In this week’s Sleep Diaries, a journalist with IBS has a few restless nights.

A little about me:

Age: 29

Occupation: journalist

Number of hours sleep you get each night: 6-ish

Number of hours sleep you wish you got each night: 8

Do you grind your teeth/have nightmares: no

How much water do you drink on average per day: 2-3 litres

How much exercise do you do on average per week: 10 hours of brisk walking

Day 1

After a weekend full of partying, drinking and little sleep, I decide to spend Sunday avoiding alcohol and going for a long walk. I get home from a six-hour walk at 7.30pm and then fling together a stir-fry. I eat it in front of the TV with a few glasses of water, then have a cup of mint tea and a couple of biscuits before heading to bed at 10pm.

After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I get into bed by 10.30pm and set my alarm for 6.45am. I try to read a chapter of my book before I go to sleep, but I’m so tired I only manage a couple of pages. I put on a bedtime audiobook (I can’t sleep without one) and fall asleep instantly.

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