Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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:
NordicwithTeen · 05/01/2025 13:39

I'm sure someone has beaten me to it but Radio 4 had a bit on people using the Shipping Forecast to get to sleep. Certainly soothing.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 05/01/2025 14:26

I just listen to boring podcasts.

Purplepeopleeaterz · 17/07/2025 17:52

Audiobooks with sleep mask headphones on, only thing that works for me. I often wake up in the night (perimenopausal) so I reset the timer and go again until I drop back off.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 17/07/2025 17:55

History audiobooks work for me - I used to lie awake for hours, with thoughts going round in my head like a squirrel in a cage, and audiobooks give me something to focus on and think about. History works for me because it doesn’t have the “What happens next?” issue that fiction has - when I read, I can be tempted into just one more chapter!

I find the historian Dan Jones is simultaneously very interesting and very soporific. I love all his non fiction books, but he can put me to sleep very quickly.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 17/07/2025 17:58

I forgot to add - I use a magnesium and lavender cream (Feather and Down sleep butter), and I’m sure that has helped with the insomnia.

NegroniMacaroni · 17/07/2025 18:44

RHS Gardening podcast - very soothing voices, and if you're not too into gardening it won't be distracting.

SleeplessInSeacroft · 19/07/2025 15:08

I love to sleep with two podcasts:

  1. Sleepy Journeys. It has various shows: History, Music, Fairytales, Myths, Famous Figures etc. It's sufficiently interesting to distract your mind but not so much it keeps you awake. I love the narrator's tone and backing music - it's like being in a spa.

  2. Blindboy. I think this is the #1 podcast in Ireland. Though not a sleep podcast, at 0.75 speed it is just that. He has a soothing Irish voice. Love it.

😴

New posts on this thread. Refresh page