>Then how to not fall asleep while I"m working on projects until 1 AM. So learning how to function on 4-6 hours of sleep.
Try to take a ~30 minute nap in the evening somewhere that is quiet and comfortable but not the bed you sleep in. 4 hours isn't sustainable for long, but I've found a nap in the evening is sufficient to let me run effectively on 5-6 hours.
I say somewhere that isn't your bed because I've found that if you settle in the bed it can be far more difficult to get moving again, and also you can start to associate the bed with naps and have more difficulty getting to sleep when you mean to later, and staying asleep.
I'm in the same boat as the parent poster. Honestly it's hard to even find 30 minutes of free time and I only have one toddler. I'm the play person and my wife works multiple jobs (remote) so she's on calls most of the day. Seems the rest of our free time is is spent either cleaning or cooking.
If by any chance I do have time the only place to sleep that's not my bed is the floor. We sold all of our furniture and moved during the middle of this pandemic and all the dang furniture stores are closed!
Try to take a ~30 minute nap in the evening somewhere that is quiet and comfortable but not the bed you sleep in. 4 hours isn't sustainable for long, but I've found a nap in the evening is sufficient to let me run effectively on 5-6 hours.
I say somewhere that isn't your bed because I've found that if you settle in the bed it can be far more difficult to get moving again, and also you can start to associate the bed with naps and have more difficulty getting to sleep when you mean to later, and staying asleep.