Not sure where to post this but I would like ideas on what people do on a night they can't sleep

[triron]

due to anxiety about sleep itself. I try different things; usually something works but not always.
Things I have tried include taking extra melatonin, relaxation herbals (like l-theanine, lemon balm, chamomile),
focusing on breathing (a form of meditation), counting backwards, reading, putting dry dishes away.
This rarely happens to me but last night had almost no sleep. Maybe (I follow the news mostly Rachel and Lawrence
on MSNBC) it's partly due to all the craziness going on, maybe not.
Anyway would love to hear ideas.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Get up, make and eat a sandwich, then read, play on the computer or watch TV for a bit.

Works every time for me.

[question everything]

23. And never, never look at the clock

I skip the sandwich but continue reading a book and sometimes take a Valerian. One tablet.

[femmocrat]

2. I use a relaxation technique.

I read that they teach it in the military too. Start with relaxing your face and head and move down, one muscle group at a time. If you get distracted, start over.
It’s not a good idea to use the computer too close to bedtime because of the blue light.
I usually have on some kind of white noise too, like a fan on low.

[femmedem]

32. I have an app that reduces blue computer light after dark.

Nice article about the pros and cons here: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/11/27/561740031/apps-can-cut-blue-light-from-devices-but-do-they-help-you-sleep

But I do find that I fall asleep better if I read a book than if I read online.

[Locrian]

3. CDB oil (the good stuff)

not with THC (unless you like that) - CBD oil helps me a LOT

[redstatebluegirl]

4. I agree it has helped me sleep much better.

[triron]

11. Just purchased some CBD gummies on amazon.

Thanks.

[hlthe2b]

5. I watch an old sitcom on tv--one that fades into the background and hug my sweet doggy

If her snores don't get me, the predictability of Golden Girls, Frasier, Cheers, or the old I Love Lucy, will

That said, if you are hungry, that alone will keep you awake. Eat a little of something with carbs...

And if there is something imminently stressing you, it takes quite a bit of mind over matter. I just try to look upon sleep as the best thing I can do to address whatever is bothering me and do some deep breathing exercises while I think about something else.

[nykym]

6. half a shot of

Nyquil then back to bed.

[triron]

12. Hmmm. That's an idea I had totally forgotten about.

Trouble with me is I quickly build psychological dependence. don't want to get hooked on that stuff!

[FuzzyRabbit]

16. Works like a charm putting me to sleep, BUT

in the morning I feel very groggy, almost like a hangover.

[empedocles]

19. That is a knockout for me. Have to be careful though, doxylamine is not good for you, especially

over time.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. I watch F-Troop on DVDs on a small machine I take into bed.

I know all the scripts of the shows by heart now, but at least I can fall back asleep.

[Sedona]

8. The British History Podcast

https://www.thebritishhistorypodcast.com/

There's over 300 episodes starting with prehistoric and Bronze age and we're in the Viking age now at 990 AD.

Super cool.

https://www.thebritishhistorypodcast.com/playlist/

[cilla4progress]

13. EXACTLY!

I stick one earbud in with my podcast of choice and I'm out in less than 5 minutes!

Thanks for this podcast suggestion. Sounds like a good choice!

Key is it can't be a podcast you really care about hearing, because you are out before you know it!

[sagesnow]

26. Thanks for posting this podcast.

Interesting and doze inducing at the same time. Will I get through it in a few years or zzzzz??

[empedocles]

9. Reading relaxing materials. I keep Bartlett's Famous Quotations under my bed. I might open to

'serenity' or 'peace',

Also, melatonin in small, but several doses. For me less is more. Read recently in wapo on sleep, of a study which found that doses as small as 1/10th of a gram often had a positive effect. [Made rough sense to me as best as I remember, because the pineal gland is small and produces micro levels of melatonin naturally].

[stevil]

30. Melatonin helps me a lot, small dose.

3-5 grams, more than that isn't necessary. And I watch reruns, mostly on dvd or dvr.

[empedocles]

37. Have you tried less than a gram. Works for me

[stevil]

43. Holy crap!!

I meant mg, not grams!!!! Yes, about 5 mg at night. More than that is not really necessary, as you know.

[AirmensMom]

10. Read this book:

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker PhD.

https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Sleep-Unlocking-Dreams/dp/1501144324/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=why+we+sleep&qid=1550252300&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

It has a lot of good tips on what to do, but the book itself is also quite soporific. I had a hard time reading more than a few pages before dozing off. (I wonder if that was intentional? LOL)

Also, consider changing light bulbs in your bedside lamp and put in one of those NASA bulbs.

I used to have a lot of trouble sleeping, but those two things really changed things for me. Good luck!

[triron]

14. Definitely will try. Kind of self guided cognitive therapy!

[LakeArenal]

15. I think of my list of happy songs.

Try it think of the first line of each one..

I also need darkness. No red clock lights or nightlights in my room.

I also need a fan for white noise.

