Sleep after late night training?

[rhilllakefield]

Hi gang, any of you train until 9 or 10 o'clock at night, and have trouble sleeping. Even if I fall asleep by 11 my sleep always sucks that night. Unfortunately it's every Tuesday.

I've set karate aside for a few years to study jeet kune do. I'm completely in love with it, and have a great instructor. It may be permanent. The issue is I'm so focused, it's hard to dial it down to sleep.

Any tips? I may try and meditate or some tea afterwards.

[Harkon72]

It can be difficult to calm your mind, but Chamomile Tea is good.

[Wastelander]

It is generally recommended that you avoid strenuous or highly engaging physical or mental activities for about 2 hours before going to sleep. Martial arts counts. You are really just training too late at night and you are full of endorphins and ideas when it's time to go to bed. You can try a hot bath, in addition to meditation and chamomile tea, but your best options are really to either stop training so late at night, or sleep in.

[CredoTe]

Hi gang, any of you train until 9 or 10 o'clock at night, and have trouble sleeping. Even if I fall asleep by 11 my sleep always sucks that night. Unfortunately it's every Tuesday.

To accommodate work schedules of our adult students and parents of youth, we start class at 6:30pm. It's not so bad for the youth students, because they're whisked home by their parents, but with the adult students, sometimes we're training as late as 9:00pm. By the time we get the dojo cleaned, swept, deck mopped / sanitized, I'm not home til after 10:00pm some nights.

I experience similar issues, and yes, it's because of training so late. If I can't fall asleep and meditation / prayer doesn't calm me enough, I will take a natural melatonin supplement. That works...

[sensei8]

Whether I'm a dummy or not, I try not to train to late, especially as I advance in age. What I use to do, I try not to do because I'm not that whippersnapper anymore.

Many doctors, and my personal doctor is no exception. 8 hours of undisturbed sleep is an active agent in fighting against a stroke. A consistent lack of 8 hours sleep increases ones chance of submitting to a stroke.

Stroke is in my family history; many of the males in my family history have passed away from a stroke, so I'm more proactive is doing what is right to lessen my chances.

Depending on what's going on at my dojo, and/or the Hombu, I'll average about 6 hours, and sometimes about 4-5 hours. I'm a worry wort about a lot of things, but I'm slowy getting many things off my so busy plate.

Sleep...sleep...sleep...

The more the merry is what I'm understanding from my doctors as well of the general doctor consensus about sleep. It is true, from what I've read and from what doctors have stated...2 hours of rest after activities BEFORE one tries to go asleep.

But as always...confer with your doctor before you ever listen to me about health and things like that. I'm a MAist, NOT a doctor!!

[DWx]

I have the same thing. Thursday nights I don't get home till after 10 pm. Nearly killed me when I had to get to work by 6:30 am. I find always making sure to do a really good cool down and then take an hour or so to chill out when I get home helps.

[rhilllakefield]

Thanks guys.

I may actually stay up for a few minutes after class and take my mind off of the training.

I think its the focus that's keeping me up. TV is so horrible these days, an hour of that and I should be out like a light.

Thanks for the replies.

[CredoTe]

Glad we could be of some assistance...

...TV is so horrible these days...

Absolutely... couldn't agree with you more

[ps1]

Seeing as tea tends to be caffeinated, that may not be the best idea. I would recommend the meditation or reading a book.

[ShotokanMaster]

Drink a green tea its good or you can meditate too