Most of this fall winter has been cloudy so we’ve only used our greenhouse maybe twice. Now we have a houseful of flu thanks to sick family that came to the Christmas gathering after convincing themselves they were no longer contagious. Us oldsters aren’t doing so hot with this garbage. Anyway you don’t need to heat the greenhouse. When outs sunny outside it can get up to 120 degrees f without a heater
Ugh, yeah, this flu has been bad. Sorry. My wife got hit hard too.
I have been doing a little research, and even the daylight on a cloudy day is better than nothing. So for me, I would build the greenhouse so I could be outside in the winter without being fully outside.
That said, I suspect in these temperatures, and on a cloudy day, I would need some heat!
I prefer a very small pillow, because I feel as if smothered by any larger ones. We bought My Pillows and after using very expensive pillows these a
are the best for both of ever! I sleep so much better using one. They come in a travel size so I have three and rotate them through the night and use one between my knees. They aren’t expensive, so I highly recommend trying one out! 😴 💤 Thanks Cori!
I sleep like the dead nowadays. Ever since I got on prescribed migraine meds. I'm like Cinderella only I don't turn into a pumpkin, my mess turn me into a brick 😆
I'm up at the same time 7 days a week because I have a dog. First thing we do is walk every morning at 730 🌄 I also sleep/live in the basement now because I'm hot-flashing like it's my job lol. Nice and cool down here.
And I use a white noise machine (fan sound) when I sleep. This is because I live on the edge of a forest and you wouldn't believe how intrusive bird sounds can be at 5 a.m. 🐦
Sounds like this works awesome for you. What I’ve seen of modern sleep research states that solving insomnia requires waking up consistently the opposite of what people think. Glad your meds work. Benadryl does that to me but I don’t stay asleep. I never mentioned sleep aids but when I was low on magnesium, supplements made my sleep even better.✌️
I love all your suggestions, Bren, and would like to add what works for me.
Retirement freedom.
I sleep when I'm tired. I get up when I wake up. 24 hours a day. Sometimes that means napping at 4pm, and getting up at 11pm for a few hours until I'm tired again. Schedules are good, but freedom and following the body's normal cycles is exquisite.
I never schedule appointments before 10am.
I do what I want, when I want, how I want.
And NOTHING is worth worrying about. When I find myself doing so, I remind myself that it has never solved anything. If it's about a loved one, their choices are their own. I will help when possible, but I do not internalize it.
Some people need structure, and that's great.
Learning to recognize and honor natural cycles is an art and takes practice. The rewards of such an acumen are life-changing.
Lol that sounds contrary to what I said and that’s awesome. Everyone should do what works for them and this is what saved me from insanity. I’m semi-retired now and I don’t have any schedule 4 days a week except for sleep. My body is trained for my nighttime routine so it comes naturally especially since I’m a morning person. Also I didn’t mention I worked overnight for almost a year and it kilt my soul. I am NOT a good day sleeper. I also don’t nap because I end up sleeping 3+ hours and wake up mentally intoxicated, literally if I drove a car I’d be pulled over for drunk driving. Thank you for sharing!
You were right about the cult/religious aspect. Slightly scary :) Seriously though, I absolutely agree with the exercise every morning in the fresh air, and yes to the vit D - denying properties of sunscreen. Factor 50 now seems to be the accepted "norm", which seems ridiculous when I recall the decades when I grew up. If anyone used it at all, it would factor 30 at the absolute most, and really factor 10 would be the usual "precaution". As for my evening routine, you would not approve, I fear. A couple of ales and some peanuts, followed by a late supper, then bed with a book. Seems to work for me as I am nodding within a couple of pages. I am implacable on the importance of regular meals at the same time each day as far as possible. A huge breakfast of porridge, nuts, seeds, fruits (whatever I have), made on whole milk. Then toast with home-made soda bread (I am a paddy by birth, so what else?!), with Kerrygold butter - absolutely no processed spread gunk. Then always lunch at 13.00, which is often home-made veg soup and maybe a sandwich; and dinner late-ish at 21.00. "You are what you eat" is a great motto.
