Can’t sleep on days off

Anybody else struggle to catch up on sleep?

I’ll have weeks where I average 3-4 hours of sleep per night, and then on the one or two days I can sleep in, I can’t.

I’m so accustomed to going to bed at 2-3am and walking up at 7am that I’ll do it on my day off. I get hit with a second wind at 11pm (as that’s when shit usually hits the fan during the week), can’t fall asleep until 2am, and then my internal clock wakes me up at 7am. It’s fucking with my health and I can’t stand it. Anyone else having this issue? Any advice to fix this terrible sleep schedule?

22 Comments
 

I have similar issues, though it's mostly day-to-day sleep issues vs. on my time off. For me, I think I'm always paranoid about missing my alarm in the morning or not responding to emails at night. That gets me kind of agitated and makes it harder to unwind and get good sleep. Recently I've been trying to listen to mindless podcasts/meditation music before I go to bed. I also started drinking chamomile tea whenever I feel stressed and that helps calm me. 

 

I’ve had this issue for years. Wake up about 3-4 hours after falling asleep every single night. Got prescriptions for 2 different sleeping pills and usually take a small dose when I wake up to help me fall back asleep. Still trying to figure out the cause but glad I’m not alone.

 

Do you take melatonin? 

I'd also turn your work email off if you can - if you have protected Saturdays for example, set a Focus (like do not disturb) where your work email doesn't give notifications during that day unless you actually go in and check the app. Or just completely turn notifications off, I was in the boat of waking up in the middle of the night and paranoid checking emails. Being able to shut down for the night without the BB work notifications jump scare helps a lot.

You can also eliminate all screens 1 hour before bed (find some interesting, light, non finance book to read instead), have some tea, try to establish a longer night routine on your days off to really wind down.

 

Always had trouble falling asleep. I built a short bedtime routine (brushing, washing face, having camomile tea) that has really helped. Not keeping phone on bedside is next thing I want to achieve but hard. 

Array
 

Try blackout curtains if you haven't already. I've found I can really change how late/early I wake up based on the lighting in the morning.

 

Strongly second this, I was having chronic sleeping issues once I moved out of my college apartment and putting a towel over the window worked like a charm.

 

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