The many questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread XX

[Quackers]

Try will-power. Not as easy as it sounds.

this and avoid caffeine several hours before you go to sleep.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Ok, I get up at 9:30 am mon - fri for my job. Problem is, I keep staying up till 3 or 4 in the morn in recent weeks, and my body is *not* designed for sleep hours less than 9, minimum. As a result, It's starting to take a toll on my body.

Question: What can I do to get off my fat lazy bum off the computer so I can get my sleep and get healthy again?

I would take some benadryl or another OTC sleeping aid after you get off work. (There is another one that is actually an allergy medicine like benadryl that will knock you out. Can't remember what it's called, but both it and benadryl are sold as OTC sleeping aids. Avoid 'natural' sleep aids, they're mostly garbage.)

This will knock you out in an hour or less. Do this for a few consecutive days and it will help reset your clock and eventually you'll adjust to having a new bedtime around the time you get home.

And as Quackers said, avoid caffeine. I'm pretty desinsitized to caffeine (chug it all day long) but if I have a soda after 6pm I can't get to sleep.

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

Ok, I get up at 9:30 am mon - fri for my job. Problem is, I keep staying up till 3 or 4 in the morn in recent weeks, and my body is *not* designed for sleep hours less than 9, minimum. As a result, It's starting to take a toll on my body.

Question: What can I do to get off my fat lazy bum off the computer so I can get my sleep and get healthy again?

I'm surprised that with all the suggestions none mention exercise. An hour of decent physical activity daily is what I would consider essential if a long, healthy life is on your agenda. If you're sitting around eating crap and getting three hours sleep per night then seriously, it's not gonna turn out well.

Even walking at a decent pace for an hour per night will do wonders for your basic fitness and improve your sleeping patterns literally from day one. And its hardly an awful task. An hour beneath the stars with your thoughts to yourself and your body in motion is simply good for the soul. But don't plan on sleeping straight afterwards, you'd want to give yourself an hour or so to unwind otherwise you'll be too pumped up to sleep.

Then forget the computer, grab a book and get your ass into bed. you'll be asleep in no time.

We really are creatures of habit so it pays to have a few good ones.

(disclaimer....if symptoms persist, see your doctor)

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I was under the assumption he was working at a resteraunt, which can be plenty physically demanding.

 

[Borachio]

Avoid 'natural' sleep aids, they're mostly garbage.)

Valerian works really well. At least it does the first time you take it. But because it's addictive you have to take more and more to get the same effect.

But taking pills for sleeping is a really bad idea. (I have a friend who can't now get herself off them.) And you only tend to get four hours of not very good quality sleep and then wake up again.

Sleep_hygiene

This is the best thing, IMO. Get into regular routines that let your body know you're now going to bed. Simple things like getting stuff ready for the next day - even cleaning your teeth - can make a big difference.

The very best thing is to get up at the same time every day, no matter how little sleep you've had. A couple of days feeling knackered soon resets your body clock.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I don't mean to propose that he take them continuously.

These aids work best as aids to break a weird sleep cycle and reset your rythm. You take them for a few days to get used to going to bed at a certain time, then your own natural rythm will kick in and make you tired at the new time. You shouldn't have to take them for more than 3 or 4 days.

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

I was under the assumption he was working at a resteraunt, which can be plenty physically demanding.

Demanding yes, but consistent, unbroken walking/running/cycling/swimming etc provides a degree of aerobic activity that really isn't replicated while working. In addition, the current habit of sitting around till 3.00am (and I'm gonna take a guess, eating crap) needs to change, regardless of how strenuous 9 to 5 may be.

Also, he won't be working in the kitchen seven days a week forever. I'm suggesting getting into the habit of at least some form of mild exercise daily and making this a life long thing. Nothing drastic, just a different, easy to maintain new routine that will work wonders compared to the current MO.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Fair enough rugbyLEAGUEfan

 

[The_J]

It's a good advice, but probably also the hardest to implement.
Says somebody who should implement that advice.

