Do you fall asleep easily?
By scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
Singapore
December 22, 2011 8:27am CST
I marvel at the ability of my mother to fall asleep easily.
She can sleep anywhere and anytime.
The minute she decides to sleep, her mind just shuts down, and a minute later, you can hear her snoring.
I heard from her that this ability to fall asleep easily is in the genes.
My grandmother had the same ability, and my aunt, meaning the sister of my mother, had the same ability.
Apparently the saying that the old people sleep lightly and wake up at every slight noise does not apply to her.
She does not even wake up when the ambulances race along the road next to my house. Even when a few ambulances are on full sirens, she does not wake up.
Not even a loud thunder can wake her up.
She just sleeps like a baby.
Somehow I do not get the full benefits of such genes.
I wake up at every slight and strange noise!
5 people like this
38 responses
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
24 Dec 11
I am a sound sleeper too. Loud noises don't wake me. Having to go to the bathroom Does! I can take tiny naps and be ok. Otherwise I stay up until I'm so tired I fall asleep instantly.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
31 Dec 11
Suggestion. Don't drink any liquid an hour before bedtime.this May help.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Dec 11
Hi Sara, I hate to get up in the middle of the night to go toilet.
I think it is very troublesome to get out of our cozy bed, and then touch water when we are feeling cold.
I hate it very much, and I try to reduce the need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
I seldom take naps, since it is not possible with a day job.
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58677)
• Delhi, India
22 Dec 11
Hi!
I do not fall asleep so easily. It takes at least 10 to 15 minutes for me to fall asleep .
When am very tired and wish to go to sleep then sleep does not eludes me. Sometimes when am reading a book/magazine for a long time, I will fall sleep while reading the book.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
23 Dec 11
haha Dpk, I guess you must have slept very well right before a major examination when you were still schooling.
Some people tend to fall asleep when they read boring books.
When a person is very tired, even watching TV can make him fall asleep.
I think it depends on each person, and our lifestyle and genes.
@dpk262006 (58677)
• Delhi, India
24 Dec 11
.....do not make wild assumptions that I would have slept during major examination. It did not happen.
@tiffnkeat (1673)
• Singapore
30 Dec 11
I am a easy sleeper too. Just went to KL on a night train. So loud, yet soundly asleep. Usually I go into deep sleep too, and very quickly. I am sure to be in the Z-monsters land within 10-15 minutes of hitting the pillows. I think.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Dec 11
Hi Tiffnkeat, in this case, you better not go for night cruise.
It will be a complete waste of time and money to sleep throughout the duration of the cruise.
I think you must have slept your way through national service!
How many best sleeping awards have you gotten?
How many hours of sleep do you have at work? Perhaps your ability to sleep with eyes open manage to fool your bosses too!
@squallming (1775)
• Malaysia
30 Dec 11
I'm just as easily asleep as your relatives. I can sleep whenever I want, wherever I want. Noises won't affect me much unless it's deadly. I used to sleep when my mother and her boyfriend were singing karaoke out in the living room which is only five steps away from me? I can still sleep until morning. I can never have problem with sleeping and I will never understand what it's like to have insomnia.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Dec 11
Hi Squallming, that is great.
You definitely enjoy a healthy body, a healthy mind, and very good genes.
I think with such a gene, living to a hundred years old is not a problem at all.
If most people in your family have such genes, then you will never have to experience insomnia at all.
I think many people will envy you for such activities.
Let us hope that it is not due to your youth!
Most people have sleep problem after reaching adulthood, when they need to work long hours and face stress at work.
Some people even take on jobs that require them to work rotating shift, and this mess up their internal clock badly.
@pshykid (45)
• India
27 Dec 11
I do not fall asleep,I take a very long to fal asleep.but,instead when I am not asleep i keep playin music inorder to make me fall asleep.
But,there are some situations when i fell asleep and all but it happens rarely once in a while.When I go out with friends just to hang around the city I feel asleep as soon as return back early at night.Hence,falling aslee changes from persos to persons its according to their genes.It also differs according to the work you do in a day....
