To ask what you do when you can't sleep?

[gchali]

I'm usually asleep by half 12 latest but I'm absolutely wide awake tonight! I suspect it's something to do with the medication that I've started taking last week.

I need to get to sleep soon as I know DS will be up at half 6 like usual.

What do you do when you can't sleep? 😭

I listen to things on my phone. I bought a sleep mask with built in earphones because I find proper earphones too uncomfortable.

If I have a really good sleep (Saturday night), I can almost guarantee that the following night will be terrible. Depressing.

@BluePajamas The series, always the series!!

I listen to the Get Sleepy podcast, any of the episodes read by Thomas. Put the sleep timer on for it to turn off at the end of the episode as I've never got to the end of one without falling asleep!

Or I get out of bed and read then get back in bed. Never go on screens!

Get bored witless.
Podcasts help. Rest if I can't sleep.

It's horrible lying awake in the small hours. I wake up between 2 and 3 nearly every night and lie awake for an hour or so before falling asleep again. I tend to try to think of boring things; at the moment I am trying to think of Christmas presents for people or how I will plant my garden next spring, or try to remember the names of my school friends and teachers! But I usually come back to worrying about the current situation and that keeps me awake for ages.

Listen to audio books, history or travel programmes on iPlayer
Calm app

Browsing on your phone is the worst thing you can do if you are trying to sleep.

I read my kindle.

Kindle normally. I have the one with backlight so doesn't disturb DP sleep.or sometimes l get up and have a wander around and a drink. I don't ever sleep all night these days.
I try not to stress about it. I know l can get through the day on a few hours sleep if l have to.im lucky l work shifts so can nap in afternoon sometimes.

Think mindless thoughts (nothing too stimulating)
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Focus on relaxing, rather than falling asleep
Don't look at the clock!

I go to the loo, maybe make a cup of tea, then read. Then I fantasise about what I'd do with an enormous lottery win or suchlike.

I've bought that lovely Grade II cottage up the road, redesigned my present home inside and out and bought fabulous, glamorous clothes - all in my mind.

It is worrying that so many people on here (and other forums I am on) have such trouble sleeping. Does anyone have a theory as to why this should be? And why is it almost always women who have trouble sleeping while most men seem to be able to sleep for England?

I read on a similar thread where somone sead the count backwards from 100. Really focusing in saying the letters and sounds in each word. I've stared doing that and it's quite successful. Normally it gets me to a pojt where my mind can wander but not think about worries or what I have to do.

My nearly 5 month old has now decided he doesn't want to sleep at night. I got a grand total of 45 minutes sleep last night.
Of course he's asleep now (and slept while we were out shopping) but I can’t as waiting for the doctor to phone.
I usually just watch rubbish telly now as I know I won't be able to sleep. Although on Saturday night I did spend the night filling in application forms for new jobs. Other than that it's back to MN.

I toss and turn for what feels like days. Then I decide I need the loo. Then I pick up my phone (even although I promised myself I wouldn't). Then I worry the light is going to wake DS. And eventually I get so tired I have to pass out. Then my alarm goes off a couple of hours later and I spend the day trying not to sleep.

This is new for me. I'd got to a point of being a decent sleeper. Then DH lost his job.

daydream (night-dream I guess!), or listen to podcasts in bed. I know the orthodoxy is to get up and do something low-key until you're tired, but that doesn't work for me.

What do you do when you can't sleep? 😭

Masturbate. A nice orgasm helps me sleep.

There had to be 1 to lower the tone lol

Chronic insomniac here. What's been helping me recently is listening to tracks of rain, thunderstorms and waves at a quiet volume, it's been very helpful. If you get them from youtube the ones that go to a black screen are the best, but try different ones to see which you like best, some rains are more soothing than others! 😄 Its's made a real difference in helping me get back to sleep.

Also Alexa's Calm My Dog at a quiet volume is very soothing. Also good for a calming atmosphere on stressful days (aren't they all at the minute?)

I just lie in the dark with my eyes closed and make up stories in my head so I don't get bored. It takes me around an hour to fall asleep so I've always done this. I keep one storyline going for a few weeks and add more to it each night. When I'm bored of it, or it feels done I'll start a new one.

Probably not recommended but one paracetamol is 100% guaranteed to send me back to sleep within 20 minutes

Wind myself up having increasingly elaborate and heated imaginary arguments with people.
Catastrophize.
Remember past embarrassments.

@vodkaredbullgirl

There had to be 1 to lower the tone lol

It’s a serious suggestion. Probably more practical use than “browse Mumsnet”.

Of course, I’m sure most Mumsnet users are far to “naice” to even consider it!

Read on my kindle, knit or crochet.

I try not to go on my phone or laptop because I think the light form the screen is more of a hindrance to my insomnia and it disturbs my sleep patterns more.

@JesusInTheCabbageVan

Wind myself up having increasingly elaborate and heated imaginary arguments with people. Catastrophize. Remember past embarrassments.

This is precisely why I don't just lie in bed trying to sleep and why I do something like knitting.

3am is the worst time to be awake with your brain going ten to the dozen.

Try headspace - the sleep meditations are really good. Also PSA: if you toggle towards "talk" you get a longer period of speech and towards "ambience" you get a shorter period of speech and more background noise