Hey Everyone,
I thought of this thread last night as I was struggling to sleep. In another thread, we talked about insomnia, but what do your bedtime routines and requirements look like?
I think I'm what you would call a high-maintenance sleeper. I've found that I'm very sensitive to temperature -- if I tuck myself in and any of my limbs feel cold (legs, feet, arms, hands,) I have to try to wear enough things (sometimes even gloves) so that my whole body feels like its at an even temperature. When the temperature in the room changes (the heater shuts off, etc.,) or one of my limbs feels colder or warmer than the others, I usually wake up and have to adjust.
Because of this, I have a bed piled with 3 blankets (it gets cold here!), 1 knit sheet (sometimes the blankets are too heavy, so just the sheet or a combination are better,) plus 4 pillows -- one on every side. I toss and turn constantly, so the pillows are something to grasp and help further support my neck. And the 4th pillow is for under my knees, which I've read is supposed to support the lower back.
I've often joked that I can't get married because I obviously wouldn't have room for a husband!
I often fall asleep early for a few hours, get up for the rest of the night, then possibly sneak in a nap before I have to start my day. This makes traveling or sharing a room with anyone else a little tricky -- I always explain my situation. And when I wake up in the middle of the night, I get up and read while everyone else is sleeping (in hotels, I wind up reading in the bathroom or closet so I don't anyone up!)
Lately I've read a few articles about "Sleep Divorce," in which couples have to sleep in separate beds, rooms, or spaces, just because their sleeping requirements are so different (or because one snores so loud!) I have sometimes thought about the fact that if I ever did marry, of course I would spend time with my husband, but I would also need my own separate sleeping space. I wouldn't want to keep waking him up with my odd quirks.
What about the rest of you?
* What does your sleep/winding down routine look like? A cup of tea? A good book? A light snack?
* What does your pillow and blanket count look like? Do you go for light covers, or do you build yourself a fort?
* If you are married, do you and your spouse have different sleep needs? How do you compromise or work out a solution?
* How do you manage your sleep needs when you travel or room with other people?
Fun fact to close off with:
As a kid, I was convinced that monsters would sneak up from under my bed, catch me by my feet, then drag me off as a prized dinner! But because I figured the monsters would only grab me by my feet or limbs, as long as I had a blanket tucked under me all the way around like a burrito, the monsters wouldn't have anything to grab onto -- and I would be safe!
To this day, I HAVE to have one blanket loose (not tucked under the mattress!) that I can tuck under my feet and limbs to keep myself safe.
What?!
I mean, obviously, this technique is STILL keeping me safe from monsters.
How about you? (Did YOU ever worry about child-eating monsters hiding under your bed?)
I thought of this thread last night as I was struggling to sleep. In another thread, we talked about insomnia, but what do your bedtime routines and requirements look like?
I think I'm what you would call a high-maintenance sleeper. I've found that I'm very sensitive to temperature -- if I tuck myself in and any of my limbs feel cold (legs, feet, arms, hands,) I have to try to wear enough things (sometimes even gloves) so that my whole body feels like its at an even temperature. When the temperature in the room changes (the heater shuts off, etc.,) or one of my limbs feels colder or warmer than the others, I usually wake up and have to adjust.
Because of this, I have a bed piled with 3 blankets (it gets cold here!), 1 knit sheet (sometimes the blankets are too heavy, so just the sheet or a combination are better,) plus 4 pillows -- one on every side. I toss and turn constantly, so the pillows are something to grasp and help further support my neck. And the 4th pillow is for under my knees, which I've read is supposed to support the lower back.
I've often joked that I can't get married because I obviously wouldn't have room for a husband!
I often fall asleep early for a few hours, get up for the rest of the night, then possibly sneak in a nap before I have to start my day. This makes traveling or sharing a room with anyone else a little tricky -- I always explain my situation. And when I wake up in the middle of the night, I get up and read while everyone else is sleeping (in hotels, I wind up reading in the bathroom or closet so I don't anyone up!)
Lately I've read a few articles about "Sleep Divorce," in which couples have to sleep in separate beds, rooms, or spaces, just because their sleeping requirements are so different (or because one snores so loud!) I have sometimes thought about the fact that if I ever did marry, of course I would spend time with my husband, but I would also need my own separate sleeping space. I wouldn't want to keep waking him up with my odd quirks.
What about the rest of you?
* What does your sleep/winding down routine look like? A cup of tea? A good book? A light snack?
* What does your pillow and blanket count look like? Do you go for light covers, or do you build yourself a fort?
* If you are married, do you and your spouse have different sleep needs? How do you compromise or work out a solution?
* How do you manage your sleep needs when you travel or room with other people?
Fun fact to close off with:
As a kid, I was convinced that monsters would sneak up from under my bed, catch me by my feet, then drag me off as a prized dinner! But because I figured the monsters would only grab me by my feet or limbs, as long as I had a blanket tucked under me all the way around like a burrito, the monsters wouldn't have anything to grab onto -- and I would be safe!
To this day, I HAVE to have one blanket loose (not tucked under the mattress!) that I can tuck under my feet and limbs to keep myself safe.
What?!
I mean, obviously, this technique is STILL keeping me safe from monsters.
How about you? (Did YOU ever worry about child-eating monsters hiding under your bed?)
