If you have trouble sleeping, what helps you drift off?

[awaywiththecircus]

Don’t know if it’s my age (46), but during lockdown I started waking in the night with irrational worries. It’s almost like I have to think of something to fret about and I think it’s become a habit. I try working through the alphabet thinking of things beginning with a, b, c etc but this is getting tedious now. So what do you do when you can’t sleep?

I’m worried I stay away because I’ve put things on to listen to whereas when I was younger I’d just roll over and go back to sleep. But finding it really hard to break the habit! I tried the counting backwards for a power nap just now and it was really helpful

ASMR on YouTube, there are many many, my favourite is a very relaxing one of a lady brushing hair, I just like the sound and imagine my own hair being brushed.

Calm app sleep stories. They are specifically re-written to be calm and help you drop off. I think you can download it for free and still get some sleep stories without paying any subscription costs

The Insight Timer app has loads of free meditating including sleep ones. I find some of them really helpful to stick on before sleep or for those “Aaargh!” awakenings in the dead of night.

Or focus on breathing and naming and visualising things around you. Sounds mad, but it’s useful.

Meditations, even

Another one who listens to HP audio books

The only two things guaranteed for me are to clench every part of my body separately for 10 seconds and then relax. Start with my shoulders, hands, butt cheeks, calves (which is my favourite part oddly) and then my toes. Out in minutes.

I worked with a Buddhist monk once who taught me a sleep meditation, I don't do much of the hand crossing and usually do it laying down but it just involves internally chanting "Breathe in. Breathe out" until everything else is clouded out and usually drop off really quickly.

For me I have to make myself think of nothing.

With my eyes closed I focus on a small area of the "blackness" and repeat in my head "think of nothing....nothing...think of nothing" to stop my brain racing and thinking about all sorts of stuff that keeps me awake. Don't let thoughts creep in.

It's similar to a technique that I read about that soldiers use when they need to go to sleep quickly during breaks/periods of being off-duty.

YouTube, Gardeners World. It's the soporific sound of Monty Don's voice, I just go to sleep. And miss the programme.
In fact it works so well that I can use the same programme over and over because I never hear more than the 1st 10 minutes.....!

I used to go through the alphabet thinking of Harry Potter characters but I git too good at it.

Now I plan a make up look and which product goes where and what to apply it with.. Zzzzzzz

Weighted blanket 😊

I daydream. But it doesn't really get longer, I always start at the same point in my 'story' so there's no incentive to keep thinking of new things.

Or I 'walk' around the corridors of my secondary school.

@LadyCatStark

Weighted blanket 😊

I’ve wondered about these. Do they go over your duvet?

Ask Alexa to play rains sounds. very soothing

Before I go to bed, I make sure my bedside clock is facing away from me. Seeing the time in the middle of the night, or even just before I fall asleep, makes me anxious.

If I wake in the night, I try not to let myself think. I try to 'replace' any thoughts with an innocuous tune in my mind. Sleep mask is useful, too, especially as it can still get light quite early. And for some reason, lying on my front helps me get back to sleep, though I would never choose to fall asleep like that initially.

I suffer from insomnia in some very specific situations, but if I'm at home, alone in my own bed, the above things often help.

Sleepless nights are horrendous. Hope you find something that helps.

I read using a torch so i don't have to get up and turn the light off. Works every time.

I like Audible but have found the Slumber app helps me get into a deep sleep, whereas naturally I'm a very light sleeper.

I open Sleep meditation on Alexa. Have never actually finished it because I'm always asleep by then

Wonder if Stephen Fry is aware of how many people fall asleep listening to him every night!

Rescue Rememdy night oil caps.
Eye mask.
Chamomile tea.

But, tbh, on a bad night it has to be a sleeping tablet.

Spray on magnesium oil

Headspace sleep casts or ask the amazon echo to play Rainforest sounds, rain sounds or thunderstorm sounds. They’re about an hour each and are white noise really.

If I’m not able to sleep at all, then an audiobook or podcast. I use cheap headband style sleep headphones connected to my phone.

Also sometimes if my brain still won’t concentrate I go through my gym routine in my head, “visualising” myself doing 20 star jumps or crunches or lunges or something. It’s so boring I normally drop right off.

A weighted blanket has worked wonders for me. I fall asleep quicker and if I wake in the night it used to take me absolutely ages to fall asleep again but not any more. I’m asleep again in minutes with the blanket.

Well bizarrely I used to pretend we were heading into the apocalypse and I had to prep for it , so I would inventory all the things I would need such as cans of food, books etc (it was a gentle apocalypse ), unfortunately it seems I’ve been overtaken by events so it doesn’t work anymore. BTW, I’m not a prepper in real life.