When sleeping became difficult I worked out that it was better to go to bed later. If I went to bed at around 11 I would sleep till 1 and then lie awake for ages. By going at around 12.30-1 o'clock I then slept for four hours (only waking every forty minutes or so for a few minutes) which took me to 5. I then dozed for the hour before the alarm went off. Four to five hours became enough for me to function ok. I never had lie ins as this totally disrupts your pattern and also never slept in the day because this also upsets everything. I've never liked sleep though - might miss something! I know I am a bit different as I can never understand how anyone just falls asleep watching tv because there is always that moment (for me anyway) when you know you are about to fall asleep and so you can get up and stop it happening. My husband can't understand that and falls asleep even when there's something interesting he wants to watch.
Nowadays, without HRT, none of this is relevant as I wake every forty-five minutes with a hot flush/sweat.
One day, ladies, we will all sleep properly again but, in the meantime, getting worried, stressed and uptight about it only makes things worse.
Taz x