[Carli]

Hello everyone. I am now in my seventieth year and keep reading that sleep needs change with age – either you need less, or you find it harder to sleep as you get older. I’ve been struggling to get enough sleep for the past 7 years, (though I am having more periods where I do get enough since following the insomnia coach). Anyone have any ideas on sleep and aging, or do you need/get the same amount however old you are?

[hiker]

Hi Carli, I am 71. I would not put too much into aging and sleep needs. Perhaps there are neurological theories, and I am not a medical professional. I do know that counting hours has never worked all that well for me. Instead, when I wake up, I stretch and do my best to just focus on the moment, instead of checking the clock and calculating.

And after stretching, sometimes I decide that yeah, I think I’ll stay up. Other times, I think that going back to sleep would be nice. And if I go back to bed and fall asleep, great, If I don’t fall asleep, I just get up and figure I’ll sleep later–a nap, etc.

Even when retired, though, there are some days where there isn’t going to be time for a nap. Or I might try to take a nap and can’t fall asleep. And then it is easy to start fretting about whether the chronic insomnia is coming back, and how for how long, and I can’t deal with this anymore, etc. etc. You know, the panic train starts rolling: where is it going, will it ever stop….

And when I can step back and watch the train just roll away, things slow down and sleep returns in its natural course. Sometimes easier said than done, I know; that train can really roar and get scary.

So again, I would not assume that since I am 70, my sleep is pretty much shot from here on out. It isn’t.

[Carli]

Thank you, hiker. Your reply was very helpful – I shall stop counting and just relax and get on with it! I am glad you are over the chronic insomnia.

[Author]

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