151–160 of 162 posts
My tactic for falling asleep just about anywhere is over-ear headphones (QC35) and a sleeping mask. Sleeping slightly on your side is no problem with QC35 and if the noise around you is low enough you don't even need white noise. The battery lasts a couple of nights too (esp with no white noise on). I've tried doing the same with Sonys over-ear but they make a loud noise when I move my head so they don't work for me…
For the last several years, I wake up almost every morning after only 4-5 hours of sleep. Then I don't feel right during the day unless I am able to go back to sleep. It makes me think that theory of pre-industrial dual sleep periods may be true. It's also possible that I'm just older and have to urinate. Or the reflux issues that interfere with my breathing somewhat need to be cleared out. As far as falling asleep,…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I’m curious how much coffee you drank, and others who drank coffee, quit, and had similar results. I drink one 10oz cup a day. Occasionally more but rarely. I do love it. Knowing that everyone’s physiology is different, I wonder if I would generally see notable gains in quitting 1 cup a day. I find that the people who say quitting made a difference were often drinking a pot a day. But maybe that is not true for you?
Yeah - I also always wonder if they also cut the Coke, chocolate, etc.
Biggest improvement to sleep quality I had was giving up caffeine, which isn't mentioned in this article. I'm inclined to bet, most people in the west who self report suffering form poor sleep, can narrow it down to caffeine over-consumption, since it leads you slowly to this march of death burning the candle at both ends where you drink coffee to compensate for poor sleep and you sleep poorly because of too much caf…
True, failed to mention that I never drink caffeine after 2pm. I never understood how some people can have a coffee in the evening and go to bed just fine.
However, if I have caffeine too early in the day, it makes it harder to clear my mind and sleep that night than if I had no caffeine at all.
For this reason, I aim to only have caffeine after 3pm (preferably later, depending on when I plan to go to bed).
Biggest improvement to sleep quality I had was giving up caffeine, which isn't mentioned in this article. I'm inclined to bet, most people in the west who self report suffering form poor sleep, can narrow it down to caffeine over-consumption, since it leads you slowly to this march of death burning the candle at both ends where you drink coffee to compensate for poor sleep and you sleep poorly because of too much caf…
I’m curious how much coffee you drank, and others who drank coffee, quit, and had similar results. I drink one 10oz cup a day. Occasionally more but rarely. I do love it. Knowing that everyone’s physiology is different, I wonder if I would generally see notable gains in quitting 1 cup a day. I find that the people who say quitting made a difference were often drinking a pot a day. But maybe that is not true for you?
I was a regular espresso drinker, one in the morning with my wife before work and giving it up has made a world of difference. Even a coffee at 7am was impacting my sleep, I suspect I just metabolise caffeine slowly.
I can still have a tea in the morning to replace the ritual, and chocolate doesn't cause me any issues (in moderation) so I'm not 100% caffeine free, but it's made a huge difference to my sleep quality and overall mood. The first week or so felt very sluggish, but one I was sleeping properly I now feel more alert and productive without coffee than I ever did with it.
I still have one occasionally (~2 a month I guess) because I enjoy it, but I definitely notice the sleep impact that night and feel crap the next day.
Biggest improvement to sleep quality I had was giving up caffeine, which isn't mentioned in this article. I'm inclined to bet, most people in the west who self report suffering form poor sleep, can narrow it down to caffeine over-consumption, since it leads you slowly to this march of death burning the candle at both ends where you drink coffee to compensate for poor sleep and you sleep poorly because of too much caf…
I'll chime in here too. I gave up caffeine on a lark during lockdowns. Man, great decision. I've never slept better and my anxiety went way down too. I'd had no idea what that stimulant happened to be doing to my system. I had been tapering down my caffeine consumption too, but going cold turkey had a major difference for me. I'll caution that 3 days of pretty intense headaches were the cost, but for me, the benefits…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'll chime in here too. I gave up caffeine on a lark during lockdowns. Man, great decision. I've never slept better and my anxiety went way down too. I'd had no idea what that stimulant happened to be doing to my system. I had been tapering down my caffeine consumption too, but going cold turkey had a major difference for me. I'll caution that 3 days of pretty intense headaches were the cost, but for me, the benefits…
I don't understand going cold turkey. You said it had a difference for you. What was it? I've tapered off before, it probably took like a week at most and I experienced no headaches.
After that, I slept much better. I could finally fall asleep, it wouldn't take me an hour to nod off. I stayed asleep, I wasn't getting up 2-3 times a night. My anxiety, which I then found out contributed to my sleep problems, that pretty much went away. I used to plan and replan scenarios in my head, come up with pithy quips to conversations that would never happen, fear saying or doing the wrong thing in imaginary conundrums.
It all just disappeared after I quit caffeine. I felt 'normal' for the first time in decades. I woke up having the best night of sleep in my memory. And then it happened the next morning, and the next.
Currently, I don;t sleep all that well, but a new baby is the culprit. I can't imagine having a newborn and being on caffeine again, my anxiety would spiral out of control. I'd be a mess for my kid, projecting things, being a jerk.
One of the best little random challenges I ever gave myself.
Biggest improvement to sleep quality I had was giving up caffeine, which isn't mentioned in this article. I'm inclined to bet, most people in the west who self report suffering form poor sleep, can narrow it down to caffeine over-consumption, since it leads you slowly to this march of death burning the candle at both ends where you drink coffee to compensate for poor sleep and you sleep poorly because of too much caf…
I'll chime in here too. I gave up caffeine on a lark during lockdowns. Man, great decision. I've never slept better and my anxiety went way down too. I'd had no idea what that stimulant happened to be doing to my system. I had been tapering down my caffeine consumption too, but going cold turkey had a major difference for me. I'll caution that 3 days of pretty intense headaches were the cost, but for me, the benefits…