Sleep needs and getting dressed - YouLookFab Forum

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Sleep needs and getting dressed

catgirl

Veteran

I am noticing that I need to sleep AT LEAST 7 hours to feel human, let alone get dressed. And I am a night owl. My job has three possible shifts: 6 am - 2:30 pm, 8-4:30, and 9 am - 8 pm. These occur a week at a time. The 6 - 2:30 shift absolutely kills me because I have to wake up so early, and I still rarely get to bed before 10 or 11 at night in order to spend time with my boys. Plus, I have to get ready in the dark so as not to disturb my poor DH further, since the animals are all charging around the second anyone is out of bed already.

Because of the weird times and the different duties associated with each shift, I'm finding I really need three sub-capsules for work. For the early shift I need a super-easy, comfortable, matching capsule that can be put together in dim light. For the regular day I need to be more polished and put-together. And for the 11 hour shift I need to be both comfortable and somewhat presentable. Well, okay, I always need to be comfortable!

How much sleep do you need, and do you sacrifice fashion for sleep when you are tired?

Dressing

45 replies

Latest reply was from catgirl

Nebraskim

Veteran

I can get by on six, but not for more than a week or ten days straight. Seven is better, 7.5 is a sweet spot. I do tend to plan ahead the night before. Three capsules with some crossover between them sound like a good plan.

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Oh my. That is really tough. You know, you could just put together as many outfits as you need ahead of time and just wear those for the difficult shifts--have the capsule "pre-made" as it were.

Once I figured out how I was going to dress for work: (T shirt, leggings and tunic over all) I decided to keep everything I needed for work in one drawer so I don't have to think about it.

catgirl

Veteran

Yes, I'm definitely planning ahead for the early shift, and it can't be anything that requires looking in a full length mirror. I don't want to have three totally separate capsules but I also want to be able to have some fun with dressing.

rute

Veteran

I need a lot a sleep too, like you at least 7 hours!
If I don't sleep well, I go for something practical and that I know it works like flats and a black dress, if it's cold I add a red coat that makes me look more awake

abc

Veteran

Sleep? What is sleep? Just kidding. But with two kids, ages 3 and 2, I honestly can't tell you how much I need, it's been so long since I've gotten it. I just know I am not getting enough and probably won't for a while. Under-eye concealer for dark circles is my best friend.

I like how you identified clearly what your needs are for each capsule.

I've been slipping back into the WFH danger zone of not getting dressed (ok, who are we kidding, not even taking the time to shower and properly get ready). I guess I am too lazy to get up before the rest of the house just to "be ready" for when they all get up and I have to put on my Mommy Hat.

Back to School has really beat me up this year. Today I made some effort, showered and dressed before walking out to the home office and I feel a ton better. I have yet to break my needs into capsules like yours, though. Could be a nice next step.

So do you think you have what you need for these capsules, it's just a matter of laying them out differently in your closet (or dressing area), or do you think you've identified some new needs based on this?

catgirl

Veteran

abc, yes - back to school (mine is 10) and demanding pets (dog, cat, lizard) plus life (tires changed over, medical appointments, chores, exercise, meals)... who has time for sleep! I need to set aside a block of time to think properly about what I have and how it works together, now that I have purged a bunch of space-wasters. Easier said than done, since that task will eat into even more sleep time!

One thing I've started doing for the early shift is showering the night before. And I only wash my hair every 4th day - it's actually better for my color and looks best a couple of days in anyway (at least that's what I tell myself)... And because I'm alone for the first two hours of the day I can do my minimal makeup at work.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I need 8 hours or I will fall asleep on my desk. When I can't get it is when it helps to have a wardrobe that's one big garanimals set, because I can reach in, pull out stuff, and know all my tigers are in a row no matter what I've got in hand. I also believe in low-maintenance hair or hair that can be pulled back with clips, and the world's shortest makeup routine. Breakfast, face splash, and toothbrushing are nonnegotiable.

JAileen

Veteran

One our dogs (Mr. Skunky) has gotten into the habit of "needing" to go out in the middle of the night. Last night he woke me up at 3:30 AM. That really wreaks havoc on my sleep. I think I need 7 hours. This disruption makes me feel groggy, and less sharp mentally.

What I would do: Pick out my outfit completely, including undies and jewelry. I would put it where I could get ready without bothering anyone, such as a spare bathroom or bedroom. I would spend my extra time in the early afternoon (from 2:30 to whenever) with my family, getting my "face time" with them. Whatever you would have done at 8 PM with them, aside from eating dinner. Making sure the kids don't feel like they have a free pass just because Mom has to go to bed early. Then I would go to bed early.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Ah, my sympathies. I would nap between my double shifts on Mondays when I had golf course 6 - 1 and then pub 4 - 11 or midnight. But I had uniforms, so it was a matter of which color company top to choose and which of several uniform approved bottoms. Sleep is sooo important. Get it however you can.

