What do the sleep experts say about the cause of early morning waking? This refers to waking up while still very tired.

[night cycler]

Since the menopause I’ve struggled to get more than 3 or 4 hours most nights. I don’t feel tired though, so I presume I just don’t need it.

What time do you go to bed?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

See

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220107-the-lost-medieval-habit-of-biphasic-sleep

 

[night cycler]

During the night I'd say I get up anything from 5-10x and the cats are just at me all night. Both are Toms that are knocking on now in years. I get meowed at, howled at, prodded, jumped on etc. One sleeps on my bed and the other is in and out etc, scratching the carpet etc. If you shut the bedroom door they will just keep jumping up at the handle and banging it all night.
I used to take a glass of water to bed but they used to drink it straight away, so I use a cycling bottle now.

What happened to the phrase "putting the cat out at night" ?

 

[Kingfisher101]

What happened to the phrase "putting the cat out at night" ?

I wouldn't do that to any cat, let alone elderly Toms. That's when cats go missing, get run over etc.

 

[ClichéGuevara]

I knew a bloke who used to make a lot of proud noises about how little sleep he got each night, and how he was nearly always up and about for the dawn chorus.

It was all quite possibly true, but I know from going to meetings with him, he'd be asleep within minutes of getting in the car. Sleep through the meetings, waking up for dinner, sleep through the afternoon, and then sleep all the way back home.

No wonder he was up early, it was about the only time he was awake and not eating.

 

[ClichéGuevara]

What happened to the phrase "putting the cat out at night" ?

I think the smoke control zones stopped people lighting them in the first place.

 

[night cycler]

I think the smoke control zones stopped people lighting them in the first place.

That was before Brexit, It's ok now.

 

[a.twiddler]

I wouldn't do that to any cat, let alone elderly Toms. That's when cats go missing, get run over etc.

But you'd do that to yourself? Need to take a hard look at your priorities.

 

[Slick]

But you'd do that to yourself? Need to take a hard look at your priorities.

Exactly, he needs another cat. 🐈‍⬛

 

[Kingfisher101]

But you'd do that to yourself? Need to take a hard look at your priorities.

I know but I'm soft and that's what cats do, they are most active at dawn and dusk. Its like getting a dog and then complaining they bark and that you have to pick up dog poo.

 

[GuyBoden]

Any light getting into the bedroom isn't good for sleeping, a mask might help.

 

[presta]

If you shut the bedroom door they will just keep jumping up at the handle and banging it all night.

Lock them in a room downstairs.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Do you drink alcohol the night before? The 4am wakes can be related to alcohol metabolism.
Me and Wimpers drink too much of an evening and are victims of this. When we don't drink we sleep for longer and wake better.

 

[steveindenmark]

I go to bed at about 11pm and get up at 4am and ride 20km to work most days. I leave at 4.30am and start work at 6am. I finish at 11am, ride home and spend the day with Jannie. In the late afternoon, I sometimes have a half hour "brain" sleep. I am then good until I go to bed.

I have been doing this for 20 years. The fact that I am 65 years of age and can cycle 40km almost every day and rarely have any type of illness. Makes me wonder if I am unusual or that the sleep experts do not always get it right.

Summer mornings at 4.30am are glorious where I live and is like food for the soul. Winter, when its cold, dark and blowing is a battle. But it strengthens the resolve inside you

 

[night cycler]

Any light getting into the bedroom isn't good for sleeping, a mask might help.

View attachment 707940

From what I've read so far it's cats that need masks. I don't keep jumping up door handles, and neither am I banging all night. So it must be something else.