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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.

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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.

😴

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