Everyone has heard the old wives' tale about having a nightcap to help you fall asleep. Numerous books and movies have glorified the concept of having a little bit to drink before bed, portraying it as the ideal relaxing technique.
Similarly, I used to think that alcohol, stress and caffeine didn’t bother my sleep like everyone said it would (FYI I was working 2 jobs and raising 3 highschool aged kids at the time.) I thought I was sleeping fine.
Then through a multitude of life changes, my kids grew up and I was in a far better place. I also started wearing a fitness watch that tracks sleep quality, stress, etc. Turns out I’m not a super hero, I was just exhausted and passing the fuck out and not recognizing (because I didn’t have other options) how much it had effected me.
Now I rarely drink, not because there’s anything wrong with it but because I have a visual record of the stress it causes my body and have come to recognize that I do actually sleep better without it. That said, as menopause is creeping up on me I’ve tracked hormonally related sleep challenges. After months of experimentation, 2.5-5mg indica gummy and 1mg of melatonin within the hour before bed and I typically sleep like a baby. (Melatonin by itself leaves me feeling slightly groggy for some stupid reason, but this combo balances.)
Similarly, I used to think that alcohol, stress and caffeine didn’t bother my sleep like everyone said it would (FYI I was working 2 jobs and raising 3 highschool aged kids at the time.) I thought I was sleeping fine.
Then through a multitude of life changes, my kids grew up and I was in a far better place. I also started wearing a fitness watch that tracks sleep quality, stress, etc. Turns out I’m not a super hero, I was just exhausted and passing the fuck out and not recognizing (because I didn’t have other options) how much it had effected me.
Now I rarely drink, not because there’s anything wrong with it but because I have a visual record of the stress it causes my body and have come to recognize that I do actually sleep better without it. That said, as menopause is creeping up on me I’ve tracked hormonally related sleep challenges. After months of experimentation, 2.5-5mg indica gummy and 1mg of melatonin within the hour before bed and I typically sleep like a baby. (Melatonin by itself leaves me feeling slightly groggy for some stupid reason, but this combo balances.)
Melatonin was so weird for me. Identical dosage from different brands felt wildly different, and some wildly vivid and violent nightmares.