🎶 Blue Sky
Here Comes the Sun
Dancing in the Moonlight 🎶
Waterloo Sunset
Up OnThe Roof
Afternoons and Coffee Spoons....
Zzzzz it’s working....🎶
🎶

[Runningdawg]

17. Find a voice that puts you to sleep

Mine is the Ancient Aliens narrator.

[3Hotdogs]

18. Have you tried a sleep study?

Since I got a CPAP machine, I drift right off.

[lynintenn]

20. I watch Blue Planet on BBC or Netflix

The soothing voice of David Attenbrough is so relaxing . Eat something with tryptophan but don't use your computer and read anything about Trump. I have trouble sleeping so I understand and sometimes nothing works.

[tazkcmo]

22. I read.

I read until my eyes get tired and am unable to focus. Getting to sleep was so much easier when I was drinking! Good luck.

[BigmanPigman]

24. I have tried it all.

Mental exercises, healthy foods that promote sleep, no TV or exercise before bed, mindfullness, reading, etc and nothing works. I finally found that Benadryl, Ambien, Xanax, with vaped heavy duty Indica does the trick with earplugs and a white noise machine(a fan).

[triron]

25. Whoa! Don't think I want to go there.

[BigmanPigman]

27. Yep, it has been tough to sleep my whole life.

My mom said that when I was pre-K I would go up to my room for a nap but she would hear me walking around the upstairs during my entire nap time. She was just glad that I was out of her hair for an hour so she let it go on.

I would go into a sleep study but knowing I was being tested would keep me awake for days. Also being in an odd environment doesn't promote rest for me.

[sagesnow]

28. Here's my list for achieving a good night's rest:

1. Take a Calcium and a Magnesium tablet at bed time to calm down over caffeinated nerves.
2. Don't drink caffeine after 2 pm.
3. Walk 2 miles or swim 1 hour each day
3. Make a cup of CBD/Chamomile Blend tea from Buddha Teas
4. Do a Slow Yoga relaxation stretches/breathing
5. Get up and clean house. (LOL, I rarely have to do this)

[triron]

39. I already do most of this (1,2,3) . Then much of the time your other 3.

[sagesnow]

44. Oh LOL!

Reminds me of the George Carlin joke I just saw on DU:

There are three types of people in the world,
those who can count and those who cant.

Think I'm the third type.

[WhiteTara]

29. A couple of nights ago I baked

a cake at 3:30 in the morning. Once I planted 3 or 4 flats of seeds for spring set out. Sometimes I write, sometimes I read; but, mostly I am a sleep queen and can sleep almost anywhere or anytime.

[Karadeniz]

31. Forensic files

The narrator's voice...

[blueinredohio]

35. That's what I watch when I can't sleep.

I take melatonin and sleep about 3 hours then up to pee then I'm up for a while. Then Forensic Files. I've done this for a long time. I've always had trouble sleeping.

[yonder]

33. Here's a variation on counting sheep:

Take a favourite but peaceful road, trail, running route, hike, etc., it doesn't matter except you have to know it very well. Then, in your mind, start where you normally would and visualize traversing it how you normally would - all of the bends, straight-a-ways, ascent/descents, water crossings, places you might stop to pick berries, where you once saw a bear, etc. Run, bike, drive it a couple of times and you'll be in ZZZZ land in no time.

I have a favourite 15 mile mountain road and a couple of little used trails that I know like the back of my hand which do the trick for me.

[ghostsinthemachine]

34. Indica

I always have some pure indica around. 4or 5 hits and it's good nite Irene.

Cannabis works wonders.

[triron]

40. Ordered for CBD (or is it CDB)?

[wishstar]

36. I often eat a banana and drink a little water since a fuller stomach helps me sleep

Also I try to play over in my mind an enjoyable outing such as a walk through my local arboretum or nature center or historical place in order to settle down my mind and banish stressful thoughts.

[pansypoo53219]

38. i used to have problems, then i was able to switch my hours. i always was a night owl, BUT

i became an extreme night owl. i started going to bed at 2, then 3, 4am, 5/5:30 is my summer bedtime now. i have been going to bed after 6am this winter. usually fall asleep immediately. find a better time schedule. could help.

[HoosierDebbie]

41. I review memories of previous places I have slept

I go through a timeline of every bedroom I have slept in, from childhood through young adulthood and the last residence before now. I imagine myself sleeping in the bed and how it was situated in the room, east, west, north or south and close my eyes to think about the surroundings. I have lived quite a few places, and rarely get to the last place before I fall asleep.

I also sometimes take a mental tour of my childhood home as well as my Grandma's house. I look at all of the stuff in the rooms and see how much I can remember.

[littlemissmartypants]

42. Artichokes are a natural remedy.

I tried it once and it worked for me.

Good Luck!

[Maxheader]

46. Reading usually does it for me...

Sometimes if I have a project going on or one coming up, I'll think about the really small details, like where and how to drill holes..Do I have that drill bit? Something to take my mind off whatever might be keeping me awake..