Are you a ‘good’ sleeper? Maybe you have difficulty falling asleep in the first place? Or do you wake up, perhaps several times, during the night?
I never seem to have any trouble going to sleep but I do tend to wake up in the early hours of the morning, when all those weird and worrying thoughts take over my brain. Then I find it really difficult to get back to sleep.
Apparently, I’m not alone. Since the pandemic first reared its ugly head, there have been many articles advising us on how to improve our sleep. Many of these focus on ‘sleep hygiene’ and ensuring that you, and your bedroom, are sleep ready. Strangely, when lockdown first happened, I was sleeping surprisingly well.
However, once lockdown eased and we took our first steps towards the ‘new normal’, my sleep pattern went haywire.
If I wake up, I try some of the following:
- Applying lavender oil to my pillow
- Attempting various breathing strategies
- Putting on a sleep mask
- Making mental lists of ‘nice’ thoughts
- Recreating walks, in my mind, in some of my favourite places: Rhossili beach, Alum Chine to Boscombe, Hove to Brighton Marina, Canal du Midi
- Reading, preferably something fairly light-hearted
- Moving into the spare room
In France, I tend to sleep extremely well. I think this is partly, but not entirely, due to the shutters. Possibly, I feel more relaxed and there’s a sense being on holiday – even if we’re not!
In my sleep arsenal, I also have ear plugs, which I haven’t tried yet, and Rescue Night which is one of the Bach range of flower essences which I have used occasionally.
Some people are fans of sleep apps, like ‘Calm’. Another friend has recommended a grounding sheet.
What I’d like to know, lovely readers, is if you have any recommendations to help me get back to sleep, when I wake in the early hours, with my mind racing?
To finish, here are some photos of Zeph, asleep!
Fancying France 
Hi, I can’t seem to get to your story. And I can’t find a new post on your site. I wonder if WordPress ate it. It did one of mine-just disappeared of the face of blogdom. Terri
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Hi Terri! Thanks for letting me know. In this case, it wasn’t WordPress – it was me! I pressed the publish key in error – haha! The post is up there now!
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Hi June -same here I tried to get you and it was not there! I’ve often thought ooh what if I published in error!!!
I have a dreadful sleeping pattern which started over 40 years ago with my first child who never slept! Sometimes I sleep every other night resulting in me feeling like a zombie the next day, And others I have a 2-hr slot in the night between 2&4 when I’m wide awake. I try milk and a biscuit, but distraction like getting up and doing something else is useless, I’m still reading until the morning!!! I am reconciled with the fact that I don’t sleep well.
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I’m sorry to hear that you have a dreadful sleep pattern. I’m beginning to realise that it’s not uncommon with many older women. I used to be a brilliant sleeper, even when my two boys were babies, but it was the menopause that really messed with my sleep. I think accepting that one isn’t a ‘good’ sleeper and – if possible – not stressing over the fact, helps significantly. At least, we don’t have to go to work!
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P.S. Your dog is adorable
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I have to agree!!
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When I can’t sleep, I take a 500 mcg tablet of melatonin, but I find it doesn’t kick in until about 30 minutes! Cute pics of Zeph!
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You’re the second person to mention melatonin. It’s not available in the UK unless prescribed by a doctor. I believe you can still get it online but I’m not sure that I’d be confident enough to do so. I take statins and, apparently, melatonin can react with certain medications. Glad you like the pics!
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Today I learned that sweet cherries are a natural source of melatonin 🍒 it reminded me of your post 😀
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That’s interesting to know. Thank you!
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I’ve slept better during lockdown as I’ve had no external pressures on me. I also have a bedtime routine that I follow, without it I take forever to nod off. As we’re emerging from lockdown I’m finding my brain is full of too much stuff from other people and it’s keeping me awake at night. Thanks for joining in with #pocolo and hope to see you back at the end of this week
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I’m ok at the nodding off, it’s the stuff (like you) that crowds my brain in the middle of the night. Thanks for commenting #pocolo
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No problem getting off to sleep but I’m regularly seeing 3.37am when I really don’t need to. Not sure it’s totally lockdown related, but I’d be happy to not see it! Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo
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It’s always reassuring to know that one isn’t alone! I think quite a lot of sleep problems are hormone related, too. Thanks for passing by. #PoCoLo
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My sleep patterns are atrocious. If I get six hours (and even then it’s always broken), I think it’s been an excellent night. Much more often I fall into one of two patterns: I either fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow but wake at anything from 1am to 3am and stay awake for ages, or I take hours to get off to sleep after 4am the other morning) and then am in such a deep sleep that I struggle to wake properly in the morning. My strategies (which work intermittently) are breathing mindfully (hard to keep up the concentration though), making alphabetical lists of names, going through every house I’ve lived in – room by room either remembering as much as I can of it, or redecorating it. I never ‘get up and do something’ when I can’t sleep as as I’m far too tired to even open my eyes….I just don’t fall asleep. I’ve used ‘This Works’ sleep spray but whether it actually does work, I’m not so sure.
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How do you manage with so little sleep when you are working? Or has your body become accustomed to your sleep patterns? I’m amazed by how many women have difficulty sleeping. I still think that hormones play a role in how we sleep and, without a shadow of a doubt, my sleep issues really kicked off with the menopause. I’ll definitely try some of your strategies. I use other ‘This Works’ products but have never tried the sleep spray – yet! I assume my lavender oil does a similar job. Sweet Dreams!!
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I suppose I have become used to it, June. I seem to get a better night’s sleep about every fourth night. It;s as if my body is saying, ‘ENOUGH’! I’m ok in the day until I sit down to read. Withing a few minutes I’m nodding off. Most days, however, (in normal times) I’m too busy to sit down and read! I have used lavender oil on my pillow too.
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I think you’re absolutely spot on when you say that the body almost takes over after a certain number of days without proper sleep. I’ve never been able to ‘power nap’ although I believe it works for some people.
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I can’t power nap successfully either. I can have a brief nap but I wake up feeling like I’m swimming in mud, as if I’m drugged.
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I have my best sleep when Gravel-Guy is away, it is not just the snorts, grunts and snuffles (ear plugs might help with that) but his twitches and running in his sleep. To sleep well, I need all distractions away from the bed (or in the case of Gravel-Guy), no phones or things that whirr (he has many), blackout blinds or similar, and silence…. If sleep isn’t going to happen I find it better to actually get up and do something rather than lying there buzzing with thoughts. I’d love to know the magic trick as anything I have tried has not worked so far…
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Yes, sometimes sleeping alone is the only way to get a decent night’s sleep! My OH always tells me to kick him if he snores but that doesn’t always work. Like you, I need darkness and silence. Even the dawn chorus has been known to disturb me! If only a magic trick for sleeping was available… Thanks for passing by
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