Sleep during lockdown

[nlogax]

Per Yorkie's suggestion on the 'remote working' thread ( https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...in-the-longer-term.203448/page-2#post-4537518 ) - it was suggested that not having to commute provides us with the opportunity to get a bit more sleep in.

Maybe it's the anxiety about what the world may look like once all this eases up, maybe it's something more personal - but right now a decent night's sleep eludes me. I get four, maybe five hours per night of restless snoozing and about one night a week where I zonk myself out with a mixture of pent-up exhaustion, melatonin and a Tylenol PM washed down with a large single malt. As you can imagine this does nothing for productivity or my sanity.

How are you all sleeping through this time? Keen to know your experiences, maybe we can all learn something from each other?

 

[bramling]

Per Yorkie's suggestion on the 'remote working' thread ( https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...in-the-longer-term.203448/page-2#post-4537518 ) - it was suggested that not having to commute provides us with the opportunity to get a bit more sleep in.

Maybe it's the anxiety about what the world may look like once all this eases up, maybe it's something more personal - but right now a decent night's sleep eludes me. I get four, maybe five hours per night of restless snoozing and about one night a week where I zonk myself out with a mixture of pent-up exhaustion, melatonin and a Tylenol PM washed down with a large single malt. As you can imagine this does nothing for productivity or my sanity.

How are you all sleeping through this time? Keen to know your experiences, maybe we can all learn something from each other?

A lot of colleagues who work shifts have been complaining that there sleep has been heavily disrupted due to increased daytime noise.

 

[Bletchleyite]

One thing I wonder is if people are getting through more tea and coffee at home than they might at work? In many people that can have a considerable effect.

 

[Mag_seven]

Oddly enough earlier on in the crisis when everything was really uncertain I was actually sleeping more as being in bed was a way of escaping from the crisis. I would say I'm definitely sleeping less now but not so much that I am not getting enough.

 

[DarloRich]

This "sleep" you speak of? What is it? Where can I get some?

 

[Bantamzen]

Per Yorkie's suggestion on the 'remote working' thread ( https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...in-the-longer-term.203448/page-2#post-4537518 ) - it was suggested that not having to commute provides us with the opportunity to get a bit more sleep in.

Maybe it's the anxiety about what the world may look like once all this eases up, maybe it's something more personal - but right now a decent night's sleep eludes me. I get four, maybe five hours per night of restless snoozing and about one night a week where I zonk myself out with a mixture of pent-up exhaustion, melatonin and a Tylenol PM washed down with a large single malt. As you can imagine this does nothing for productivity or my sanity.

How are you all sleeping through this time? Keen to know your experiences, maybe we can all learn something from each other?

I'm averaging about 4-5 hours at the moment, and completely knackered with it. My commute to the office would usually start at 05:45, but I'm finding myself logging on for work at 6, then still whacking in 8-10 hours a day. And I'm pretty certain even if some relaxation of the lock-down kicked in 3 weeks from now, we'd still be asked to work from home so this might go on for some time. It isn't exactly helping me motivate right now.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'm averaging about 4-5 hours at the moment, and completely knackered with it. My commute to the office would usually start at 05:45, but I'm finding myself logging on for work at 6, then still whacking in 8-10 hours a day. And I'm pretty certain even if some relaxation of the lock-down kicked in 3 weeks from now, we'd still be asked to work from home so this might go on for some time. It isn't exactly helping me motivate right now.

Er, why are you logging on for work at 6? Why not, if you wake up early, take an hour's walk before you start, or a leisurely breakfast?

 

[yorkie]

I was struggling to get to sleep, but I am much better at that now.

However I now find that when I wake up (which is always too early), I struggle to get back to sleep because I am worrying too much (about the long term impact).

So, while I am getting a lot more sleep than I was 3-4 weeks ago, I feel it's not as much as I'd like and it's not as good quality as it should be.

 

[Bantamzen]

Er, why are you logging on for work at 6? Why not, if you wake up early, take an hour's walk before you start, or a leisurely breakfast?

Because I'm a numpty....

Seriously though, I'm normally wide awake by 5 at the latest, so have an hour to brew up a batch of coffee, have breakfast, catch up with the news, by which time by brain is in full flow so I take advantage of a quiet work's network before the hoards start logging in a couple of hours later. Its been pretty much my routine whether I've worked from home or set off on my commute, the difference at home being the commute is a few seconds as opposed to about and hour or so door to desk.

Where I am really struggling is getting a consistent 6-7 hours, with things the way they are I'm waking up quite regularly through the night.

 

[nlogax]

Because I'm a numpty....

Seriously though, take a decent break from the screen during the day if you can. I'm fairly sure screen time is contributing to my insomnia. This weekend I intend to start taking my own advice!

 

[Bayum]

The first week schools were closed, my sleep hygiene and routine went out of the window. I've had to be really strict and consistent with myself to rein it back in.

