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I've had my share of sleep problems in the past. Fixed it by reading "Why We Sleep" and "Circadian Code" and borrowing a lot of ideas and suggestions there. I

by rofo1 8y ago

I've had my share of sleep problems in the past. Fixed it by reading "Why We Sleep" and "Circadian Code" and borrowing a lot of ideas and suggestions there. I immediately gave up coffee, at first, a long with a bunch of other things (details at [0]). Anyway, recently I started experimenting with coffee again and it turns out it didn't have any impact on my sleep, whatsoever. I started drinking coffee again (albeit, little less than what I drank before) and I still sleep 8+ hours daily. I eat very cleanly, in general, and exercise daily. I think that trying to fit my last meal 4-5 hours before sleeping has had the biggest impact on my sleep! It's extremely important for your physical and mental health to eat clean, sleep well (8+ hours minimum) and exercise (strength training preferred). Optionally try to include time restriction on the eating window (say, eat within 8 hours period in each 24 hours). That's all there is to it, really. The rest is probably genetic lottery. [0] - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17639429 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17639429 (old comment of mine)

iamben 8y ago
I loved "Why We Sleep" (was a HN recommendation, I think!). One of my biggest takeaways was learning to not feel guilty about it. I think the constant 'hustle mentality' ends up making a lot of this community (in particular) demonise sleep in an "I'll sleep when I'm dead" and "if I'm not working 22 hours a day I'm being out hustled!" When I 'forgave' myself for sleeping (which sounds mental, but bear with) and started to get a consistent 7.5 hours a day, I found that I was just working _better_. Smarter not harder, I guess? Focussed work is definitely > unfocussed work!
- tomp 8y ago
  Same here. I have a friend who has limitless energy - he can party until 5pm, sleep for 2 hours, then go skiing the next day. All my youth I've felt guily about not being able to do this. Recently I've simply accepted that my body needs more sleep, and I feel better if I satisfy this need, so I try to sleep more. I still struggle to go to be (the internet is just so interesting!) but at least I don't feel guilty anymore.
brainzap 8y ago
The problem I see with all these Anecdotes is, that when a person starts to take care of their body like you did, they attack multiple health problems at once: improving sleep, reducing coffee, eating more greens, a little bit more workout. So it is more the sum than a single thing.
- rofo1 8y ago
  To be precise, I was never out of shape in my entire life. At some points, I was extremely fit, some moderately fit, but I was never in a bad shape even when I wasn't sleeping right. So, that in itself didn't help with my sleep, for example. It might be more psychological than anything else. Wouldn't surprise me!

by rofo1 8y ago

iamben 8y ago

I loved "Why We Sleep" (was a HN recommendation, I think!). One of my biggest takeaways was learning to not feel guilty about it. I think the constant 'hustle mentality' ends up making a lot of this community (in particular) demonise sleep in an "I'll sleep when I'm dead" and "if I'm not working 22 hours a day I'm being out hustled!" When I 'forgave' myself for sleeping (which sounds mental, but bear with) and started to get a consistent 7.5 hours a day, I found that I was just working _better_. Smarter not harder, I guess? Focussed work is definitely > unfocussed work!

tomp 8y ago
Same here. I have a friend who has limitless energy - he can party until 5pm, sleep for 2 hours, then go skiing the next day. All my youth I've felt guily about not being able to do this. Recently I've simply accepted that my body needs more sleep, and I feel better if I satisfy this need, so I try to sleep more. I still struggle to go to be (the internet is just so interesting!) but at least I don't feel guilty anymore.

brainzap 8y ago

The problem I see with all these Anecdotes is, that when a person starts to take care of their body like you did, they attack multiple health problems at once: improving sleep, reducing coffee, eating more greens, a little bit more workout. So it is more the sum than a single thing.

rofo1 8y ago
To be precise, I was never out of shape in my entire life. At some points, I was extremely fit, some moderately fit, but I was never in a bad shape even when I wasn't sleeping right. So, that in itself didn't help with my sleep, for example. It might be more psychological than anything else. Wouldn't surprise me!