net I have come up with a few theories of my own.
I think too much.
I’m sure it comes as no surprise to anyone that has met me or reads this that I am a massive overthinker. Give me more than three minutes to myself and my mind spirals so much that it may as well whack on a sparkly dress and figure skate. So leave me in a bed on my own in the silence and the dark and my mind has a field day. Next thing I know, I’m up in the wee hours of the morning contemplating the point of existence.
I have a streaming addiction
I have this (somewhat common) problem that if I start a TV series on Netflix/Amazon prime then I have a real problem putting it down. What can I say? I like to see things through until the end. It’s gotten so bad that now I can’t really fall asleep without the sound of Netflix in the background. However, if the show is too interesting or stimulating, I end up watching the episode for hours instead.
I don't like being idle
If you hadn’t already noticed, I’m the sort of person that may as well have “overworker” tattooed on their forehead. I tend to spread myself too thin and end up super stressed because I hate feeling like I’m doing nothing. The idea of lying in bed and spending hours of my life switched off sits terribly with me. I know that it’s not technically a “waste of time” and that your body needs time to recuperate but try telling that to my overthinking brain. It’s impossible. So here we are.
It's really not great
I can joke about it all I like, but it actually is a problem. Sleep exists for a reason, and whilst I might feel find existing on 4-6 hours a night now, the older I get, the more my body will hate me for it. The truth is if I’m trying to be better with what I eat and how much I exercise then I have to protect my brain too. I need to take better care of myself, and that involves upping the amount that I sleep.
There’s only one problem… I don’t know how. As I said, I’ve always been like this. Though I’ve sort of pinpointed reasons, I have no real solution to any of them (Other than putting down my Netflix at night… but that’s the last resort I suppose.) So, for the next few months or so I will be monitoring my sleep patterns, and changing certain aspects of my bedtime manner/routines to see if I can make a difference.
I don’t know how well it will work or if it will work at all, but as a new shiny 22 year old, I want to start actually making positive improvements to my wellbeing. Watch this space…
Let me know what your best sleeping habits are!
Lots of love,
Jas xx
Aw Jasmine, I know the sleepless feeling all too well. I am a chronic insomniac, and like you, I have a certain panache for over thinking at 3 am. I have an inability to switch off, and then end up ill because of it. I so wish I could sleep better, sadly I have no words of wisdom, only that I too am invariably awake if you want someone to ramble to! Thanks for sharing, sorry I am no help,
H x
Thanks so much, nice to hear that somebody else can relate! Hopefully we both find a way to start sleeping!
Jas xx
Overall I don’t have the worst sleep pattern but I hate the fact that I wake up multiple times a night and I never actually have a full nights sleep.
I bet tracking your sleeping pattern will help in some way! X
Yeah, gonna try tracking it and see! xx
If I start thinking before bed, it will keep me awake and I will have a terrible sleep. Streaming before bed gives me too much adrenaline. But at the same time, it is hard to have the motivation to do something else ahah! Reading an hour before bed does help falling asleep faster
I really want to get back into reading before bed! xx
Not being able to sleep is the worst. I have periods where I just stare at nothing for hours not being able to sleep. But, I’ve found this hypnosis app for my phone. It’s actually for stopping sweet cravings, but the induction into that relaxing state you need to be in is so calming I always fall asleep before the actual hypnosis begins. Maybe you could try something like it 🙂
Ooo I’ll look into it, thank you!
I’m an always on the go overworker as well and getting a proper night’s sleep has always been a struggle for me. I simply can’t shut my head off and settle into sleep the way so many people seem to do… I wish I could!
Me too! xx
I don’t have problems sleeping, thankfully. But I do wake up multiple times every single night. Usually to pee or just from being uncomfy. I don’t like being idle either, so I can totally relate to that point. I read a quote recently that said, “You have enough energy for one day at a time” and it really helped! x
Oooo I like that quote – will try and keep that in mind, thanks Jenny! xx
I always have difficulty falling asleep. My boyfriend is asleep in seconds and I just stare at the damn ceiling! I also tend to think to much and my mind just wanders. I also have difficult staying asleep, but slowly I’ve been figuring out those problems! So I totally understand the 2 am rambles lol.
My best advice and something my boyfriend DOES NOT agree with is keep the bedroom chilly! Either open windows or fan or AC. It helps me a decent amount that it’s worth mentioning.
Oooo okay, I’ll try sleeping with my fan on and seeing if that does anything! xx
I am definitely a night owl and feel you on the trouble of sleep. Sleep is essential! For me, I power down an hour before bed and either write or read.
I may try this, thank you! xx
I kid you not, you’re like my spirit animal ?. I have the same issues. I HATE being idle so when I should be sleeping, I always feel like I SHOULD be being productive somehow. And I have recently been losing my sleep over a show I’ve been unhealthily obsessed watching. So I COMPLETELY understand. I’m a lot better with my sleeping habits now, but I think I’ve been making life changes to practice it for about… two years now? Lol it takes a lot
Hahaha SNAP, I really need to start making life changes! xx
I totally relate with the overthinking/netflix issues – Once my brain gets going it doesnt stop! I have to listen to a podcast to sleep now ?
Jess | http://www.jessrigg.com
I might try listening to podcasts and see if that helps actually! xx
Thank you for retelling my life story to me like this. Really appreciate the effort xoxo.
But in all seriousness, I always thought as I got older I’d just learn to sleep better naturally. Does that mean I’m not old yet?? x
Sophie
Hahaha Sophie, we’re so similar! Yes, that’s exactly what it means. We’re both young. Super young. Practically babies xx
I have some of the worst sleep, I’ve always had insomnia but as an adult it got so much worse because I work nights! Thanks for sharing x
Ugh I can imagine how working nights would mess with your sleep! xx
Sleep is something I also definitely need to work more on – whenever it’s time to go to sleep my brain is like doing gymnastics for an hour before I actually fall asleep. I wish I had a Netflix series I loved that much haha, but I’ve definitely binge watched a season on there before!
I definitely relate to the feeling of ‘I’m doing nothing’ if I’m not doing a million and one things. Especially when goals are like a blinking red light of ‘much achieve this immediately!’ – I feel like I always feel I’m falling behind if I’m not working on something or resting for a few minutes.
WAIT EXISTING ON 4-6 HOURS OH NO – I’d be half asleep throughout the day haha – have you tried using Headspace, I’ve been meaning to try it to relax more, I’ve heard such great things about it!
Hahhaa I love your final paragraph here! I actually am going to try Headspace over Christmas and hope for the best xx
Girl, when you mentioned streaming addictions, you are describing me perfectly. I’m literally streaming a medical drama as I type this. I try to take a break from TV for the hour or so before I go to sleep but it’s difficult. I do love spraying lavender on my pillow though! It helps calmer my mind before I fall asleep.
Oooo I will try spraying lavendar on my pillow! xx