Liz

Veteran

If the dog, cat, and lizard are allowed to be demanding and get extra care, then surely you are allowed to get enough sleep?

catgirl

Veteran

I am not sure how to discipline a lizard (or a cat for that matter!). The lizard is actually peaceful but high maintenance, although DS does most of the care.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Oh, a cat at sunrise can be the loudest alarm clock there is. The caterwauling. Ugh.

Mona

Veteran

I wrote a big test yesterday and am feeling like a zombie today as I have been functioning on 6 hours of sleep for past couple of weeks. I make sure to plan my whole day in order to go to bed at a reasonable time and have enough time in the morning to get ready.

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I feel your pain, Una. With my long commute, I manage to get 7 hours of sleep most nights. I'd prefer 8 or 9, but I can get by on 7. I do exactly what JAileen suggested - use a spare bedroom to hang my outfits for the week. I usually do this on the weekend when I have some extra time. The night before, I also lay out undies and jewelry for the next day and pack my lunch. I always shower at night because that's when I work out and my hair is pixie short so most mornings I just wet it and it doesn't take much time to style. Makeup is minimal - moisturizer sometimes mixed with a dot of foundation, lipstick and mascara. I have 4 hours after work to have dinner, pack my lunch, walk the dogs, workout, shower, spend time with my husband and son. Some nights I run the dogs to get two things done at once, but if I walk, my husband will come with me and we'll get an hour to talk.

MsMary

Veteran

I feel your pain! Right now I am having to be up at 5:30 to be dressed and ready before the construction workers arrive at 6:30!

I second the advice to get your outfit picked out and ready the night before. I do that every day anyway and it makes mornings SO MUCH EASIER.

Coming back to say I didn't answer the questions. How much sleep do I need? More than I'm getting! That lost hour and a half in the mornings is killing me! And yeah, I'm kind of sacrificing fashion because I'm just falling back on my favorite outfits and not even trying to be creative.

Aziraphale

Veteran

I can SO RELATE to this. Seven hours is my bare minimum for feeling normal. Eight is better. Six or less, and I feel nauseous all day. And like you, I prefer to go to bed at 11:00 the earliest. Last year, though, I was forced to change my schedule, since I had to be out of bed by 6:00. I tried to be in bed by 10:30, but I often had homework that I couldn't really start until after the kids were both in bed (around 9:00 p.m.). Sometimes I'd have to work late -- occasionally until the wee hours of the morning. The worst was the time last April when I was trying to finish my part of a group design project and I grossly misjudged how long it would take to complete the architectural drawings. You can't let it slide when other people are counting on you! I only got two hours' of sleep that night, ack.

I did notice my clothing choices changed depending on how much sleep I'd had the night before. Less than six hours' sleep, and I would go for the simplest, most comfy outfits I owned -- usually loose jeans, a tee shirt and Converse. If I had slept well, I was more likely to wear smart jeans and heeled booties, or even a skirt and tights.

I also noticed that my desire to wear tights diminished with each passing month. I am simply more psychologically comfortable in pants, and the more focused I was on my work, the less energy I had for making myself wear something out of my comfort zone.

Also, it's really hard to put on anything complicated when you get up in the dark!

catgirl

Veteran

Mary, you are so much more organized even with moving than I ever am! I'm inspired that you manage it all. I have to be up by 4:45 because of the drive.... YUCK!

And Aziraphale, I feel the same way - literally flu-ish if sleep-deprived.

deb

Veteran

I really need nine hours of sleep but can get by on eight. I used to need ten and as a kid I required eleven. I guess my body needs more time to re-energize.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I'm definitely in the 7-8 hours per night camp. And now with my sleep interrupted by night sweats and bouts of insomnia (darn you menopause!), it's getting tougher to reach my quota.

I've also started putting my outfit together the night before and hang it all together so I can just grab it in the morning. Shoes and purse on the kitchen island ready as well. And I make my lunch before I go to bed too.

I've thought a few times about putting together my outfits for an entire work week and hanging them up that way - you know here's Monday, Tuesday, etc. Would something like work for you? I'm not sure I have the space for that in my closet so haven't tried it yet.

MsMary

Veteran

Una, I have it so much easier because it's just me. If I had a family and pets to worry about it'd be a whole 'nother story!!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I definitely need at least eight and preferably close to nine hours of sleep each day, and if I'm feeling sick or stressed I need even more. A few years ago when I quit my job to finish my masters degree, I was astonished at how long it took me to catch up on my sleep debt - over six months until I would just wake up in the morning at a reasonable hour rather than sleeping in as much as I could get away with. I've read studies that say that most Americans are chronically sleep deprived and I believe it.

