I hope it helps. I used to have lots of trouble staying asleep, especially when my kids and business were younger. I always had stuff on my mind and there was always more work to do. The two lines I keep in my head if I stir that have most helped me fall back asleep are: "right now my job is to sleep" (as in, don't come up with something else to do) and "if I can't sleep, just rest" (as in trying to avoid getting frustrated by being up which can be counterproductive if I got annoyed at missing my sleep goal).
Mrs. F'er got a redlight. She thinks it is helping with winter mood in cold dreary NE (also she hugely empathetic and intune with her emotions. We tried ti for a week and it just found it annoying, but no one has described us as either of those things).
But there is a lot of science backing it for emotional and physical health...although esoteric health twitter probably is a little too crazy with the claims.
On red light, ice baths, cryotherapy, etc. I cringe at the boldest health claims and think that recovery is mostly just "get some rest". Yet I still experiment here and there. I'm planning a (summer) antarctic expedition and have heard from the crazies that winter over that red light helps them cope.
Thanks Chris. For people who are extra light sensitive (I am) a high quality light box for SAD can really help get energy levels up in dark periods. Don't bother with little cheap things. It has to be big and strong to get any impact.
- for waking, I now use one of those Chili Pad bed cooling things, and you can set it to wake-by-heat: a few min before you want to wake it, flips to warming mode. This triggers your bodies natural waking process. I set it for 5, and I'm wide awake and ready to go with it.
- for light running: i've tried head lamps, but found they bounce around too much and moved to a hand-held light. I like the "Knuckle Lights ONE". It sits in your hand naturally, and the light comes out between your fingers, so it take no effort to hold it. It's more stable than my head, and you can point it different things without moving your head around:
Side benefit to the Chili thing: a "wake light" may wake up my wife as well, whereas the Chili pad is only on my side of the bed so it doesn't affect her.
That is a cool light. Are you a road runner? For technical trails, my concern would be with having my hands free for rocky steep terrain where I often need to grab onto rocks or trees and occasionally need to break falls.
Yeah, mostly road, so that is a concern. That said, it comes with a lanyard which I loop on the wrist so you can always just release it if you need your hands for something. (While I'm a road runner, for the winter wanted to make sure my hands could be free for ice/falling). Head lamp may be better for trail running, especially if you're doing technical stuff: you're moving slower than on the road.
That being said, I have a strong inclination for barbells over machines. Squat/deadlift/bench press/overhead price is more important to me than any machine. But when it comes to machines, GHD, reverse hyper, and belt squats help. In particular, when my grip is shot and my joints are done, but my muscles still have a last little bit of juice to squeeze out of them, the belt squat machine helps.
You might take a look at this for Magnesium:
https://amzn.to/3CwDxDJ
I love the stuff. Helps me sleep, tastes all right. Certainly not cheap but what can you do?
Looks good; thanks for the link.
I’m going to try your magnesium supplement. I have so much trouble staying asleep!
I hope it helps. I used to have lots of trouble staying asleep, especially when my kids and business were younger. I always had stuff on my mind and there was always more work to do. The two lines I keep in my head if I stir that have most helped me fall back asleep are: "right now my job is to sleep" (as in, don't come up with something else to do) and "if I can't sleep, just rest" (as in trying to avoid getting frustrated by being up which can be counterproductive if I got annoyed at missing my sleep goal).
Mrs. F'er got a redlight. She thinks it is helping with winter mood in cold dreary NE (also she hugely empathetic and intune with her emotions. We tried ti for a week and it just found it annoying, but no one has described us as either of those things).
But there is a lot of science backing it for emotional and physical health...although esoteric health twitter probably is a little too crazy with the claims.
On red light, ice baths, cryotherapy, etc. I cringe at the boldest health claims and think that recovery is mostly just "get some rest". Yet I still experiment here and there. I'm planning a (summer) antarctic expedition and have heard from the crazies that winter over that red light helps them cope.
"seed retainers" somehow out crazy them all :)
I'm taking a hard pass on that one!
Thanks Chris. For people who are extra light sensitive (I am) a high quality light box for SAD can really help get energy levels up in dark periods. Don't bother with little cheap things. It has to be big and strong to get any impact.
100% worth it.
2 tips/thoughts:
- for waking, I now use one of those Chili Pad bed cooling things, and you can set it to wake-by-heat: a few min before you want to wake it, flips to warming mode. This triggers your bodies natural waking process. I set it for 5, and I'm wide awake and ready to go with it.
- for light running: i've tried head lamps, but found they bounce around too much and moved to a hand-held light. I like the "Knuckle Lights ONE". It sits in your hand naturally, and the light comes out between your fingers, so it take no effort to hold it. It's more stable than my head, and you can point it different things without moving your head around:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZO1QT0
Food for thought, though maybe not as much protein... :)
Side benefit to the Chili thing: a "wake light" may wake up my wife as well, whereas the Chili pad is only on my side of the bed so it doesn't affect her.
That is a big benefit.
That is a cool light. Are you a road runner? For technical trails, my concern would be with having my hands free for rocky steep terrain where I often need to grab onto rocks or trees and occasionally need to break falls.
Yeah, mostly road, so that is a concern. That said, it comes with a lanyard which I loop on the wrist so you can always just release it if you need your hands for something. (While I'm a road runner, for the winter wanted to make sure my hands could be free for ice/falling). Head lamp may be better for trail running, especially if you're doing technical stuff: you're moving slower than on the road.
Your opinion of belt squats , thanks.
I like 'em.
That being said, I have a strong inclination for barbells over machines. Squat/deadlift/bench press/overhead price is more important to me than any machine. But when it comes to machines, GHD, reverse hyper, and belt squats help. In particular, when my grip is shot and my joints are done, but my muscles still have a last little bit of juice to squeeze out of them, the belt squat machine helps.