How do you get to sleep?

[anothernewusername1]

Posted on AIBU for traffic.

I am struggling with getting to sleep (am only just going to bed and am not usually on my phone this late!)

It's the process once you're head on pillow/eye mask on etc

I try thinking of animals/bands/cities starting with each letter of the alphabet and I also do breathing shapes (breathe in two sides of square and breathe out other two) but hoping for some more ideas!

Plays on Radio 4.

@Starksforthewin thank you for your kind words, it was a very very long time ago, and completely in the past. It's a great technique actually, whatever the context.

I make sure I'm not online for two hours before I go to bed.

That never fails.

Also, I do the same breathing I teach for labour (and used when I was in labour).

I generally get to sleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

But if I'm going through a period of insomnia then I have the Calm app on my phone so I put a sleep story on. The only downside is I never get to hear the end of the stories.

These are all genuinely really helpful. Thank you.

The tv on low is because we live in a very old creaky house in a main road (and single glazing!) so the low background noise helps to muffle the creaks and bangs indoors and the hustle and bustle outdoors. Daren't wear ear plugs for fear of not hearing DC wake.

I go to bed at nearly exactly the same time every night, get up at the same time in the morning. Chat to my DH for a little while, cuddle him then close my eyes and relax until I fall asleep.

Doing some of the stuff suggested here would keep me awake.

I also don't generally have caffeine after 2pm, and don't eat after 6pm.

I always sleep better on the days i exercise

I listen to the traffic noise from outside- I find it very soothing. I struggle to sleep in the countryside!

Magnesium! With zinc if possible

Headspace was also a game changer for me. I rarely make it through ten minutes without dropping off and my Fitbit shows that I am sleeping more deeply as well.

We both read in bed and then cuddle before sleeping. Sometimes the cuddle leads to more.

I always go through my shopping list for the next day or think about where I am going to put things in the garden next spring - I always drop off!

I read. There's quite a build up (wind down) to bed time for me though as I don't cope well without sleep. I can't have sugar or alcohol beyond 9-9:30 if I'm going to bed at my usual time of around 11. It doesn't take a lot to keep me brain whirring until the early hours.