Not a lot has happened since my last blog. But I have been to Melbourne to see my sleep therapist, and he has devised a program for me based on what I have told him, this is based on my current appalling sleep habits that see me get around 4-6 hours a night with most nights being interrupted by a toilet stop that results in around 30-45 minutes of lost sleep. Now, this does not mean that I spend up to 45 minutes standing in front of the toilet! Only 2-3 minutes actually, but it takes me ages to get back to sleep again.

Here is what the therapist advises:

1) I have a siesta each day, lying down for 30-45 minutes sometime between 2-3 pm.

2). I no longer wear a watch to bed. This is based on my current thought process whereby when I go to the toilet or wake at, say, 2.30 am, I look at my watch and think: "Damn....I have to spend another 4-5 hours in bed!" He says that the time I wake in the middle of the night no longer matters. So no more watch at night.

3). Because I read a lot in bed, both before sleeping and after waking, my brain is starting to think that bed is related more to reading, and less to sleeping. So less reading in bed (I can read elsewhere).

4). Setting my alarm for 7.30 and getting up at that time. Doesn't matter that I wake between 5-6 am currently, and stay in bed reading until 8.00. This is meant to break my current sleep/waking habit.

6). Reducing my "real" exercise sessions to 3 a week and starting slowly and building up the intensity. (I tried to do too much 7-8 days ago when I started my new exercise regime, trying to run before I could walk. So now I do it on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and slowly build up the intensity. But still do my regular walk Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

7). Still not use my radio ear plugs. These stimulate my mind and keep me awake....well mostly they do. I love news, so I try to stay awake to listen to the ABC 24-hour news station instead of sleeping (no wonder my sleep habits are all screwed up LOL!!!)

And as for my active mind? Not much he can suggest, but he almost died laughing when I jocularly told him I could start taking sleeping tablets. :-)

Now most of you are prolly yawning by now and wondering what sort of sleep deprived idiot I am. And you are prolly correct. But I am trying to sleep better, and have as my goal 6-7 hours a night as opposed to my current 4-6 hours.