Can you just “fall asleep?”

[Soubriquet]

My dh can.

One minute we can be watching a film and the next he’s out

I can’t. No matter how tired I am, I can’t just fall asleep.

I have to get comfy, shuffle about, toss and turn about 50 times and then start to pretend to dream.

I can't just lie down and fall asleep. I have to read my kindle and fall asleep holding it usually. If I get woken within 20 mins of falling asleep that's me for hours, can't get back to sleep. Tossing and turning, turning my pillow over and over to get the cold Side. It's a fucking nightmare.

I can, but I have a routine.

After brushing teeth, pee and wash hands, to bed for a little read - maybe a book, maybe MN. I know experts say to avoid screens in bed, but it really doesn’t affect me; though I don’t have a tv in the bedroom.

After a little read, back up for another pee, wash hands and back to bed. (Damn you, bladder.) Set alarm on phone, put onto airplane mode and minimise the screen light.

I sleep on my right side, so I lie on my right side for a minute or so, then turn onto my left side for another minute, then back onto my right side, and I’m out like a light.

It probably sounds ridiculous, but I find the routine gets me ready for sleep, and 99/100 times, I’m asleep with minutes.

When I started in my job I now do, very mind intensive, Yoga taught me how to train my mind to turn it off so that my thoughts never disturb my sleep.

But I could always sleep anywhere, if I was tired in work I could go to the bathrooms and doze off for 10 mins to revive myself m.

I can have a nap in the car, plane, trains anywhere really

No, can’t fall asleep unless I am in a comfy bed and even then it’s hard. On long flights I get so tired everything gets kind of shiny and I get close to hallucinating.

According to my fit bit when I do sleep I spend most of the night in light sleep or REM and wake up a lot, I managed about 20 minutes of deep sleep last night.

I look at dp’s (who falls asleep so easily) and he seems to spend most of the night in deep sleep!

The minute my eyes open I'm wide awake, trouble is that's whether I've been asleep two hours or seven hours no matter what the time.

No.

Even if I'm sleepy, I'd say I'll be lying down for at least 15 minutes, often more like 30, before I actually sleep.

And if I'm not tired, I can't sleep. Simple as. If I try to "have an early night" and go to bed before I'm tired I'll end up tossing and turning, my mind racing, and I'll still be awake at stupid o clock.

Yep, I could sleep on a clothes line.

Op, I was never able to just fall asleep. Until I started waking up at 5am to go jogging. Now, I'll be watching TV, and the next second, snoring away. I wouldn't know what hit me.

No. I can never:

Sleep on planes/trains/buses
Sleep in cars
Have a nap in the day
Fall asleep anywhere except my bed

If I am in eg a hotel not holiday house, it will take me even longer than usual to get to sleep.

Meanwhile DH is asleep before his head hits the pillow. Infuriating.

I’ve always been quick to fall asleep. It’s very rare that I can’t drop off straight away after I get into bed. Sometimes in mere seconds.

It doesn’t mean I sleep well though sadly. I get one chance and if I’m woken up in the night then I find it almost impossible to get back to sleep. Last night DD woke me up at 2.35am and I didn’t manage to go back to sleep. Having a toddler who doesn’t sleep is killing me!

Used to be able to sleep anywhere. If I was even slightly tired I could have fallen asleep on a pavement lol
Last couple years since some stress and depression developed, I almost dread going to bed because it takes me forever and I can't stop my brain thinking :(

Yes, it’s great. I get into my comfy position, close my eyes and kind of unfocus them while unravelling my thoughts. I can’t explain it better than that, sorry, it’s like my brain just lets go and I’m out for the count.

Yup. Anywhere, anytime. I am particularly good at sleeping on planes, and frequently am asleep as we take off from the US and get woken up when they prepare for landing in London. In economy.

No.
That's what Mumsnet is for, to pass the hours inbetween the brief bouts of sleep I can manage.Best hours after after 6am.
Whilst my DH simply lays his head on the pillows and away he goes to the land of nod!!
Every bloody night.
He can literally sleep standing up.
Although his finest hour was not the time on a plane he fell asleep before take off but snored so loud he actually woke his self up.

DP is asleep within minutes. But for the last two weeks I can only sleep on the sofa. I go to bed and just cannot switch off and spend ages tossing and turning. I come down and lay on the sofa and within minutes I'm asleep. I wake up when it's the early hours and then get in bed. It's doing my head in. I know that it's DPs snoring that's stopping me sleeping I lay there and as soon as his breathing changes I'm awake and know I won't be able to sleep because of it.
It's really beginning to piss me off though because I can't remember the last time I went to bed, went right to sleep until the morning.

God yeah 😂

Me neither I just can't get to sleep quickly, I took zoplicone for 8 years and I was terrified when the doctor made me stop. I find two cocodamol and a mirtazipene knock me out just as effectively. I have Rhuematiod arthritis so plenty of cocodamol. A drowsy antihistamine are quite good.

I once found DH standing in the middle of DS1's bedroom fast asleep. Snoring peacefully.

He had gone up to get some socks and I was wondering what was taking him so long. He can sleep anywhere.

I need my own bed, eye mask, earplugs, and at least a paragraph of a book before I can even begin to nod off.

I honestly worry that DH will fall asleep standing up in a dark corner of a shop and get locked or something in one day. :o

Yes, myself and dh can nod off any time!

Our 3 year old dd (once she allows herself) can too. Once I took her in the garden for a picnic lunch after a very busy morning, as soon as I put the blanket on the grass she just lay down, shut her eyes and was out.

I can sleep through landing and takeoff on planes,slept through live concerts, films at the cinema, always fall asleep on car journeys etc.

But when at home I need quiet and darkness.

yes but it's unusual for me to do it anywhere other than in my bed. but i do go to be horrifyingly early most nights, i hate being tired and see no attraction in staying up late when i could be dreaming.

Falling asleep, easy. Staying asleep, hopeless.

My DH often complains that he is mid-sentence when I lie down & I've gone to sleep before he finished. He can't believe it's possible to sleep as soon as head hits the pillow.

However, my sleep becomes light around 3-4am and worries circle in my mind IF my sleep is broken. Most nights I can sleep until 6.30-7.00 am

I've found these things helpful in going to sleep quickly:

• having a good dinner (no hunger pangs when trying to sleep)
• routine before sleep (change, face cleanse, hand cream etc)
• deep breathing (exhale via mouth) for 5-7 minutes last thing before bed
• any thoughts/worries - I write down as actions
• no fights before bed

Insomnia is a struggle. My sympathies & good wishes to everyone who wants better sleep.

Yes, it infuriates DH!