Do any Retirees have sleeping problems?

Katcat1 · ‎07-21-2011

It is difficult for me to get my sleep regulated so I wake up mornings and go to bed at night. Right now I am sleeping during the day and up all night. If you have any tips, please let me know,

kindness is strength

gidgetgh · ‎03-09-2010

I have a really difficult time sleeping. I've been awake since 3:45.

I can usually get to sleep ok. Usually, but not all the time. But I don't stay asleep. Sometimes I wake up at midnight and am awake for hours and then go back to sleep.

Other nights I sleep a little better, but still not a good nights sleep. And I never, ever, ever, "sleep in".

Why is it, when I have a 50/50 guess at something, I'm always 100% wrong?

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@Katcat1 wrote:
It is difficult for me to get my sleep regulated so I wake up mornings and go to bed at night. Right now I am sleeping during the day and up all night. If you have any tips, please let me know,

@Katcat1

Interesting ... I am wondering how this even began .... did retiring relieve you of the necessity to have to get up, get ready for work and leave the home? What do you think caused this in the first place?

Is there anything in your diet that affected you .... too much caffeine, for instance? Did you start retirement by staying up late watching TV ... or some other habit?

Did you ever work the night shift before retiring?

Have you ever mentioned this to your doctor?

Your body clock is off, but I'm wondering if you can provide a little more information as to why you think this is going on.

iMO, a little more information would be helpful.

Cats3000 · ‎10-07-2013

Talk to your doctor. He may have some solutions. He might recommend that you go to a "sleep clinic" for a night, where you'll be hooked to some monitors that will let him know what's going on.

chiclet · ‎03-19-2010

@Katcat1 wrote:
It is difficult for me to get my sleep regulated so I wake up mornings and go to bed at night. Right now I am sleeping during the day and up all night. If you have any tips, please let me know,

You sound like my husband. He says he cannot get to sleep until wee hours of the morning and sleeps all day. He also take over the counter sleep aids that make him groggy when he is awake. A real joy to be around. I have tried to tell him not to drink iced coffee later than 4. Also to try to go to bed at the same time each night and use a sleeping pill to help him do that until he gets regulated. I have always had a hard time turning my mind off at night. I think sleeping is hard some and especially hard when you get older and have a bunch of aches and pains and bladder issues. Good luck. Maybe your doctor can help.

Katcat1 · ‎07-21-2011

@chiclet I think my problem is caffeine and I really need to stop drinking it late because I can't fall asleep so then the pattern starts going to bed at 5 or 6 am and sleeping 7 hours. I really need to get it together as I would like to be up in the morning even 9 or 10 am would be fine. Thanks for sharing your story.

kindness is strength

sarahpanda · ‎03-11-2010

My tip is - Keep busy during the day and do not go to sleep ! Maybe your body will be so tired that it will get back on track and be able to let you sleep at night. ....unless you are like me who doesn't sleep either day or night for the last 2 or 3 months...probably stress related. Good luck - and please try not sleeping during the daylight hours.

AngelPuppy1 · ‎03-13-2010

I go to bed early - about 8:00 p.m. - and then I read for probably a half an hour or so. This helps me to quit thinking about everything and relax. I do wake up often through the night though and rarely sleep continuously through an entire night. I usually get up between 4:00 and 5:30 each morning -- not because I want to but because I can't sleep.

I would say try to make a schedule for yourself. If you try and slowly make yourself adhere to regular daytime and nightly hours and routines that might help you to get yourself turned around. It won't happen all at once but try making small changes.

"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." - Steve Martin

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

I'm retired.

Don't let yourself sleep more than 20-30 minutes during the day. I even set a timer.

Find things to do. Work in the yard. Help at a charity. Go for a walk. Walk the dog. See if your church office or food pantry needs a couple hours help a couple of days a week. Go to lunch with friends. Work on a puzzle.

Sleep changes with age. I used to be able to fall asleep right away but it takes longer now. But I don't worry about it since I don't have to work the next day. I know if I worried about my sleep, it'd get worse.

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

Since Q won't let me edit my posts.....

When I worked, I'd be in bed at 9 or so and up by 4 or 4:30 every morning. It was easy to learn to stay up later but it took months for the morning wake up time to change.