I’ll have to explore the podcasts, too, Tykey; they sound interesting, and the chimp analogy is a good one!
During the recovery from knee #1 back in 2016, sleeplessness was a huge issue for me. I was also taking opioids as well, unlike this time when I refused them and have been only using Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Tramadol.
Gradually back then I learned to put those hours to some use and it’s how I first found Bonesmart! So, that was a great find, I dare say!
In the intervening years, I have fewer reasons to let sleeplessness at night annoy me, if I have something enjoyable to do whilst awake. I keep a book by my bed, I check out how everyone on Bonesmart is doing (even when I’m not in prep or recovery mode), make task lists, research information I need to present to someone, etc.
I do go to bed earlier so as to make the task easier in the long run, I do take a 5 mg Melatonin melt-under-tongue tablet, and an herb tincture that has sleep-aiding herbal plants in it.
The other thing I found to deal with the inevitable sleepiness is to assume I’ll rest sometime during the day, perhaps in my recliner, perhaps back here in my bedroom..
I just decided to take more time in the bedroom for sleep, and assume I’ll have some awake hours and spend them pleasantly...