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Dec 11
Hi Pshykid, I think the physical activity makes you tired, that is why you can fall asleep easily after a day in the city.
I think in this case, you are better off moving to the city, or getting a job in the city.
The constant stress of city living usually makes a person hard to fall asleep, but it seems to have the opposite effect on you.
Over here, getting on board the train is like a race.
The minute we step out of the house, we are fighting to save every second.
Missing a red light means waiting for 40 seconds more, and that means missing the train, and has to wait for five more minutes.
In the end, we are ten minutes late.
So all the missed seconds accumulate to make us lose a few minutes.
@Blaze30 (2)
•
26 Dec 11
I do not fall asleep easily and sometimes, i wished it wasn't so.I need total darkness and silence and needs to be very very tired.
I tend to quickly wake up to the slightest sound in the room and this usually breaks up my sleep constantly.
I sometimes have to go buy sleeping pill to fall asleep and not wake up until the next morning.
When i was younger, i didn't have these sleeping problem, but as i grew older, things got worse and sometimes, I'd spent the entire night in front of my computer because i just can't fall asleep.I'm thinking about going to see a doctor to make sure this is not some inner problem in me.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
23 Dec 11
I too have the the same problem when it comes to sleeping. I really find it hard to sleep. I need to have no lights when I sleep, otherwise, I surely will not be able to sleep well. If there is a sound, perhaps I can tolerate for as long as its soft music, other than that would end up finding myself wide awake. I also have to wear a very comfortable clothing to sleep well. I really envy those people who are really good at sleeping even in whatever position.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Dec 11
Hi Jpso, I think you will find it miserable if your job requires frequent travel and sleeping in different location every night.
Some people just need a certain environment to sleep well.
They cannot sleep in a new environment with unfamiliar sound.
I also envy those who can sleep even when they are standing in a crowded bus.
I can never do that.
I will worry about my bag, and things inside my bag.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
23 Dec 11
As i have gotten older, i seem to be able to fall asleep more easily. when i was younger it would take ne half the night to finally fall asleep at night,. niw it seems i am asleep before my head can hit the pillow. I guess sooner or kater everything catches up with us.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Dec 11
Hi Sender, that is strange.
Most people find it harder to sleep when they get older.
The ones that have worst sleep are those in their retirement.
Sometimes a slight noise makes them wake up in the middle of the night, and they cannot sleep after that.
I think the physical effect of aging affects the sleep pattern in some cases.
For you, it seems to have the opposite effect.
@succeednow (1633)
• Singapore
23 Dec 11
Hi scheng1,
Having a proper sleep is very important for the proper functioning of the body and mind. The ability to fall asleep and to have sound and deep sleep is indeed a blessing. In today's society more and more people are finding it increasingly difficult to get a good night's sleep. Many people would pay a lot to have this 'luxury'. Why can't these people sleep properly. I'm sure when they were babies they had no problem sleeping at all. I think the problem is mental - too much stress in their lives - all the time worrying and thinking of this and that - all sorts of stuff cloud their mind - could be work, relationship, desire or whatever. So the trick is if one could clear one's mind I'm pretty sure sleeping would not be a problem. How to clear one's mind of such clutter? Well, that's a topic of discussion for another day. Have a good night sleep!
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Dec 11
Hi Succeednow, actually stress is not a modern day invention.
i am sure people in the past had very stressful life too.
They just do not make it worse by thinking about it all the time.
After all, we can see that the problems we face today are not unique to our times. We have wars, earthquakes, murder, and stealing, the same as all other times in history.
I think the problem is in our coping skills, and our desire to live far beyond our means.
That is the thing that keeps us awake, since we want more and better material comforts than others.
@globaldoc (858)
• Philippines
25 Dec 11
I actually do not have problems with sleeping. I just get to be so busy that sleeping for me becomes so rare. This is why I get to bed already so tired. This is why when I close my eyes, I immediately fall asleep. If not, I would just imagine being together in a family outing with my mother in law, and I would fall asleep faster than a speeding bullet.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Dec 11
Haha Globaldoc, I think your mother in law must think you are still a baby!
