Sleep deprivation hit me hard. Are you also suffering during the pandemic?
Hi, the last few weeks the sleep deprivation hit me really hard. I was banging my head thinking of what I should write next and nothing came up.
Key takeaways and actions to help (podcast and my own experience)
- Sleep deprivation affects all aspects of life
- Take a short nap during the day, if you can
- Daily habits helps
- No high carbs before bed
- Limit alcohol
- Exercise during the day
- Go outdoor
- No screens 1-2 hours prior to bed
My sleeping pattern changed a lot during the last few years. First, when I had the company, from time to time I caught myself in the middle of the night thinking if I could make the ends meet, what I could do to improve the company, if some proposals would get approved and all that stuff.
After a while, I used this simple framework whenever I had an apparently impossible problem to solve in the same day:
- Go home
- Exercise
- Shower
- Rest and sleep
The next day, the impossible problem to solve was magically sorted
After selling the company, my sleep routine became more stable.
New change in habits arrived, in the format of a baby. He completely changed what I thought about sleep routines. “Did I sleep 4 hours straight? Really?! My dreams came true!!!“
6 hours sleeping? “Hold on, something is wrong. Let me see if everything is ok! Oh no, he just woke up because I went to see him!”
In the last few weeks though the lockdown consequences made its appearance as you see in my sleep pattern
In summary, I’m sleeping, on average, 5 hours/night, broken down into smaller chunks. With the end of lockdown and my little one back to his “new normal life”, we’re expecting to have this problem sorted.
Some tweets and articles
Podcasts
https://drchatterjee.com/episode-26-sleep-matthew-walker-part-1/
https://drchatterjee.com/episode-27-why-we-sleep-with-matthew-walker-part-2/
Books
Why We Sleep - Matthew Walker
The sleep revolution - Arianna Huffington
Websites I found interesting
Matthew Walker’s website
Want to boost your business? Let your workers sleep (2018)
GatesNotes - Bill Gates’ article
Entrepreneurs who sleep more are better at spotting good ideas
Don’t want your startup to fail? Arianna Huffington tells founders to go to bed
How has your bed routine been affected by the pandemic?
Oh I don't know what advice I can give for the little one.
But can definitely recommend getting less active before bed. No screens (except Kindle). And would add don't drink water 1 hour before bed. To keep your bladder small.
Yes, we sleep when he’s sleeping. That’s the rule :)
I don’t have difficulties in falling asleep. It’s the opposite. I want to sleep, but he doesn’t give me a chance lol
I was awake most of last night wondering how to fall asleep. Think it must be very common at the moment for a lot of people.
Has been a challenge to have a good night’s sleep. The podcast is really interesting, the thing for me is: some of the techniques that he says is almost impossible to apply with a 3yo
That's the thing isn't it? I haven't listened to the podcast, but often (sleep) advice doesn't take into account people's personal situation.
But when you have young kids you are basically/often on survival mode constantly.
Survival mode 100%!
When I listened to the podcast I thought: wow, great advices and I now I know why we need to sleep. But what about with young kids? I want to sleep, I normally sleep well (before son), but I can’t. He doesn’t allow me.