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

It's a good advice, but probably also the hardest to implement.
Says somebody who should implement that advice.

Having said that, I'm pretty hopeless. I definitely drink too much beer and eat too much meat, bacon and eggs etc. Plus I smoke. But I avoid smashing chips and chocolate and the like, especially at night

But I surf whenever I can and pretty much every night when I get home from work go for an hour walk before sitting down to a few beers. It's not hard work in the slightest, it's just making the time that's all.

 

[Quackers]

avoid all sleeping pills, bad advice.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

avoid all sleeping pills, bad advice.

The are non-addictive allergy medicines that happen to put people to sleep. They are completely safe when used correctly.

I'm not talking about Ambien and other addictive prescription meds.

 

[Cutlass]

The are non-addictive allergy medicines that happen to put people to sleep. They are completely safe when used correctly.

I'm not talking about Ambien and other addictive prescription meds.

I wouldn't rely on any medication to be non-addictive if used regularly...

 

[Disgustipated]

Ok, I get up at 9:30 am mon - fri for my job. Problem is, I keep staying up till 3 or 4 in the morn in recent weeks, and my body is *not* designed for sleep hours less than 9, minimum. As a result, It's starting to take a toll on my body.

Question: What can I do to get off my fat lazy bum off the computer so I can get my sleep and get healthy again?

Willpower. I know I"m the same way. Especially if playing those just one more turn type of games. I know I was yesterday playing X-com, and I paid the price for it today. Avoid things like that because then you get hooked on caffeine. Which is my #1 advice.

Do not drink any caffeine whatsover. Just because the rest of America is doing it, doesn't mean it's a good idea. I see every body chugging energy drinks and 5 hour energy, do not do that! I know it may seem hard at first, but it can be done. I work graveyard, and I do not drink any caffeine aside from 1 green tea a day for health reasons, not for the caffeine. It can be done if you have a set routine, and get at least 7 hours of sleep. If I can work graveyard with no caffeine, that proves that humans do not need caffeine to survive. Think about thousands of years ago, humans didn't have caffeine, yet they still got up in the morning to farm or to hunt. They didn't roll over and hit the snooze button. Caffeine is not necessary.

Lay off all this starbucks crap everybody else is drinking. No soda, no tea (aside from green tea if you are into that), and no coffee. Avoid other things that may have caffeine in them like too much chocolate.

 

[Disgustipated]

What would happen if one of the candidates for the current U.S. presidential election were to die? (like in a plane crash or something). I was thinking about that the other day. I thought about how much travel they do in buses, planes, and automobiles. It would seem the chance of them getting into an accident would be significant.

Would there still be an election? Would the Republicans or Democrats have to choose another candidate before the election? I'm guessing they would just cancel it and set up a special election early next year.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I wouldn't rely on any medication to be non-addictive if used regularly...

I didn't say use it regularly.

 

[dutchfire]

What would happen if one of the candidates for the current U.S. presidential election were to die? (like in a plane crash or something). I was thinking about that the other day. I thought about how much travel they do in buses, planes, and automobiles. It would seem the chance of them getting into an accident would be significant.

Would there still be an election? Would the Republicans or Democrats have to choose another candidate before the election? I'm guessing they would just cancel it and set up a special election early next year.

Missouri would vote for him.

 

[Disgustipated]

Seriously, people do not need this crap. Once you lay your head down, and turn off the electronic devices (including the tv), just think of a story in your head (I find making up stories relaxes me and helps me fall asleep), and you'll fall right to sleep.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Missouri would vote for him.

Angry response from VRWCAgent in 3, 2, 1...

@Disgustipated -
I tell myself stories to fall asleep too.

 

[civver_764]

Seriously, people do not need this crap. Once you lay your head down, and turn off the electronic devices (including the tv), just think of a story in your head (I find making up stories relaxes me and helps me fall asleep), and you'll fall right to sleep.

Insomnia is a real phenomena. Have you never laid down and been unable to fall asleep?