The night owl thing makes it hard too. I find that when I haven't gotten enough sleep, I am more of a night owl, but when I'm pretty rested early mornings are much easier to deal with.

Clothes wise I do go super simple when I've pulled an allnighter, usually jeans and something comfy if I can get away with it, and everything else is minimal - makeup and hair. I think a prepplanned, mix and match capsule for your early shifts sounds like a great idea.

abc

Veteran

I hear you on setting aside some time to see how things work. I need to take the time to review the wardrobe and purge like mad then see what works together from what's left. Just haven't been able to make the time to do it yet but it's eating at me, I'm itching to get the closet in order ASAP.

I have also started showering at night, it's the only way I can fit it into my crazy days anymore.

I've also started at least thinking about what I will wear the next am the night before to avoid standing at the closet wasting time trying to figure out what to wear. No time for that in my AM routine.

I wish my hair could go 4 days without a wash. I do every other usually as on Day 3 it gets way too greasy on the roots.

I hope you find a system that works for you, sounds like you are making progress and it will all run smoothly soon.

Anonymous

I need a full eight hours of sleep to function well. I can function on less than six once in a while, but work suffers.

I have strategies for getting dressed in the morning. I lay out all of my clothes the night before so there is no decision making in the morning.

SandyG

Veteran

Don't hate me ... I'm a short sleeper naturally with 4-5 hours. When I have to leave earlier than DH and dress in dim light, it's a uniform of tops in 'flattering complexion' colors, skinny jeans and sandals/boots depending on the season. A shower, facial serum, BB cream and eye crayon (packing mascara, lip gloss and scarf for later wear), grab a travel mug of coffee and off to the car.

I've found that exercising early in the evening, a couple hours after dinner, helps me fall asleep faster. 12 minutes of low aerobic step and a few yoga stretches to unkink the muscles and mind.

Falling asleep fast is the key to short sleep stretches where every 30 minutes makes a big difference.

catgirl

Veteran

SandyG, I'm trying not to hate you. My son is like that - doesn't need much sleep, never naps, always alert. Exercise helps for sure but it's hard to get a routine going when the schedule shifts weekly. I have been taking melatonin on the nights when I really can't sleep because I've had too much caffeine to stay awake in the morning!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Wow, that's a lot of change to work around. Do the shifts at least rotate predictably (in the same order)? I need about 7 hours' sleep, too. More like 8 or 9 sometimes. I also find it really hard to go to bed early when I need to get up extra early--guess I'm more of a night owl. I would be inclined to dress more for survival for the early and long shifts and use the regular day shifts for having more fun with the outfits. Or perhaps the long shifts allow for more fun, with relaxed clothing?

crutcher

Veteran

I can do without food...check...human companionship...check...sex...check...but let me tell you, deprive me of my 8 hours sleep and I am just not a functioning being...I have always been this way...No sleep...nothing productive...I have to work at getting my sleep...So you have my sympathy and understanding...Something always suffers and the world says, "Let her sleep...we are better off." smile...

Louise

Veteran

The more the merrier for me in terms of hours of sleep. I'm incredibly lucky that I don't start work till 11am so it's generally lights out by 11pm then I'm vaguely awake around 7ish but not awake enough to get up, so I like to doze in bed for another hour or so (ducking while you all chuck stuff at me!). I'm generally out of bed at 8.30/9am. This week I've been getting into work for 8.30 so the alarm goes off at 7.30 and I drag my backside outta bed at 7.45, then it's a quick wash and teeth clean, chuck on a dress and a bit of makeup and take my tea and toast to eat on the way to work.
I believe sleep is a great healer both physically and mentally so if I'm ill or sad I go to bed. One day last week I was shattered so went to bed at 9pm and slept straight through till 9am!! Like msmary I don't have a family to worry about so my time is my own x

gryffin

Veteran

Gosh Una - really feeling your pain on this. My alarm is set for 4:35 every weekday. Pups want to eat immediately and go out. I am not a morning girl so I need shower/wash hair/blow dry/make up. I lay out clothes the night before after checking the weather. May sure husband and son are up, bookbag packed/lunches are made the night before and packed in the am. I get to work about 6:45 am to go through inbox and yes make early am calls. I need a minimum of 7 hr sleep, but I usually get 6 or less so I run constantly tired and sleep deprived - same reason spending time with husband, son and pups and if I get to read that's really a treat. Not sure how anyone makes it all work out except to try and do as much the night before for the am. I try to arrange to sleep in until 9 am on sunday but I wish I could get more sleep!! So good luck and sending thoughts of cyber zzzzzzzzzz's your way!! If you figure out time management, please let me know!! Crutcher you crack me up!! That's me, that's me - jumping up and down and waving!!

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