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Original poster

I'm addicted to falling asleep listening to YouTube

107 replies

AnxiousFlowerpot · 19/04/2023 17:23

This started about 5 years ago. I started watching YouTube on my tablet in bed before going to sleep. Now I can't not watch a video before falling asleep. I wake up multiple times in the night and have to listen to a video (I use earphones and don't look at the screen) otherwise I just lie there and my mind starts worrying about stuff. I usually listen to something like a documentary and fall asleep again. I can't seem to stop doing it. Wtf is wrong with me.

OP posts:
Spottypillow · 19/04/2023 19:28

Me too! I did read it’s a thing from not wanting to be alone and it’s helps soothe people who have had a traumatic response.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 19/04/2023 19:30

It's Audible books for me. I keep them running all night, because then, if I wake, it stops my brain from starting with all the problems and worries of the day. It hooks into the story in the book and I can fall asleep again in seconds.

It's like being read to by a grown up.

But it really only works with books you know well, or children's stories. Enid Blyton is a favourite...

Tarantallegra · 19/04/2023 19:31

HippyChickMama · 19/04/2023 17:35

Me too. The shipping forecast podcast on BBC sounds, I have an eye mask with built in flat Bluetooth headphones and listen to it through that

Fran? Is this you Fran? Are you alright?

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Sleep
spoonheadmoon · 19/04/2023 19:32

Spottypillow · 19/04/2023 19:28

Me too! I did read it’s a thing from not wanting to be alone and it’s helps soothe people who have had a traumatic response.

Very interesting and makes sense to me!

orangedalmatian · 19/04/2023 19:34

I listen to radio 4 stories on my ipad. set it for 30 minutes, asleep in 5. Do it about 4 times in the night. Has to be a boring story, like Poirot! Only boring because I have heard them before

readbooksdrinktea · 19/04/2023 19:35

Spottypillow · 19/04/2023 19:28

Me too! I did read it’s a thing from not wanting to be alone and it’s helps soothe people who have had a traumatic response.

This makes so much sense.

Podcasts for me with sleep timer set.

MyMachineAndMe · 19/04/2023 19:40

I listen to those 10 hour long rainstorm and thunder videos and if the WiFi is down I can't sleep!

Elvira2000 · 19/04/2023 19:41

I do this. Political podcasts. Just interesting enough that my mind doesn't drift. Not too interesting so I don't stay awake. And it doesn't matter if I drift in and out while nodding (if that makes sense) as they essentially repeating themselves!

WithIcePlease · 19/04/2023 19:44

I too listen to R4 stories to fall asleep to. Sometimes I listen to the first 5 minutes repeatedly and eventually listen to the whole thing while awake.
I've been listening to the same story now for weeks. V comforting.

tallcypowder · 19/04/2023 20:03

Me too. I have to be reading, listening or watching something or I get thoughts that don't make me sleepy and worries.

Sure it isnt sleep hygiene friendly but for me it actually is or I wouldn't sleep.

LatteLady · 19/04/2023 20:22

For me it is R4 morphing into the World Service... then waking to the Shipping Forecast.

blackheartsgirl · 19/04/2023 20:22

I’m the same and have been since I was a kid.

I’ve always had problems falling asleep and when I was 9 my parents put a radio in my room for me to listen to as I went to sleep

didnt need it every night but when dh died 2 years ago I got into the habit of watching or listening to YouTube or podcasts until I fell asleep, became a comfort to me like someone was there with me in the room.

my ds 23 is the same, he has to listen to a podcast to get to sleep, when he was 12 he’d listen to radio 4/world service and the shipping forecast and he’s always done it since.

we both have adhd though which doesn’t help.

Danikm151 · 19/04/2023 20:24

My favourites at top tenz, whatculture and all time 10s!
I add videos to my watch later list and they are my lullaby 🤣 have been for years. I can rarely sleep with silence

HappiDaze · 19/04/2023 20:24

I listen to audible or sound's every night because it stops my mind from wandering

I also set it to stop at 30 mins

orangeflags · 19/04/2023 20:25

Radio 4 stories here too. I find things like Sherlock Holmes or old crime stories work best. A bit interesting but not riveting. I rarely hear them to the end

HappiDaze · 19/04/2023 20:25

I've discovered that the Archers omnibus is perfect for me

BruceAndNosh · 19/04/2023 20:29

I recommend "boring books for bedtime" podcast.
Dull as fuck and does the job to stop your mind from racing

thenightsky · 19/04/2023 20:38

I use Audibles or BBC sounds podcasts. I too have a wifi speakers built into a soft headband, so I can actually lie on my side. I set the timer to an hour.

I honestly cannot sleep without it now at all. I've tried, but no... addicted like the OP.

WeWereInParis · 19/04/2023 20:46

I do the same with an audiobook of a book I know well (generally Harry Potter), set to turn off after an hour. Stephen Fry's soothing tone puts me to sleep in minutes

scrivette · 19/04/2023 20:54

I read Mumsnet every night until I fall asleep Blush I read it in the middle of the night if I wake up too.

userxx · 19/04/2023 20:57

I listen to a white noise app, it's always an air conditioning unit noise, I'm gone within 5 minutes.

RafaistheKingofClay · 19/04/2023 21:00

Lamelie · 19/04/2023 17:32

How do you get it to stop after 30 mins? I thought I’d hacked it but my only gripe about listening to something as I go to sleep is that I sometimes wake up to it.

Show quote history

If you have an iPhone or iPad set the timer and change the option for ‘when timer ends’to stop playing. This will stop any app playing that doesn’t have a sleep function.

If you also use your phone to time stuff you’ve put in the oven, don’t forget to switch it back to some sort of alarm. 😳

Northernsoullover · 19/04/2023 21:03

I always listen to podcasts to fall asleep. I never make it to the 30 minutes. There is nothing wrong with it.

YesitsBess · 19/04/2023 21:04

This is such a soothing thread. Some great new ideas to try!

And thankyou to the timer instruction people, I've just found the function.

MathsNervous · 19/04/2023 21:07

AgrathaChristie · 19/04/2023 19:16

I fall asleep to BBC Sounds The Sleeping Forecast, soothing music interspersed with the Shipping Forecast. It works , every time.

Didn't know about this. Thanks 👍 going to give this a try.