Thank you for reading. I should have mentioned that something else might work as far as routines, as long as there is a routine. Back in the day I read in bed. I got outta the habit and now my warm tone, low-light bulbs make it a bit of a strain. Also I fell out with God during the pandemic so those last few breaths I take before la la land are for His word as I recite the verses I memorized during lent a few years ago to make my way back. I read sometimes but if I fall asleep reading, no verses. Were simple people at heart aren’t we?All that whole food you’re eating sounds amazing I’m not quite there yet. Making my own bread is next on my list of adjustments. Do you mind my mentioning you in my next post in this series How to Eat an Elephant? It’s about bite sized things that make a huge difference to health.
Haha that sounds like a post to look forward to with that title! And yes, of course you can mention, defame, libel etc to your heart's content. I look forward to it LOL.
Oh.....and it's good to hear you are making peace again with The Big Man Upstairs. Strangely enough it was during the covid "thing" that I seemed to have my belief sort of renewed, or at least woken up from its comfortable slumber, so to speak.
I highly encourage it. The only times I’m sleep deprived now are - full moons sometimes somehow penetrate my cave of gloom, heartburn if I eat too late, and stress if I fail to wipe my brain with comedy or meditation before bed. Great sleep changed my personality and my life. Happy zzzzzzz’s to ya.
Thank you for reading. It’s a long read compared to a lot of my work but a life’s work for great sleep apparently takes 9 minutes to share. Lol. Sweet dreams 😴
I live in Western NY. There is no sun for five months. 🤣
We def use a heater on cloudy days
Wait—didn't we have this discussion a few months back, or am I having wicked déja vu?
Probably one of the times I wrote about our glam pod
I want a glam pod.
https://open.substack.com/pub/coribren/p/wednesdays-child-is-full-of-woe?r=2umm6v&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Yup, I remember now; thank you. I might have to get me one of those.
Yes!
Most of this fall winter has been cloudy so we’ve only used our greenhouse maybe twice. Now we have a houseful of flu thanks to sick family that came to the Christmas gathering after convincing themselves they were no longer contagious. Us oldsters aren’t doing so hot with this garbage. Anyway you don’t need to heat the greenhouse. When outs sunny outside it can get up to 120 degrees f without a heater
Ugh, yeah, this flu has been bad. Sorry. My wife got hit hard too.
I have been doing a little research, and even the daylight on a cloudy day is better than nothing. So for me, I would build the greenhouse so I could be outside in the winter without being fully outside.
That said, I suspect in these temperatures, and on a cloudy day, I would need some heat!
Ick I’d lose my mind!
It's a bit rough. We've started to travel for longer stretches, to escape at least some of it.
I could build a solarium/greenhouse and heat it—that would get us maybe 7,000 lux in the mornings from daylight.
I prefer a very small pillow, because I feel as if smothered by any larger ones. We bought My Pillows and after using very expensive pillows these a
are the best for both of ever! I sleep so much better using one. They come in a travel size so I have three and rotate them through the night and use one between my knees. They aren’t expensive, so I highly recommend trying one out! 😴 💤 Thanks Cori!
I’ll have to try those! Thanks for the tip Charlotte. And thanks for reading.
I think you’ll like it! I don’t spent a night away from home without it now! Their towels are excellent too!
That’s great to hear I’m looking for some nice yellow towels.
I sleep like the dead nowadays. Ever since I got on prescribed migraine meds. I'm like Cinderella only I don't turn into a pumpkin, my mess turn me into a brick 😆
I'm up at the same time 7 days a week because I have a dog. First thing we do is walk every morning at 730 🌄 I also sleep/live in the basement now because I'm hot-flashing like it's my job lol. Nice and cool down here.
And I use a white noise machine (fan sound) when I sleep. This is because I live on the edge of a forest and you wouldn't believe how intrusive bird sounds can be at 5 a.m. 🐦
Sounds like this works awesome for you. What I’ve seen of modern sleep research states that solving insomnia requires waking up consistently the opposite of what people think. Glad your meds work. Benadryl does that to me but I don’t stay asleep. I never mentioned sleep aids but when I was low on magnesium, supplements made my sleep even better.✌️
Yah Magnesium is a game changer as well. I take that and prescription migraine medication daily.
I love all your suggestions, Bren, and would like to add what works for me.
Retirement freedom.
