As I have ramped up yardage I assumed I would sleep more. Unfortunately this has not been the case. I go to sleep very quickly and then between 1-3am(the last two nights it's been 2.15am) I wake up and then can't go back to sleep. I have tried using melatonin with no luck. I am very reluctant to use anything else due to its affect on my swimming. Has anyone else experienced anything similar and if so and thoughts on how to sleep? I am planning on heading to my doctor to see what they recommend.
How close to bedtime do you workout? If you practice in the evenings this, I've read, can be a bit of a problem.
I have a similar pattern, by the way. It's pretty common and likely to become more so as you age.
The best advice I can offer is to absolutely not worry about it, and don't, in any way, try to get back to sleep. If anything, try to stay awake--the paradoxical cure!
If your wife doesn't mind, perhaps you could put on the radio at very low volume. I have had great success with listening to BBC World Service in the wee hours. The soothing blather about stuff I don't care that much about interrupts my own more provocative mental chatter but without getting me in any way excited or energized. Invariably I drift back off.
I wonder if my subconscious has become an expert on the cricket scores in India?
One last thought: a sleep researcher told me that there are two kinds of (older) guys in the world--those who wake up in the middle of the night and worry about it. And those who wake up in the middle of the night and don't worry about it.
Strive to join the latter ranks!
My workouts are pretty close to my evening bedtime, and it takes a while for me to wind down afterward. I swim from 7-9pm with the group, and then grab a soda from the quickie mart on the way home...for rehydration purposes. Believe me, the caffiene in the soda does nothing to me. I drink so much of it, that I need the concentrate version of the stuff to possibly do anything. I can drink a can of Mtn. Dew, and go to sleep very soon afterward.
The trouble really occurs with being asleep by 11pm at night, because I'm waking at 4:30am for my 5:00am start time at work. But we do what we have to do because of life...and I'd rather be tired at work so I can be happy swimming. :D ...and as long as I return with all 10 fingers in tact, it's a good day on the job. :D
How close to bedtime do you workout? If you practice in the evenings this, I've read, can be a bit of a problem.
I have a similar pattern, by the way. It's pretty common and likely to become more so as you age.
The best advice I can offer is to absolutely not worry about it, and don't, in any way, try to get back to sleep. If anything, try to stay awake--the paradoxical cure!
If your wife doesn't mind, perhaps you could put on the radio at very low volume. I have had great success with listening to BBC World Service in the wee hours. The soothing blather about stuff I don't care that much about interrupts my own more provocative mental chatter but without getting me in any way excited or energized. Invariably I drift back off.
I wonder if my subconscious has become an expert on the cricket scores in India?
One last thought: a sleep researcher told me that there are two kinds of (older) guys in the world--those who wake up in the middle of the night and worry about it. And those who wake up in the middle of the night and don't worry about it.
Strive to join the latter ranks!
My workouts are pretty close to my evening bedtime, and it takes a while for me to wind down afterward. I swim from 7-9pm with the group, and then grab a soda from the quickie mart on the way home...for rehydration purposes. Believe me, the caffiene in the soda does nothing to me. I drink so much of it, that I need the concentrate version of the stuff to possibly do anything. I can drink a can of Mtn. Dew, and go to sleep very soon afterward.
The trouble really occurs with being asleep by 11pm at night, because I'm waking at 4:30am for my 5:00am start time at work. But we do what we have to do because of life...and I'd rather be tired at work so I can be happy swimming. :D ...and as long as I return with all 10 fingers in tact, it's a good day on the job. :D
