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Original poster

What do I listen to to go to sleep?

132 replies

Shitshower · 04/01/2025 01:22

I am not a relaxed person and I find it hard to switch off and sleep (like now, I’ve been in bed since 11pm, awake) I hear everything and I easily get into a cycle of not sleeping.

Anyway, I thought I’d try listening to stuff to get me off, but it doesn’t seem to work.
White noise is just irritating, brown noise works occasionally, ditto water sounds/fire/nature sounds.

But nothing seems to work very often. It might work twice then inexplicably instead of a noise being soothing it becomes noisy and it’s all I can hear if you get me?

So, what do people use? Are there podcasts that are meant to lull you off?

Because I don’t relax I listen too much, so if I used an audiobook I would start listening to the story and getting involved, I think I need something vaguely boring and droney that is designed to basically bore you to sleep.

The whole sleep thing is a big frustration to me, because I am tired and I want to sleep but nothing really helps.

Any suggestions for things I can listen to would be greatly appreciated

OP posts:
PreferMyAnimals · 04/01/2025 08:04

Someone on here mentioned Sleep Sound with Jamie Dornan on Audible. I tried it and love the sea one. Got me into a very deep sleep. He talks a little at the beginning to set the scene, then it's just the sounds. If you have Audible, I'd give it a go.

ParsonBrown · 04/01/2025 08:27

This will sound ridiculous @Shitshower

But my DS has listened to the Sleepypaws story to go to sleep since he was little (now 10). He can fall asleep without it but it's much faster with it and he prefers it.

Sometimes when I can't sleep I use it. Work EVERY TIME.

It's available on Spotify or YouTube.

If kids stories aren't your thing, try Stephen Fry reading Blue Gold. He has a lulling voice. And the story is so bloody boring. That works for me too. I don't think I've ever heard past the first 5-10 minutes.

hashimotosucks · 04/01/2025 08:30

Binaural beats with soft headband earphones

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Sleep
Original poster
Shitshower · 04/01/2025 08:40

Thankyou for all the suggestions. I’m going to start at the beginning and try each one until I find the right one. I like the sound of the story that is boring! I do try reading, but again, I immediately get into the book and start “just one more chapter” and regularly I stay up all night to finish a book. It’s really annoying that I’m like that!

I was disappointed with white noise, I ended up trying to listen to sounds within the sound and listen for patterns, same really with brown noise, which I think is a bit weird tbh.

OP posts:
Original poster
Shitshower · 04/01/2025 08:41

I have a headband thing so I can listen all night (can’t cope with AirPods)

OP posts:
bifurCAT · 04/01/2025 08:44

My partner is big on running, marathons, etc.

I just ask about it.

Five minutes, and I'm out!

drspouse · 04/01/2025 08:46

Needanewnameagain · 04/01/2025 02:11

Nothing Much Happens

It's a series of sleep stories available on Audible (probably other places too). Very mundane stories which she reads twice. I set a timer for the end if the chapter so that it switches off. Each one is about 30 minutes and she starts each one with the same " instructions". I can never recall what the story was, so it's working for me.

I used to really like this till she started calling named characters "they" as in "chef made me their special pie recipe" which confused me back awake.
Now I listen to Get Sleepy.

unlikelychump · 04/01/2025 08:48

Won't be for everyone but I'm enjoying the bible for this!

My other go to in women's hour back catalogue, I'm currently in 2017!

MidLifeWoman · 04/01/2025 08:50

I got the free BorrowBox app and am working my way through the most boring classics…

Ineffable23 · 04/01/2025 08:51

I use audible non-fiction books that are read in a calming manner. E.g. Why we sleep, the odd Richard Dawkins book, a brief history of time, immune, GCHQ.

Works quite well I find. You want something just interesting enough that it stops your mind whizzing but not so interesting it stops it wandering.

I really agree about making sure whatever you're playing is nice and quiet.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 04/01/2025 08:54

I like noble blood.

Ado recommend sleep with me.

Acolite · 04/01/2025 08:56

Anything narrated by Stephen Fry works for me. Mainly the Harry Potter books. I know them so well I don’t get hung up on the story line. I set the timer for about 20 minutes/ end of chapter and I’m rarely still awake when it switches off.
Good luck, I hope you find something that suits you.

Stickortwigs · 04/01/2025 08:58

There’s a book called The Button Box which I downloaded because I wanted to listen to it years ago. But it has such a soporific effect that I now use it when I can’t sleep.

It’s stories of women’s recent history told through different memories associated with types of buttons.

DeffoNeedANameChange · 04/01/2025 09:05

Something a bit worthy that I'm semi interested in. It has to be interesting enough that I don't feel like I'm "trying to get to sleep", but not so interesting that it keeps me awake!

I always listen to BBC Sounds. I like the today podcast, newscast and americast.

HilariousNames · 04/01/2025 09:07

An app that plays rain , wind and thunder sounds.

Valkyrie3 · 04/01/2025 09:31

I like Real Survival Stories on BBC Sounds. The narrator's voice is quite soporific (John Hopkins) and hearing about people stuck in blizzards/shipwrecked etc makes me feel so cocooned, cosy and appreciative of my bed that I drop off very quickly.
Just don't like the bit where he says 'What would you do when disaster strikes?' instead of 'IF disaster struck.' Any bad grammar, intonation or jarring accent stops me drifting off. Grin

Luluem · 04/01/2025 09:35

I use BBC sounds “sleeping forecast” - it mixes the shipping forecast with some music, often classical. The bbc also has “ultimate calm” and “night tracks”, all of which work for me.

daisychain01 · 04/01/2025 10:14

Overtheatlantic · 04/01/2025 04:21

Shipping Forecast works for me!

I love a good shipping forecast 🌊

I find that trying to recall the names of the shipping zones has a remarkably soporific effect Grin 😴

What do I listen to to go to sleep?
Original poster
Shitshower · 04/01/2025 10:15

I love Professor Brian Coxs voice. He used to do a program on the planets, and his voice was so lovely and calm I used to fall asleep in front of the tv. I tried listening to that but sadly not the same effect, I think with that programme it was a combination of his voice but also very calming images on the screen.

I think a “voice” will do me better than sounds. I get weird with sounds I think, but I do think a calming, melodic voice will be better.

I just wish I slept better!

OP posts:
destiel00 · 04/01/2025 10:37

Listen to "weightless" by marconi union

CurlewKate · 04/01/2025 11:31

I have a collection of Jane Austens that I have listened to so often I know them by heart. I just turn them on and I'm asleep in minutes!

drspouse · 04/01/2025 19:46

If you might like audio books try The Sleepy Bookshelf podcast.

Shinyandnew1 · 04/01/2025 21:21

The Calm app is great.

Stephen Fry-Blue Gold is a good place to start, but there are some great ones-Jerome Flynn, Erik Braa, Cillian Murphy.

BoobyDazzler · 04/01/2025 21:25

The early Harry Potter books are very good for this. Stephen Fry has a very soporific voice.

Hercisback1 · 04/01/2025 21:28

BBC sounds, if you search "sleep" on there, there's a range of different types of podcast.

I love gardeners question time or the kitchen cabinet both on BBC sounds for sleep.