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Original poster

What do you do when you can't sleep?

30 replies

MeadowHay · 09/09/2020 01:21

I've been trying to sleep on and off for almost 3hrs now. I look awful, you should see my eyes! This isn't that unusual for me though unfortunately, I often struggle with sleep for no apparent reason. So far I've tried intermittent periods of laying in bed, reading, having DH read to me, sitting quietly with a cup of herbal tea, did a facial skincare routine that I decided I was too tired to do when I initially wanted to go to bed, lavender moisturiser, Mumsnet (I have a blue light blocker thingy), put laundry away, did some tidying up...still awake. I will be lucky to get 5hrs sleep tonight possibly less depending on how long this goes on/when DD wakes in the morning/whether she wakes in the night etc. I know I will feel and look awful tomorrow Angry

What do you do when you can't sleep?

OP posts:
Doyoumind · 09/09/2020 01:28

I go on MN!

Can you try a Headspace meditation or white noise?

Gothamgirl1970 · 09/09/2020 01:28

Wait for someone like you to post so I can

Whiskeylover45 · 09/09/2020 01:30

In the same position here. Drinking sweet tea and browsing mumsnet 😂probably read or turn tv on in a minute

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Sleep
ListenLinda · 09/09/2020 01:30

No idea OP, that’s why i’m here too.
17month old DS still wakes once a night and sometimes it takes me a while to drop back off.
Tonight is going to be one of them nights.

Tillygetsit · 09/09/2020 01:31

No answers but solidly in your camp. It's horrendous isn't it?

vodkaredbullgirl · 09/09/2020 01:36

I work nights and I have a week off. So on here and watching tv till I get tired.

Scotabroad24 · 09/09/2020 01:39

I'm also wide awake in solidarity. Don't think I've slept before 4am for about 3 months now Confused

I usually try reading something really boring to send me to sleep.

1forAll74 · 09/09/2020 01:56

I have extreme tinnitus that keeps me awake, so I might have 15 minutes on my laptop, then write, I write a lot,mainly I am writing a kind of family history journal, I am not writing it on the computer, I love writing by hand.

notangelinajolie · 09/09/2020 02:14

I've just come to bed. I reckon there is no point stressing about not going to sleep if you aren't ready for it. Your body knows when sleep is needed and you will fall asleep when the time is right. Not everyone needs 8 hours, some people manage with 4 or 5 (I'm one of them). Stop looking at the clock and working out how many hours you've got left till the alarm goes off because it won't help.
If I'm still awake in half an hour I will get up and have a cup of tea and a biscuit.
I love this time of night when it's so quiet and just me awake Smile

Userzzz · 09/09/2020 02:19

I focus on my breathing and try to only think about breathing in and out, and nothing else. Eventually I fall asleep.

Original poster
MeadowHay · 09/09/2020 02:37

Still awake...

I'm actually one of those people that needs much more than 8hrs sleep to feel rested, which is ironic.

I don't go to bed at a set time each night, I go when I'm falling asleep on the sofa. But then I get to bed and can't sleep for hours still.

OP posts:
Bluewavescrashing · 09/09/2020 02:42

I used to stress about it a lot. Now I accept that I'm awake, I might be tired in the morning but I'll manage. Eventually I usually drop off again.

BugCatcher879 · 09/09/2020 02:46

Just get up and clean kitchen/sit in front room.

If not sleepy and feeling relaxed in bed I always get up.

Certain hormones make it hard to sleep and cause insomnia sometimes.

perfumeistooexpensive · 09/09/2020 03:10

Went to bed at half ten. Still awake. Read the news and now on here!

Seafog · 09/09/2020 03:22

I try and imagine the floor plan of my dream house, recall the contents of my closet, plan my seed order for the following spring, and so on until I fall asleep.
If it doesn't work, I get up and read, craft, sketch anything quiet and productive.

PerveenMistry · 09/09/2020 04:08

I use audiobooks of mild mysteries a la Agatha Raisin. Or you can find old radio plays on YouTube.

SallyCylicAcid · 09/09/2020 04:32

That's funny @Seafog I do exactly the same thing. I'm lying here pondering what the ideal bedroom/bathroom combination is

SallyCylicAcid · 09/09/2020 04:34

If any of you have any idea how to stop Dp waking me up I would gladly hear it. Whole of this last week, he's woken up between 3-4am, gone to the loo and woken me up (not deliberately but he's a big man and about as delicate as an elephant) grrr

I haven't been able to get back to sleep - knowing I have to get up at 7 for work doesn't help. My eye bags have their own bags which have their own bags! Feel like I've aged 10 years!

Bluewavescrashing · 09/09/2020 05:14

This is a bit cringe but I love musicals and know a few by heart. I 'sing' the lyrics to myself in my head until I fall asleep, one song after the other in the order they appear in the show. Switches my mind off.

Not working tonight though as I have a headache, snoring child next to me and a tricky decision to make for work. Hurry up morning, I want to get up now!

DinosApple · 09/09/2020 06:10

When I can't sleep- or fairly frequently wake at about 2 and can't get back to sleep, I read. Preferably something boring that I've read before.

Try to go to bed before you're falling asleep in the sofa - if I do that I find that the process of getting up and going to bed wakes me up so much that I then struggle to drop off. If I'm tired I go to bed straight after the DC at about 9.

I also write down whatevers worrying me, so my brain can stop churning it over.

It's all very annoying though!

RosieLemonade · 09/09/2020 06:11

That doesn’t sound great sleep hygiene OP. Have you tried having a set bedtime with a set routine? Brush teeth, wash face, read for half an hour and then eyes closed.
I tell myself stories. Or imagine I’m someone who is really grateful to be in bed for extreme reasons like I’ve just run a marathon!
We had an awful night here last night which is annoying as I’m now getting up for my first day back and can here DD is only now finally in a deep sleep when we’ve got to leave the house in 90 minutes.

IHaveBrilloHair · 09/09/2020 06:12

I'm currently watching crap TV!

Ragwort · 09/09/2020 06:24

Can you have your own room? Neither DH or I sleep well but it is much better now that we have separate bedrooms, at least you can get up, read, do something without worrying you are disturbing the other person.

Original poster
MeadowHay · 09/09/2020 08:50

DH was actually downstairs the whole time studying so it wasn't us disturbing each other or anything. We do sometimes sleep in separate rooms though as he does disturb me a lot in the night -, snoring, loo visits, etc. But that's more waking me once I'm asleep than affecting me dropping off.

Think I eventually fell asleep about 3.30 after he had come to bed too. He kindly let me stay in bed this morning whilst he sorted DD out and dropped her at nursery (which I usually do as it's easier for me as I'm WFH) but tbh she screamed so much and there was that much noise outside our house I didn't get much extra sleep anyway.

Thanks for all the suggestions I will try some in future. I go through my wardrobe mentally sometimes like PP haha and find that does actually work sometimes!

OP posts:
Destinysdaughter · 09/09/2020 08:54

I've always had problems sleeping so when I really need a good night's sleep, I'll take a Nytol. Usually sends me to sleep within 20 minutes. It's bloody brilliant!

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