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Eight hours a night isn’t enough, according to a leading sleep scientist

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Re: Eight hours a night isn’t enough, according to a leading sleep scientist

#131

Post by mancerayder »

I'm jealous of folks who have the luxury of being able to have their bodies let them sleep 8 or more hours. I'm not sitting there with a phone next to my pillow, and I have no problems falling asleep. But I always wake up too early, before the alarm, meaning I can't get more than 6.5-7.5 hours because my body is too sensitive to light, noise and everything else: I'm cursed genetically as a light sleeper.

Worst part is, I'm in an unsympathetic world of non-light sleepers who play music, stomp around at odd hours, etc.

Re: Eight hours a night isn’t enough, according to a leading sleep scientist

#132

Post by 2020-3030 »

dingaling wrote: post #61
throwawayqdhd wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I freelanced through college and continued doing that after I graduated. Since I was working from home, I was used to taking afternoon naps. When I finally did join an office, I was surprised that afternoon napping wasn't a thing. My 20-30 minute naps completely re-energize me and drastically improve my focus. And for some reason, I have extremely vivid dreams during these naps.

I used to book 'meetings' on my calendar and sneak off to the toilet cubicles for an afternoon nap. After a while I could even sleep through the noise of Dyson hand-dryers. It still disappoints me that napping at work is stigmatised.

All hail the 10-15 min toilet nap and locks on bathroom doors. Yes our country as a whole underestimates and stigmatizes healthy sleep patterns. People and companies which recognize the great benefits of short mid-day brain resets/toxin flushes (naps) are excellent but uncommon. Two cups of coffee won't accomplish what one 10-15 min afternoon nap achieves. It also matters what and how much you eat for lunch because the wrong foods or amounts can cause drowsiness even in well-rested people. I find that vegetarian meals make me less sleepy than meat-heavy meals.

Re: Eight hours a night isn’t enough, according to a leading sleep scientist

#133

Post by tbmh »

mancerayder wrote: post #131

I'm jealous of folks who have the luxury of being able to have their bodies let them sleep 8 or more hours. I'm not sitting there with a phone next to my pillow, and I have no problems falling asleep. But I always wake up too early, before the alarm, meaning I can't get more than 6.5-7.5 hours because my body is too sensitive to light, noise and everything else: I'm cursed genetically as a light sleeper. Worst part i…

You should try earplugs and/or sleeping masks. They both take a little getting used to but they will definitely improve your sleep quality if external stimulation is your main problem.

Re: Eight hours a night isn’t enough, according to a leading sleep scientist

#134

Post by vanderZwan »

e40 wrote: post #111
jambutters wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you use phone speaker or sleep with headphones?

If headphones, I'd be curious which ones. All the ones I've tried give me a headache after a few hours.

ATH-M50x. I don't mind over-ear headphones with soft-padding like this one, and it has a very good sound quality/price ratio (if you don't mind the lack of bluetooth).

The thing is that I was using the app for meditation, but I accidentally fell asleep. Woke up extremely refreshed though!

Re: Eight hours a night isn’t enough, according to a leading sleep scientist

#135

Post by Broken_Hippo »

mratzloff wrote: post #82
Broken_Hippo wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because earplugs also tune out the sounds of an alarm clock. This isn't an issue if I never have to wake before 11 or noon. A 6am waking time means I continually run the risk of simply not hearing the alarm, even with good sleeping habits and not sleeping in on weekends. Of course, most of the earbuds that say they are designed for sleep only hold a charge for an average of 6 hours, and at the most 8. These actually…

What time do you go to sleep that your body wants to sleep until 11 or 12? You might be staying up too late and not getting enough sleep.

I'd like to point out that I'm about a month shy of 40 next month, so none of this represents a phase or age. When I was a child, I actually refused to wake up for Santa's presents on christmas morning, choosing instead to go to grandmother's house and open Santa gifts when we got home later in the day.

When I follow a natural sleep/wake cycle, I sleep around 3 or 4 and wake around 11 or 12. I can get good quality sleep waking at 9 (going to be earlier, of course), but can't consistently wake naturally this way and must use an alarm. Usually this coincides with hormonal changes once a month. I'm obviously female.

If I wake at 6 or 7 am, things get tricky. Even with good sleep habits (no screens in the bedroom, quiet dark, cool environment, no sleeping in on weekends), my sleep suffers. I'll get a good night or two in, then can't fall asleep until midnight the next night. I always run the risk of not hearing the alarm clock. I'm working against my body clock. I've had to adjust the "good sleep habits" so that I can get more sleep on the weekends lest I wind up with depression due to lack of sleep.