Just hope that she does not get offended to see you falling asleep when she talks to you half way.
I hope your life is not so busy now.
Having enough sleep is very important.
Otherwise our body will make us pay when we are older.
@Mayuko (1268)
• United States
23 Dec 11
I usually don't fall asleep easily. There are sometimes when I don't get enough sleep, so of course I fall asleep quickly.
I'm also a very light sleeper. I suppose this can be a good thing because if there is an emergency or someone breaking into my house, I could arise and act sooner.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Dec 11
Hi Mayuko, sometimes I need at least an hour of tossing before I can fall asleep.
it is possible that I am not physically tired enough.
I think many people do not have enough exercise to make them feel physically tired, and mentally tired is not enough to make us fall asleep.
i am a light sleeper, but not that serious.
At least I do not wake up when familiar noise happens at night.
I live near a busy junction, and traffic noise is a constant.
@fantabulus (4000)
• India
23 Dec 11
No I not fall asleep easily when I goes on the bed at least after half an hour I can asleep. Some time till one hour I cant sleep. But my husband can sleep easily with in 5 minutes. I have no habit of snoring.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Dec 11
Hi Fantabulus, it must be very boring to see your husband sleeping so soundly, and yet you cannot fall asleep after half an hour.
I think your husband works very hard at work, and he is very tired when he reaches home.
Good that he can sleep well and have a restful night.
Sometimes I think it has to do with genes.
Some people can afford to sleep just for six hours, and they have energy for an active lifestyle.
@phillyguy (3005)
• Philippines
23 Dec 11
yup when I am drunk kidding aside I have a hard time sleeping right away sometimes I am already lying in my bed for hours but I still can't sleep but since my worktime change from morning to afternoon when I arrived home late at night It is easier for me now to sleep just a few minutes after I lay on my bed but the problem is I wake up really late
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Dec 11
Hi Phillyguy, I think you are night person.
Some people prefer to work at night, since that is the best hour for them.
I think afternoon shift suits you, if you can fall asleep after returning home from work.
As long as you wake up fresh and happy, it does not matter that you wake up late.
If you want to wake up earlier, you can just set the alarm.
@min8esign (167)
• Indonesia
26 Dec 11
I was not an easy person to sleep.
I sometimes take some effort to get to sleep. Watching TV all night letting my eyes tired, ease me to fall asleep.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Dec 11
Hi Min8esign, I hope that is not the only way to make you tired, and fall asleep!
Are you always having problem with sleep?
Or is it due to some changes in your life, such as moving to a new house or getting a new job.
I think it is good to find out other ways to fall into a deep sleep faster.
Otherwise you will waste too much money on electricity for the TV.
I think even if you fall asleep in front of the Tv, it is not really a sound, and deep sleep.
@sijabatnaburjut (2171)
• Indonesia
23 Dec 11
I fell sleepy easily after a tiring whole day full of work. I can't sleep too if I am not tired. I think the case of sleep is influenced by the condition of our body or fitness. I would not be able to sleep if I was not sleepy enough to go to the bathroom. I knew how to make you fall asleep quickly, all you have to grab a book while you are laying on your bad. I am sure you will fall asleep as soon as possible.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Dec 11
Hi Sijabatnaburjut, you must be those who do not love to read.
if I grab a book to read, I will not feel tired at all.
Reading brings much pleasure to me, and I can read until the wee hours of the morning.
I think physically tired helps us to sleep better, but not mentally tired.
Those who work in the office, and do planning whole day often have problems falling asleep.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
23 Dec 11
Oh how i wish i am like your mother who easily falls asleep anywhere and anytime.
As for me, i don't go to sleep unless my eyes is already shutting down. I would watch the TV until i would feel sleepy. But the moment i fell asleep, i am already unaware if it's raining or my husband is knocking at the window because he left the house key, and he arrives so late because they had a drinking spree. or sometimes when i slept early, i didn't notice at all that my husband was already home and was watching the TV all the time beside me.