Medicine at 2130, laptop off at 2200 by the very latest. Bathroom to put on various lotions and potions for overnight beauty fix, and in bed by 2315. Consistency, consistency, consistency. I have struggled with waking up during the night more than usual, but I really don't know how to improve that! Do you feel well rested the next morning?

 

[nlogax]

Do you feel well rested the next morning?

Quite the opposite unless it's after that one half-decent night's sleep per week.

 

[323235]

I have just gone from sleeping 1am-4am until 10am- 12pm for 5-6 weeks to one day of 8am-12pm to 1am - 9am . I'm hoping to try and bring it down to 12am-7am/8am at least and keep it under control now.

 

[gazthomas]

My sleep is completely shot, feels like I'm wide awake all the time. I was prescribed Zopiclone recently and it didn't work, even on a large dose. When I was working through CV-19 I was exhausted but all I could do way lay there. The cough of course made any form of rest impossible really.

 

[bramling]

My sleep is completely shot, feels like I'm wide awake all the time. I was prescribed Zopiclone recently and it didn't work, even on a large dose. When I was working through CV-19 I was exhausted but all I could do way lay there. The cough of course made any form of rest impossible really.

My sleep is messed up too, although as someone who works shifts (albeit generally fairly regular times, not the chopping and changing plus extremes that some work) that’s not particularly unusual.

I have tended to find myself quite drained even when not at work. Last weekend I was off and had quite a few plans to get a few bits done at home, but little actually came to fruition.

Next week could be interesting as I have a (rare for me) week of early turns. This could go one of two ways - either completely tired out by the afternoon, or on the other hand the change to routine may give me a slight lift-up. Time will tell on that!

 

[507021]

I'm sleeping better since my Dad's funeral, at least.

Before that it was very broken and I was always feeling tired.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

A lot of colleagues who work shifts have been complaining that there sleep has been heavily disrupted due to increased daytime noise.

Yes I am working 12 hour nights in the USA - so sleep pattern heavily disrupted.

 

[johntea]

I find despite the lack of commute I can finish work around 5pm at the moment and half an hour later be dozing off!

When I am commuting, I find the Bramhope Tunnel seems to hit me like a ton of bricks on the evening return journey from Harrogate and I find it very hard to not close my eyes and nod off! 2 miles of darkness perhaps...

I've always had odd tiredness issues though, I remember at college I would at times in lessons literally just 'zone out' then all of a sudden 'jump' out of it and be back awake, went to the doctors previously but they didn't find anytihng obvious

 

[HH]

A long night's sleep is about 6 hours at the moment to get all the hours I need in. Not healthy or sustainable.

I've got by on 6 hours sleep for many years. I know the experts say that isn't enough, but hell, what do experts know?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've got by on 6 hours sleep for many years. I know the experts say that isn't enough, but hell, what do experts know?

I think it varies from person to person.

 

[Ianno87]

I've got by on 6 hours sleep for many years. I know the experts say that isn't enough, but hell, what do experts know?

No, 6 hours is my best case. Not the average. Usually shorter and/or interrupted. No weekend lie-ins either.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'm finding a much better sleep pattern - going to bed about 22:30-23:00 and up about 06:30 whereas normally I'd often end up in the pub after doing whatever I was doing (and then coming back and posting on here) and in bed much later.

 

[telstarbox]

If you can fit some exercise into your day that can help with getting you tired enough to sleep.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Reading a book in semi-dim light helps for me.

 

[Bald Rick]

In the first few weeks of lockdown I was off to bed normal time, but up an hour later. Generally slept badly. Then I had a few nights of going to bed at 0130 and up at 0700, and slept really well.

Not sure what’s for the best!

 

[NorthernSpirit]

I'm averaging about 4-5 hours at the moment, and completely knackered with it.

Better than the amount I'm getting.

I'm averaging about three hours sleep then I'm awake for around six maybe seven hours before having another three hours worth of sleep than back awake for another six/seven hours - my body clock is completely out of sync.

 

[Qwerty133]

I'm averaging a decent number of hours sleep but it seems to be getting later and later. At the start of lockdown I was typically sleeping something like midnight-8am but now it seems to have become more like 3/3:30am-11am which is obviously going to be unsustainable when things begin to return.

 

[philjo]

I have been getting up an hour later now I don't have to be leaving the house no later than 7am to catch the 07:15 train to work each morning - and I am still logging on to work earlier than I would have done.
So am getting more sleep but less exercise as I am not walking to/from the station etc.

 

[HH]

I'm waking up at around 6am, no matter what time I go to bed. I blame the wife (and she blames me).

 

[Mag_seven]

The BBC have published this article on sleep disturbance during lockdown:

Coronavirus: How the UK is sleeping under lockdown

More than half the population has struggled with sleep during the lockdown, especially younger people.

www.bbc.co.uk

More than half the UK population has struggled with sleep during the lockdown, a survey suggests.

King's College London researchers said sleep problems were more common in people facing financial hardship, while two in five reported having more vivid dreams than usual.