What do you do when you can't get to sleep? Do you have a routine?

@taymouse (585)
United States
April 24, 2007 5:36pm CST
I can't get to sleep a lot of the time, and nothing helps. Not going over my day, not thinking of the next day, and definitely not counting sheep. And of course I'm not going to start taking medicine to help me sleep. It's not that serious. Sometimes it can take me 2 or 3 hours of lying there to fall asleep, but I'm looking for a natural way to help me fall asleep faster. So what do you do when you can't sleep, to make you fall asleep? Or do you just get up and do other things until you get really tired? Do you have a routine before you sleep, like eating any special snack, drinking water, etc.? What do you do right before you sleep?
2 people like this
5 responses
• Canada
25 Apr 07
i have a set routine that gets me into the mood to sleep. but sometimes it does not work, especially when i had been watching tv before. so i would either listen to a meditation cd, or maybe meditate just by myself. i would always nod off and before you know it, it's zzzzzz time! :-)
2 people like this
@taymouse (585)
• United States
25 Apr 07
I have a meditation CD. The man's voice is deep and rich and is the type that makes a person sleepy. He teaches you to do all these exercises about making your muscles stiff, and focusing on breathing, etc. However, it lasts a long time (maybe 15-25 minutes?) and I just don't have enough patience for that. When I did use it, only a few times, it was really relaxing though! ;)
@mrbranan (1012)
• United States
24 Apr 07
I try to stay busy until I finally go to sleep. I like to come here or go to other sites until I finally get tired enough to fall asleep. Its a great time to mop noone is up.
2 people like this
@taymouse (585)
• United States
25 Apr 07
I usually stay busy and do things as well. Even sometimes when I THINK I'm sleepy, I'll get in bed all ready to doze off, and then I'll find myself lying there, staring at the ceiling. It really makes no sense...
• United States
25 Apr 07
I always read while I am in bed and getting sleepy and relaxed for bed. Then after I am done reading and my eyes are getting heavy or my mind is going elsewhere. I'll watch TV for a bit...which I know everyone says it isn't good, but it works for me. Then I turn off the TV and roll over to my left side and let my mind wander about good things (or I try)...
1 person likes this
@taymouse (585)
• United States
25 Apr 07
I used to read all the time, and right before I slept. But then I stopped. Maybe I should start reading again before bed, and then just set my book to the side when I'm ready to sleep. That'll probably help. :)
@AmbiePam (86009)
• United States
25 Apr 07
I have had a problem with insomnia since I was in my mid teens. The last few years I have gone days without sleep, so my doctor finally convinced me to take a sleeping pill. I don't think it works as well as it should, so I only take it if I am desperate for sleep. I can catch two hours of sleep a night without it. So what do I do when I can't get to sleep? Watching TV helps, but doesn't make me as sleepy as reading a book or magazine, or even getting on the internet. Wanna get sleepy really fast? Write a letter to someone you should have written a letter to long ago. LOL If all else fails, I'll pray. I don't know how many times I have fallen asleep praying. Maybe I should have thought about trying that first. : )
@AmbiePam (86009)
• United States
12 Jul 07
Thank you for the best response. I hope you are sleeping better in these past three months.
@taymouse (585)
• United States
25 Apr 07
Wow, that really stinks. And I thought I had trouble with sleeping! Yes, I also wouldn't want to take a sleeping pill unless I was really desperate. I like falling to sleep naturally. :) Hehe I DO have someone right now that wrote me a week or two ago and I still need to write back. I might get on that today... And yes, praying is also a good idea. I usually forget to pray. *sighs* But that would probably be the best thing for me to do.
1 person likes this
@smartmom (826)
• United States
24 Apr 07
Oh, I definitely know what you are talking about. Sometimes I will go and do some work on the computer, but quite often I just end up sitting there for hours. In order for me to go to sleep and putting my thoughts on hold, I usually have to have the tv on. I always set the timer, because I know that this will get me dozing off.
@taymouse (585)
• United States
25 Apr 07
I used to sleep with music and that used to help me. I'd be singing the words in my head and before I knew it, I'd be asleep. But that doesn't help anymore. Anyway, I might try to see if the tv helps me sleep, too. Thanks! ;)