I sleep when I'm tired. I get up when I wake up. 24 hours a day. Sometimes that means napping at 4pm, and getting up at 11pm for a few hours until I'm tired again. Schedules are good, but freedom and following the body's normal cycles is exquisite.
I never schedule appointments before 10am.
I do what I want, when I want, how I want.
And NOTHING is worth worrying about. When I find myself doing so, I remind myself that it has never solved anything. If it's about a loved one, their choices are their own. I will help when possible, but I do not internalize it.
Some people need structure, and that's great.
Learning to recognize and honor natural cycles is an art and takes practice. The rewards of such an acumen are life-changing.
And everything you said.
Lol that sounds contrary to what I said and that’s awesome. Everyone should do what works for them and this is what saved me from insanity. I’m semi-retired now and I don’t have any schedule 4 days a week except for sleep. My body is trained for my nighttime routine so it comes naturally especially since I’m a morning person. Also I didn’t mention I worked overnight for almost a year and it kilt my soul. I am NOT a good day sleeper. I also don’t nap because I end up sleeping 3+ hours and wake up mentally intoxicated, literally if I drove a car I’d be pulled over for drunk driving. Thank you for sharing!
there is nothing wrong with structure.
different people respond to different things.
after a 30 year IT career, it took considerable work to allow myself to relax.
I hope you don't see my offering as contrary to yours.
your points are all valid.
I don’t see it that way at all. You’ve highlighted that one size doesn’t fit all and that would be a great disclaimer for the post
You were right about the cult/religious aspect. Slightly scary :) Seriously though, I absolutely agree with the exercise every morning in the fresh air, and yes to the vit D - denying properties of sunscreen. Factor 50 now seems to be the accepted "norm", which seems ridiculous when I recall the decades when I grew up. If anyone used it at all, it would factor 30 at the absolute most, and really factor 10 would be the usual "precaution". As for my evening routine, you would not approve, I fear. A couple of ales and some peanuts, followed by a late supper, then bed with a book. Seems to work for me as I am nodding within a couple of pages. I am implacable on the importance of regular meals at the same time each day as far as possible. A huge breakfast of porridge, nuts, seeds, fruits (whatever I have), made on whole milk. Then toast with home-made soda bread (I am a paddy by birth, so what else?!), with Kerrygold butter - absolutely no processed spread gunk. Then always lunch at 13.00, which is often home-made veg soup and maybe a sandwich; and dinner late-ish at 21.00. "You are what you eat" is a great motto.
Thank you for reading. I should have mentioned that something else might work as far as routines, as long as there is a routine. Back in the day I read in bed. I got outta the habit and now my warm tone, low-light bulbs make it a bit of a strain. Also I fell out with God during the pandemic so those last few breaths I take before la la land are for His word as I recite the verses I memorized during lent a few years ago to make my way back. I read sometimes but if I fall asleep reading, no verses. Were simple people at heart aren’t we?All that whole food you’re eating sounds amazing I’m not quite there yet. Making my own bread is next on my list of adjustments. Do you mind my mentioning you in my next post in this series How to Eat an Elephant? It’s about bite sized things that make a huge difference to health.
Haha that sounds like a post to look forward to with that title! And yes, of course you can mention, defame, libel etc to your heart's content. I look forward to it LOL.
Oh.....and it's good to hear you are making peace again with The Big Man Upstairs. Strangely enough it was during the covid "thing" that I seemed to have my belief sort of renewed, or at least woken up from its comfortable slumber, so to speak.
Mysterious ways indeed🙏
Whew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All great tips! I didn't see work yourself to death on there though.
Great list. I really want to know hubby’s western story. Hehe.
What a great point. I’ll get it from him and publish as a guest post.
Apparently, since I retired, I am doing everything wrong. Maybe I will try a few of them.
I highly encourage it. The only times I’m sleep deprived now are - full moons sometimes somehow penetrate my cave of gloom, heartburn if I eat too late, and stress if I fail to wipe my brain with comedy or meditation before bed. Great sleep changed my personality and my life. Happy zzzzzzz’s to ya.
Some really great suggestions Cori will definitely check out a few i haven't tried 💓💓💓 thanks for the recommendations!!
Thank you for reading. It’s a long read compared to a lot of my work but a life’s work for great sleep apparently takes 9 minutes to share. Lol. Sweet dreams 😴