I do what I can to work later shifts, but I can't always avoid mornings.

edited for clarity

Re: Eight hours a night isn’t enough, according to a leading sleep scientist

#136

Post by Broken_Hippo »

tinco wrote: post #77
Broken_Hippo wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because earplugs also tune out the sounds of an alarm clock. This isn't an issue if I never have to wake before 11 or noon. A 6am waking time means I continually run the risk of simply not hearing the alarm, even with good sleeping habits and not sleeping in on weekends. Of course, most of the earbuds that say they are designed for sleep only hold a charge for an average of 6 hours, and at the most 8. These actually…

I've used Ohropax for the past couple of years, and they're absolutely amazing. None of the regular earplugs fit my ears, or are uncomfortable. Ohropax is just bees wax I think, and there's other brands that work just as well. I also use an alarm if I have work to show up for, and I've never missed the alarm, the alarms on my phone are annoying as hell and never fail to wake me. If you're so tired that you fall back…

mornings for me is akin to most folks trying to work a late shift. I'm fine if I have an adequately late waking time: 11 is pretty natural. I can do 9 with good sleep. 6am? My actual quality of sleep suffers.

And I think you misunderstand: I don't fall back asleep. I fail to hear the alarm at all. Or the phone. While we were dating, my now spouse called me to wake me up since he realized he didn't see me online. I did wake... on the 17th phone call. This simply happens with early wakings, regardless of sleep hygiene.

Re: Eight hours a night isn’t enough, according to a leading sleep scientist

#137

Post by Broken_Hippo »

ItsMe000001 wrote: post #74
Broken_Hippo wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because earplugs also tune out the sounds of an alarm clock. This isn't an issue if I never have to wake before 11 or noon. A 6am waking time means I continually run the risk of simply not hearing the alarm, even with good sleeping habits and not sleeping in on weekends. Of course, most of the earbuds that say they are designed for sleep only hold a charge for an average of 6 hours, and at the most 8. These actually…

> Because earplugs also tune out the sounds of an alarm clock. No criticism! I just find it funny in the context of this article. An alarm clock is the last thing one should use if natural and healthy length of sleep is a priority. I know that society creates the pressure, but just to stay in the context of the article... Myself, I have not used an alarm clock in years and I would rather face huge pay cuts (which is…

... I would rather face huge pay cuts (which is exactly what is happening) or even worse rather than ever go back to forced wake-up, which I would now consider a direct violent attack on my person. Exceptions are fine, but no way I would let that be imposed on me as "normal part of life" ever again.

I do understand this! I do what I can to avoid jobs with an early start. :)

Re: Eight hours a night isn’t enough, according to a leading sleep scientist

#138

Post by Broken_Hippo »

mirceal wrote: post #107
Broken_Hippo wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because earplugs also tune out the sounds of an alarm clock. This isn't an issue if I never have to wake before 11 or noon. A 6am waking time means I continually run the risk of simply not hearing the alarm, even with good sleeping habits and not sleeping in on weekends. Of course, most of the earbuds that say they are designed for sleep only hold a charge for an average of 6 hours, and at the most 8. These actually…

I use a “silent alarm” on my Pebble (you also have something similar on Fitbit models). It basically vibrates on your wrist until you wake up. No sound needed.

I've seriously considered a vibrating alarm, though I'd always looked into models that shake the pillow or mattress.

Re: Eight hours a night isn’t enough, according to a leading sleep scientist

#139

Post by mancerayder »

tbmh wrote: post #133
mancerayder wrote: post #131

I'm jealous of folks who have the luxury of being able to have their bodies let them sleep 8 or more hours. I'm not sitting there with a phone next to my pillow, and I have no problems falling asleep. But I always wake up too early, before the alarm, meaning I can't get more than 6.5-7.5 hours because my body is too sensitive to light, noise and everything else: I'm cursed genetically as a light sleeper. Worst part i…

You should try earplugs and/or sleeping masks. They both take a little getting used to but they will definitely improve your sleep quality if external stimulation is your main problem.

I use earplugs almost every night. Earplugs don't block thumping from bass music or footsteps or slamming doors unfortunately. :-(

Re: Eight hours a night isn’t enough, according to a leading sleep scientist

#140

Post by prostoalex »

perilunar wrote: post #103
sk1pper wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The bit that really stuck with me from this podcast was how overworked some medical professionals are, especially those in residency. Which ends up contributing to them making mistakes with their patients, including deadly ones. Shift work is already extremely taxing on the human body, on top of the large amounts of stress nurses and doctors are already under; but on top of that , we're working the newbies 80 hours a…

Medical residents do stupid work hours, and medicine is the one profession ought to know better. Pilots and truck drivers are legally restricted in the number of hours they can work, and doctors should be also. We know the effects of sleep deprivation, but doctors are 'special'. There is no reason for it that I can see, apart from a general shortage of cheap, early-career doctors, due to their stupid guild-like metho…

> William Halsted, the first chief of surgery at Johns Hopkins in the 1890s and a founder of modern medical training, required his residents to be on call 362 days a year (only later was it revealed that Halsted fueled his manic work ethic with cocaine), and for the next 100 years the attitude of the medical establishment was more or less the same.

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/magazine/the-phantom-mena...

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