Looks like I am the lazy one of the forum! I find it very difficult to train outside of class time. I train my jujutsu twice a week (Mon & Thurs) and boxing once a week (Friday). I always do a couple of hours exercise on a saturday afternnoon, whether that be going for a run or playing badminton with my girlfriend and that is the lot I'm afraid to say!
I have a few of my chief instructor's DVD's which I do generally watch at least once a week as I feel it keeps the techniques fresh in my mind for the next session. I also spend a fair amount of time on this forum and searching out MA and self defence information on the web in my spare moments. I don't consider this training as such but it keeps my enthusiasm up!
I probably would train more if I were a single man! I would love to train in Kevin O'Hagan's MMA classes (tues, thurs & sun) as he no longer teaches my jujutsu classes any more but I think my partner would be a little unhappy if I was out training every night! I think it is bad enough for her that I am always talking about it! There is a cost issue too as another three training sessions would mean another £72 a month we can't really afford.
As an aside the mental health nurse in me can't resist offering you some advice! Doing any exercise immediately before bed is likely to increase your heart rate and give you a surge of adrenaline thus making you even more awake (even if you are physically exhausted!) It is very unlikely to be of any help overcoming your sleep problems. I know a lot of people can and do do exercise before bed and sleep perfectly well, but in general these people would not have problems getting off to sleep in the first place and it is more about routine than the exercise.
Tips for improved sleep would be to do relaxing things before bed, may be have a long bath or practice a breathing/meditation exercise (A simple one to try is just laying down and resting your hands on your belly and then slowly and deeply breathing in for three seconds and then out for three seconds, all the time just feeling your belly rise and fall with your breath).
Try and go to bed and get out of bed the same time each day. Stick to your routine wether you get enough sleep or not. No lazy lie ins!
Try and separate your wakeful day time activities from your night time activities so no watching TV or eating in bed. Indeed try and make your bedroom a low stimulus enviroment with minimal noise and light levels. This will help your brain know when it is meant to sleep and meant to be awake.
The most important thing is to try and not get frustrated when you can't sleep! (as a previous sufferer of insomnia I know how difficult this can be!) Thumping the pillow and getting angry just makes the problem worse, acceptence is the key so just go back to meditation/breathing exercises. If it is mind racing that is keeping you awake try setting some time earlier in the evening to sit with your feelings and write down your thoughts in a diary or perhaps write a list of what you need to accomplish tommorrow so that it doesn't all come rushing into your brain the moment you lay down at night.
Sorry about this digression but as I said I couldn't help myself! Hope this helps but like I said, in my experience, exercise immediately before bed is unlikely to help if you are having trouble getting off to sleep.
