Can't sleep but not tired

[Pistom]

I'm in my late 50s and have a pretty active life but in the last few years I'm finding it impossible to get anything like 8 hours sleep.

I'll sleep about 4 hours then wake up.

Sometimes I'll get up as early as 3 to start the day even though I don't need to, I just don't see any point lying in bed for the sake of it but I'm then not tired all until evening when I go to bed, fall asleep immediately and repeat.

This seems to be the case no matter how much exercise or other physical activity I do.

I do have sleep apnoea but that's controlled well with CPAP and if this was the issue, I'd be tired during the day.

I'm not sure if there are long term implications of this.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Eating a desert in the evening?

[DaveE87]

What's your quality of sleep like? Are you getting enough deep sleep? Is your diet good or could it be improved? You mentioned that level of activity doesn't make a difference but are you certain that's always the case?

I go through spells of maybe 2 or 3 weeks where I only sleep for 5-6 hours. Then I can go a few weeks getting 8-10 hours. My long term average fluctuates between 7 and 8 hours, and when it starts to dip (I have a sleep app to track it) I use it as motivation to improve sleep, exercise, or both. You might feel fine now but speaking from experience it could lead to burnout if you don't get enough sleep over a prolonged period.

Taking supplements like magnesium, or ZMA (zinc, magnesium and vit B6), or valerian root can help me catch up when needed. However, probably best speaking to your GP about your concerns as what I'm suggesting could interfere with any treatment and/or medication you're on.

[Pistom]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Eating a desert in the evening?

Usually.

[Golfgtimk28v]

My understanding sleeping 8 hours a night is modern lifestyle choice, we used to sleep 4 hours and 4 again.

Try meditation.

[Pistom]

DaveE87 said:

What's your quality of sleep like? Are you getting enough deep sleep? Is your diet good or could it be improved? You mentioned that level of activity doesn't make a difference but are you certain that's always the case?
......

Quality for that first few hours is very deep but not sure it is enough.

Regarding activity, the only thing which seems to cause my sleep to extend is if I do a long drive. That night I might get up to 5 hours.

Diet is good.

Thanks for the advice re supplements and yes, anything would need to be discussed with a doctor but I haven't spoken about it to them recently.

[Bill]

OP, do you drink?

Golfgtimk28v said:

My understanding sleeping 8 hours a night is modern lifestyle choice, we used to sleep 4 hours and 4 again.

That was certainly the fashion in mediaeval times, but it doesn't necessarily make it right.

[sherman]

What time are you going to bed?
If I was to be in bed by 9/10 I would naturally wake up at 3 too.

Have you tried just rolling over and going back to sleep for another few hours?
Theres no need to be up at that time of the morning. You cant exactly start anything meaningful for several hours with out disturbing people.

[Slowboathome]

Sleep can be a habit thing.

Might be worth taking a Nytol or a slug of Night Nurse for a few days to see if that knocks you out for longer and gets you back into the habit of 6-8 hours.

[Louis Balfour]

Pistom said:

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Eating a desert in the evening?

Usually.

That's the problem. Too much sand in your mouth will keep you awake.

[Golfgtimk28v]

Bill said:

That was certainly the fashion in mediaeval times, but it doesn't necessarily make it right.

There is no right or wrong, it is that we are told what we are supposed to do, yet we are all different. I find I end up sleeping more at weekends

[LordHaveMurci]

Louis Balfour said:

Pistom said:

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Eating a desert in the evening?

Usually.

That's the problem. Too much sand in your mouth will keep you awake.

It’s not great for your dental health either.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

For instance last night I had a sticky toffee pudding at 8pm. I was awake at 1am. Wide awake. Sugar crash.

[Bill]

Golfgtimk28v said:

There is no right or wrong, it is that we are told what we are supposed to do, yet we are all different.

Ish. There's a lot of research now, so using mediaeval fashion (and probably then only amongst the wealthy...) as an example is a bit daft.

[Evoluzione]

If you're not tired then it's not an issue.
Think yourself lucky and reap the rewards of your super productive life.

[Pistom]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

For instance last night I had a sticky toffee pudding at 8pm. I was awake at 1am. Wide awake. Sugar crash.

I'm trying to cut out sweet stuff so thank you, another incentive to help me.

[Pistom]

I go to bed when I'm tired which is usually 10.30 to 11.

If I stay in bed when I wake up, I just roll around and not get back to any meaningful sleep.

The point over over getting more stuff done, as I am limited with what I can do at that fime, I tend to do it slowly so not actually achieving any more.

[bigpriest]

Maybe see if you can be referred to an endocrinologist to have your melotonin, cortisol levels checked as they affect sleep.

[Knoxville2410]

I use CBD when I can't sleep. One gummy an hour before bed and I sleep like a log.

Holland and Barrett sell it. You can also get it online (happy to recommend places).

[king arthur]

I had this at some point in the last couple of years, started waking up in the middle of the night. I started taking something that fixed it but I can't remember exactly what. It was either a vitamin B supplement or a magnesium supplement.