I would at least take a pee for about more than 3x in a night, but always as i go back to sleep, i sleep as if i didn't get up to pee.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Dec 11
Hi Simplyd, fortunately you are not living in a high rise apartment!
Your husband cannot knock at the window then.
He probably has to spend the whole night sleeping on the staircase.
Maybe you need some noise to induce you to sleep.
Some people are like that, they sleep with the TV on, and they wake up a few hours later to find out how late it is, and they need some water, and go washroom.
I just hope that I can sleep as soundly as my mother.
Too bad I do not have all of her good genes.
@Triple0 (1904)
• Australia
23 Dec 11
Why are we so similar!? I am just like you and our mothers are so similar. My Mum just hits the sack and she's out like a night light. I don't get how she can sleep so easily like that. She can sleep like 3 times in a day while I can never sleep during the day. My Mum tends to snore a lot too and her snoring can't get me sleeping I a very tough sleeper, a slight movement or loud noise can get me awake and alert very easily. I can never sleep during the day either. Each time I lay down to take a short afternoon nap, I either don't sleep at all or I get up with a really bad headache. It always happens! Each time I sleep during the day, I wake up with an annoying headache. So I can only sleeping during the night and most of the time I don't get enough sleep that's why I have dark rings under my eyes. I wish I got my Mum's genes. I got my dad's genes instead and my grandma is a tough sleeper too. I envy people who can sleep so easily. At camp, all my friends slept straight away while I took like 2 hours just lying there.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Dec 11
Hi Triple0, it is plain torturing to keep awake while our mothers snore away.
I have to keep pushing her to wake up when she snores too loudly.
Otherwise I will have Panda eyes in the morning too.
It is funny how age never deprives them of their ability to sleep like a baby, and yet we cannot sleep so well.
I think we will get more miserable as we age.
By the time we reach our parents' age, I think we might have just a few hours of good sleep every night.
@Pushhyarag2000 (1416)
• India
23 Dec 11
I think all those people are blessed. Wrong, rather, because it is not as if they have any role or contribution in the whole thing. They live a life, a disciplined life may be, due to which they do not experience bother all the time that some of us do. So to that extent, hats off to them. Yes, even sleeping without disturbance at every little noise is an indication of the fact that they go to sleep completely care free and with a sense of accomplishment every time so they don't have to be startled at every little noise.
I go to sleep quite fast and uncontrollably but not at regular sleep time or defined place. My sleep is always when I sit in a moving vehicle. It barely takes a few minutes for me to doze off after the vehicle starts moving! And my best refreshing sleep is the one I get this way. Meaning, I find it quite fulfilling! So much so, certain close friends & colleagues found it amusing and would tease me! We would travel about 5 hours when I was touring in the hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh from Shimla & beyond in cars and I had to invariably tie seat belt around me because I wouldn't manage keeping awake but the swerving vehicle at n number of road bends would not leave me sitting in one place.
My wife is one who gets instant sleep but she also wakes up even when there is noise of footsteps in the room!
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Dec 11
Hi Push, I think you should not go for a coach holiday in this case.
It will be a waste of money to bring you on a 10 days coach tour, and then you sleep all the way.
Most people cannot sleep in buses or cars, because they do not feel safe with their possessions unguarded.
They have to hold tight to their bags, and then they cannot sleep deeply.
Probably the movement of the vehicle induces you to sleep.
@Aja103654 (5646)
• Philippines
23 Dec 11
I have a hard time sleeping on days I don't have work to do. One of the reasons I applied for a job recently is so that I can get my normal sleeping habits back. It worked.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
30 Dec 11
Hi Aja, in this case, you better continue working as long as your health permits.
Most people have the habit of going to bed at a certain hour, even if they are not working.
These people are very suitable to work on their own, since they have the discipline to do so.
Some of us just need the discipline that comes from regular job.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Dec 11
Hi Indi15, spending an hour tossing in bed is plain torture.
I have such nights too, and I do not like it.
Usually I can fall asleep within 30 minutes, but then I wake up when hearing strange noise.
If only I can sleep like my mother, I think I will have much more energy in the day hours.