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? 😭

Calm app stories usually

I do an alphabetical list of something like footballers or female singers. Either that or name all of the United States or the countries in Africa in my head.

I go on holidays.

I visualise the packing of the bags, ( if I can ignore DH stropping, this generally passes quite pleasantly)

I then lock up the house whilst DH (normally H at this stage ) and DS wait in the car.

We get to the airport, park the car, I visualise the check in desk, then security.

We zoom through duty free, find the lounge, have a drink something to eat, board .............

I generally never get any further than some food in the lounge and boarding...

If that doesn't work, I start with touchdown in Malaga, the taxi journey, the avocados etc growing in the fields at the side of the A road, then the dip down into Nerja and all the familiar landmarks.

It is a bad night if we have picked up the keys and we are unpacking.

Read my kindle

As a bonus, reading a story usually stops my brain thinking about all the worry-slurry it comes up with at 3am, and when I shut off I just let the story slip me back to sleep.

I NEVER go on the internet or MN. Far too stressful. What if someone is wrong??

Concentrate on my breathing.

I listen to 'This Audiobook Will Send You to Sleep' on Audible. It does what it says on the cover. Every time. Well, every time after the first time, when it gave me the giggles.

Tonight, I’m making cauliflower cheese and watching Malcom in the Middle, with a glass of red.

I’ve been unable to sleep much at night for about a month now. Tried a new plan tonight and let myself fall asleep at 8pm when I was actually tired. Course I just woke up at midnight and have been wide awake ever since. My husband helpfully told me to try to sleep!

Most nights I end up going to the couch and eventually fall asleep around 5am, then up at 7am for baby, kids and school.

For the first time I’m actually considering sleeping tablets. I’m so tired during the day, I’m not doing half the cleaning etc that I should be doing and drinking coffee just to try to keep awake. Vicious cycle.

Sit on Mumsnet. I'm worried about the amount of work I have to do today.

Either comfort TV that I’ve watched a million times like old 90s sitcoms, ASMR videos or the sleep casts on the Headspace app. I find I can switch my brain off easier if my own thoughts don’t distract me!

The insight timer app has loads of free meditations. And traditional bedtime tales, as well as dull stuff read soothingly.