Comparing sleep

[Moneylogue]

I really wish I can sleep as well as my wife. Last night, being Friday night, we told ourselves before bedtime that we will both sleep in. Not sure why it works well for us, but maybe the fact that we conditioned our minds prior to falling asleep.  I slept for 61/2 hours with 1 hour and 19 minutes of deep sleep, about 11/2 hours of waking time with a score of 79.

I know she's always been a better sleeper but this time I was convinced that I will beat her. It was my best sleeping night for more than 6 months. FYI, I usually only average 51/2 hours of sleep and about 35 minutes of deep sleep. Guess what, she slept for 7 hours and 59 minutes and with a deep sleep of 1 hour and 55 minutes and a score of 84. Ah, well, better luck next time to me.

Moderator edit: subject for clarity 

[SunsetRunner]

Interesting story, @Moneylogue - we are all different. I’ve always needed less sleep than my hubby. And there is no sleeping in for me. No matter what time I go to sleep, I’m awake by 7:30 am - which I guess is sleeping in compared to my pre-retirement days when I was up by 5:00 am. You may find the following links interesting:

• Bedtime routine or good bedtime habits
• Let’s talk about deep sleep and how to get more

Good luck!

[WilsonFitbit]

Hello @Moneylogue, it's great to see you around! Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience! @SunsetRunner, thanks for your input and I'm also happy to see you around! 

If you find you’re restless or waking up often throughout the night, or simply have trouble falling asleep, there’s plenty you can do to improve your sleep. Take a few weeks to tweak your habits, and track your sleep each night to see if your lifestyle changes are adding up to more Zzzs.

1. Turn off the lights Not just your main lighting, all those electronics with power lights or digital clocks should be dimmed or powered down as much as possible. If you can’t block out the light in your bedroom, consider wearing a sleep mask.

2. Unplug yourself Watching TV or browsing your smartphone or tablet can keep your mind awake, and your body right along with it. Avoiding certain devices right before bed might help you fall asleep faster.

3. Go to bed at a reasonable time Start getting ready for bed a little bit earlier each night until you reach your desired bedtime. But be careful with this one. The last thing you want to do is lie in bed tossing and turning because your body isn’t ready to fall asleep. Instead of jumping the gun by, say, a whole hour, chip away at it in 10 to 15 minute intervals until it feels right. But more importantly…

4. Set a Sleep Schedule Going to bed at the same time every night can help you fall asleep faster. Your body craves regularity and keeping your circadian clock dialed in is extremely important for upholding quality sleep. As your body adjusts, you should be waking up naturally at the optimal time each morning as well, as long as you’re getting enough sleep. If you have time to experiment going to bed at different times, even better! You can find the time that works best for you. Set alarms on your Fitbit device. Bedtime and wake-up reminders, which are calculated based on your sleep logs, can help you achieve a more consistent sleep cycle.

5. Keep it cool Studies show it’s easier to fall asleep when the temperature is cooler. If it’s too hot, or too cold, it can be more difficult.

6. Cut back the caffeine & alcohol Try limiting caffeine intake to just mornings. Caffeine can affect your sleep for hours after drinking it! Studies have shown that drinking alcohol before bed may help you fall asleep faster, but it will also cause you to toss and turn— or wake up—more throughout the night as well, bringing down your overall sleep quality.

7. Get active Hitting your daily step goal  can help you sleep better, too. Try making an effort to workout during the day, and your sleep quality should improve, too.

8. Stay positive Learning how to destress and having a positive outlook is the best thing you can to improve your overall health and your sleep. Find simple ways to unwind at the end of the day—a walk in nature, a breathing session with Relax—so you can ease into slumber and have a great night’s sleep.

Have a great day!