[Martin Gash]

I have just read about sleep duration. I note what is said about being refreshed an hour after waking up but I have a habit if dozing off about 8.30 to 9.30 pm and then get up and do a task. My sleep window is 11.00 pm to 6.30 including half an hour in bed at 10.30 purely to read and get ready for bed. I am a night waker. Don’t use a clock.

[Bronte]

Hi Martin

Sounds to me like you might be giving sleep a little too much attention. Don’t analyse it or even think about how much you’ve had. Accept each night, whether you sleep, or not. It doesn’t matter.
Try to avoid any rituals ‘to help you sleep’ you don’t need them, don’t even think about it.

If you are waking in the night it’s probably a good idea to have a sleep window with a strict 6am start. It’s certainly a good idea not to look at the clock at anytime (as you are already doing 👍). If you are awake at night try to stay ‘not bothered about it’ and do something you like, you mentioned reading, which is a good one. Just something to pass the time.
Duration of sleep is not important and I would try to avoid any emphasis on this. If you fall back to sleep soon after waking it might be better at the moment to get up and get on with your day to establish your sleep window. Once you are no longer focussing on your sleep you will find it starts to improve and then further down the line you can sleep whenever you like because you won’t care anymore!
Focus on living your life and not sleep. It will then naturally sort itself out.
Good luck!

[Martin Gash]

Thank you Bronte. That was most useful.

[Bronte]

You are welcome 😁

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