Sleep Forum

[admin]

Week One of the 6 Week Sleep Challenge was about taking the first step to improving your sleep, by taking control of your sleep environment - your bedroom!

THE CHALLENGE
To the best of your ability, take control of the light, temperature, comfort and sound in your sleep environment.

Tell us below how you’ve made your bedroom into a sleep sanctuary. We are giving away an A.H. Beard iComfort pillow valued at $149 for the most creative and original response. For full terms & conditions visit: http://on.fb.me/1jqKJmv

Full challenge: http://www.ahbeard.com.au/sleepwell/wee ... -sanctuary

[macka2107]

Although I've had insomnia on and off for the last 20 years, I've consistently had it since the end of January this year. I have absolutely no problem going to sleep, but wake up after 2-3 hours. I've bought a new, lighter doona, stopped drinking caffeine, and installed a metal security blind on my bedroom window, to make the room almost completely dark (a small amount of light comes from under the door). I've tried almost every sleeping tablet there is, but their aim is to get you to sleep, not stay asleep (and the ones that try to make you stay asleep leave you groggy the next day)! I now take melatonin and a herbal sedative with valerian and hops. I'm up to 2 nights a week of 5 hours, and the rest no more than 2-3 hours at a time. I think my body is getting used to a lack of sleep! I'm hoping that this challenge will give me some new ideas, as I would really love to get back to at least 6 hours a night/every night.

[alex_mac12]

Although I've had insomnia on and off for the last 20 years, I've consistently had it since the end of January this year. I have absolutely no problem going to sleep, but wake up after 2-3 hours. I've bought a new, lighter doona, stopped drinking caffeine, and installed a metal security blind on my bedroom window, to make the room almost completely dark (a small amount of light comes from under the door). I've tried almost every sleeping tablet there is, but their aim is to get you to sleep, not stay asleep (and the ones that try to make you stay asleep leave you groggy the next day)! I now take melatonin and a herbal sedative with valerian and hops. I'm up to 2 nights a week of 5 hours, and the rest no more than 2-3 hours at a time. I think my body is getting used to a lack of sleep! I'm hoping that this challenge will give me some new ideas, as I would really love to get back to at least 6 hours a night/every night.

I'm exactly the same! I always wake up during the night, and can't get asleep for hours. It's so frustrating! I find that temperature affects it's the worst when the temperature is hot I wake up with nightmares, but when it's too cold I want up freezing! I've actually cut out coffee recently and found that has helped the most! Best of luck on the challenge, I'm looking forward to some useful tips too!

[sasha]

It seems pretty simple, but for me the bedroom is literally that. Apart from getting changed after having a shower I don't do anything but sleep there.

[Laura_Claire]

This first challenge was actually really fun! I've always really taken pride in my 'sleep space' by having nice sheets, a quality doona etc etc. But this week I looked beyond the aesthetics and also became more aware of light. In the past I haven't pulled my blinds completely closed, but this week I did. Not having the street lights streaming in through my bedroom window made a massive difference. Such a small thing! Looking forward to more tips.

[TeresaOdette]

I know it sounds really lame, but I really like to have a scented candle in my room. The lower dim light just before I go to sleep makes me less alert as they're not as bright as my full bedroom lights.

[ellenmay]

I create my sleep sanctuary my switching off all electronics 1 hour before bed. There is nothing worse then laying in a dark room staring directly at a bright light. Since I added this step to my sleep routine I have found I do not toss and turn as frequently and then wake in the morning feeling far more rested.

[Rachmel]

I have always been conscious of the light and sound in my children's room but never really thought about it in my own. We rent and have terrible blinds - so I bought some tab top curtains to put up as well which has really improved the amount of light coming in! Noise isn't really that much of an issue (unless you count the kids waking up at all hours of the night) but I have made more of an effort to really keep our bedroom as a true sanctuary rather than a place for everyone to hang out . So far so good.

[ashleylauryn]

I've struggled the most with this challenge of all of them so far. Mainly because I share my room with my boyfriend, who is a 21 year old boy who loves video games... say no more. Trying to convince him to also turn off lights and electronics before bed has been a challenge, but I think he's starting to embrace the idea a bit more. Before starting the challenge we were staying up until the early hours of the morning with electronics staying on until 4am. We are now at much more reasonable level of midnight and my goal would be to eventually have everything off by 10 or so. I'm sick of being nocturnal!

[wicket]

I live on a main road with the bright street lights and across the road is a state prison with the huge spot lights shining directly into my home. blinds, and two sets of block out curtains still do not block out the light then there is the traffic.
I did not have much luck getting to sleep and when I did I only slept for an hour and I was awake this happening all nigh I end up with 3 to 4 hours sleep every night but I am still trying even sleeping tablets are no help