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micah67 · 08-06-2003, 02:15 PM

I'm a picky sleeper. I'll generally avoid sleeping over at a friend's house because I know I won't get a good night's sleep. My criteria to getting to sleep are rather extensive:
Dark. If my wife has a light on to read – I can’t sleep. If the TV is on, even if muted, I can’t sleep with the flickering of the TV light.
Noise. I have found it’s easier if I have some white noise going, otherwise any little thing will jolt me awake with my heart bounding. I have an air purifier running on high and it’s rather loud (measured it at 60dB). It generally does the job on masking out the little noises. If she’s reading in bed and the light isn’t an issue, the noise of the pages turning is. I won’t even go into snoring issues. “Turn over sweetie” sometimes doesn’t do it, either, and I’m up and to the guest room. The phone is turned off in our room and the loud air purifier usually masks the rings from elsewhere in the house. (When the house was being built, I paid extra to have the interior walls insulated for sound reasons.)
Weather. If it’s too hot, forget it. It’s much better to be too cold. I prefer around 70 degrees. Too dry is an issue, too. I have an 11 gal humidifier in our bedroom and I have to get up in the middle of the night to fill it if it runs out too soon (it’s usually good for a couple nights unless it’s extra dry).
Space. Don’t touch me. No cuddling. Don’t reach out with your foot and brush up against my leg unless you want to peel me off the ceiling. The cats have learned to sleep on her side as I push them away when they get close. If I stretch out and touch her, I draw back. But then I *know* right where she is and that bothers me, too. (Ideally I’d sleep alone and sometimes have to in order to wind down).
Misc. If the sheets become undone in the night and I notice – I won’t be able to sleep until I’ve gotten up and fixed them. My wife has gone the extra mile and has sewn on extensions to the end of the sheets so they’ll never get pulled up too far.

I don’t know why she puts up with me…

I’ll often stay up late, avoiding going to sleep, until I’m exhausted and can fall asleep easier. I have a job that doesn’t have fixed hours; when I get there is when I get there.

I guess I’m asking for input, advise, thoughts and comments on sleep issues. Am I alone in my quirks? Am I too anal and should live on the street for a while so I can learn to appreciate the finer things (like a bed)?

08-06-2003, 02:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
micah67 Thor Location: 33:08:12N 117:10:23W	Picky sleeper I'm a picky sleeper. I'll generally avoid sleeping over at a friend's house because I know I won't get a good night's sleep. My criteria to getting to sleep are rather extensive: Dark. If my wife has a light on to read – I can’t sleep. If the TV is on, even if muted, I can’t sleep with the flickering of the TV light. Noise. I have found it’s easier if I have some white noise going, otherwise any little thing will jolt me awake with my heart bounding. I have an air purifier running on high and it’s rather loud (measured it at 60dB). It generally does the job on masking out the little noises. If she’s reading in bed and the light isn’t an issue, the noise of the pages turning is. I won’t even go into snoring issues. “Turn over sweetie” sometimes doesn’t do it, either, and I’m up and to the guest room. The phone is turned off in our room and the loud air purifier usually masks the rings from elsewhere in the house. (When the house was being built, I paid extra to have the interior walls insulated for sound reasons.) Weather. If it’s too hot, forget it. It’s much better to be too cold. I prefer around 70 degrees. Too dry is an issue, too. I have an 11 gal humidifier in our bedroom and I have to get up in the middle of the night to fill it if it runs out too soon (it’s usually good for a couple nights unless it’s extra dry). Space. Don’t touch me. No cuddling. Don’t reach out with your foot and brush up against my leg unless you want to peel me off the ceiling. The cats have learned to sleep on her side as I push them away when they get close. If I stretch out and touch her, I draw back. But then I know right where she is and that bothers me, too. (Ideally I’d sleep alone and sometimes have to in order to wind down). Misc. If the sheets become undone in the night and I notice – I won’t be able to sleep until I’ve gotten up and fixed them. My wife has gone the extra mile and has sewn on extensions to the end of the sheets so they’ll never get pulled up too far. I don’t know why she puts up with me… I’ll often stay up late, avoiding going to sleep, until I’m exhausted and can fall asleep easier. I have a job that doesn’t have fixed hours; when I get there is when I get there. I guess I’m asking for input, advise, thoughts and comments on sleep issues. Am I alone in my quirks? Am I too anal and should live on the street for a while so I can learn to appreciate the finer things (like a bed)? __________________ ~micah