I’ve noticed a new pattern recently and I’m not sure why it started.

I’ve always been a good sleeper. Actually scratch that, I’ve always been a GREAT sleeper. I could cat-nap on the sofa for 10 minutes and get up like I’ve had hours. I used to be able to sleep for 12 hours straight.

All that has changed.

I don’t do a daily cat-nap anymore.

I aim for between 7-8 hours a night but a problem has developed and I’m not sure where it came from.

Now I would like to point out here that I’m not blaming the times Hubby wakes me in the night because that can’t be helped and it used to be I could go straight back to sleep. Not anymore.

In fact, I wake myself up now after an hour or two, sometimes I get a solid 3 hours before I wake. Can I get back to sleep? Not a chance. Do you know what happens instead? My mind switches on, and it does it at 200mph.

It feels like every thought I’ve ever had runs through my head all at once. Things I’ve still to do, things I did that day, things I can’t forget, things that are already on my to-do list so why am I thinking about them? And why are they flooding into my brain at 4.02am?

Sleep, I tell myself, go back to sleep. Can’t.

Think of nothing, I tell myself, actually picture a big fat zero. Can’t.

What do people use to meditate or relax? Oh a candle, picture a candle and watch the flame so you can relax………flame? There could be a fire – no that doesn’t work.

And on and on it goes. When I do actually wake or get woken, I often feel like I only got to sleep 10 minutes ago. This is new to me and I don’t like it.

So what am I going to do about it? Well I have a cunning plan as Baldrick would say.

I know I’m busy through the day but a lot of that busy isn’t the physical kind. It’s home-schooling or gentle types of activity. So this week, we got our bikes out!! After years of sitting in the shed, my little bike got to see daylight – well a little daylight then it got dark pretty quick but it was still good.

Did my bum get sore? Of course! Did my hips feel like they were on fire? Absolutely! But I loved it so more biking is now in the schedule. I think just more exercise in general would help. Yes, I do daily walks and a bit of weights but I think a little more would actually tire not just my body but my brain. Maybe then I can get a little more sleep!

So although I’m not sure why this problem has started, apparently out of nowhere but that’s the plan I’ve worked out so far to try and deal with it.

Anyone else got some great ideas to help with the zzzzz – I’m all ears.