... to prescribe The Economist to insomniac son?

[shockthemonkey]

DS2 is having all sorts of trouble nodding off, and has asked me to bring him high-dose melatonin - which he cannot get over the counter in the UK. His sleep pattern is shit anyway since starting with a company that expects him to put in 18-hour days (not every day, but certainly when the work load is high, up to three times a week[.

I've never held a job quite that demanding, but arguably have been close. And I have always found that almost any given article in The Economist does the trick. With the exception of sometimes Charlemagne, sometimes Bagehot, and almost always the excellent column on my adopted country. And the Obituary - that's always good.

All the others send me to sleep. And they should be interesting... I mean I'm often drawn to their punny headlines for a start, begin to read, then snooze.

So, who else feels the same? Am I missing hidden depths? Are there other articles/features you find engaging that I might want to try?

Fuck knows 😂maybe get him to read some of the posts on here, that might send him to sleep.

Shipping forecast.

Audiobooks on Spotify. I love an autobiography, read by the author.

They’re pretty crap at reading out loud, quite monotonous. Currently falling asleep within ten minutes listening to Lee Mack. 😂

YABU, only because there is something better at guaranteeing instant sleep. May i recommend

Sapiens, a brief history of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari

My 10 year old went through a phase of not falling asleep at bedtime. I started reading this to them as a bedtime story, and within 2 paragraphs they would be passed out. In fact, after several days of having it as part of their bedtime routine, the 10 year old would rush up to bed and fall asleep straight away to avoid having to listen to me reading this out loud to them.

5 star review. Based on its ability to induce sleep in any child.

There is a reason that high dose Melatonin is not available over the counter in the UK. It's a hormone and really can mess with your body's own production of sleep hormones. Make sure he's taking Vitamin D (you need adequate levels to regulate sleep).

And I agree with PP about an Audible subscription. Or just teach him how to check audiobooks out of the library.

I can't work out if you looking for advice for your DS or criticising The Economist! Anway, regards to DS, I have had a similar job in the past: a bath before bed, sleep podcasts, room completely dark, wear ear plugs (beary quiet are great), brown noise all help.

YABU about The Economist, it's really interesting! I also wonder if your DS is in finance or consulting in which case he probably won't go to sleep reading it!

I also read the economist at night. It's interesting but pretty difficult to get through. You could also get him to try naming a vegetable or similar category for every letter of the alphabet. This usually works for me.

Download programmes and audiobooks from radio 4. Elizabeth Gaskell is good for boring me to sleep.

I worked silly hours and radio 4 (aka radio bore) and then the world service were perfect. The shipping forecast is very soothing (I know all the areas) and I found that really good for nodding off.

Funny you should say that. I have fallen asleep numerous times while listening to that book. Even though it is very interesting.

I felt same, but just had to jump in with my Sapiens comment!
I love a good obituary @shockthemonkey

InSpain: the answer is both! But probably unfair to criticise that worthy publication. I was just having a bit of fun.

Some great ideas about nodding off sans drugs, thank you everyone! The vegetable idea seems particularly er, fruitful, thanks elastamum! I hadn't heard of it before.

Noted about melatonin, Sofia, I suspected as much, which is why I am looking for alternatives. He seems to be on top of vitamins and supplements, how they interact and interfere, so I will mention about vitamin D. It's part of his sleep hygiene to take a walk as the sun is coming up, and another walk as the sun is going down...no matter what else he is doing that day exercise-wise. He read that this helped set your body clock. Is that the same as topping up your vitamin D?

I really liked Yuval Noah Harari's 21 lessons for the 21st Century, Lego, and on the strength of that I confidently got stuck into Sapiens... and lasted about three pages. So you have something there! Spain's right, I am probably being unfair about The Economist. In fact I just now had to research the social and political climate and foreign policy in a particular sub-saharan African state, went instinctively to The Economist and found its coverage extremely helpful and readable. So I've proved myself wrong already.

I definitely "used" the shipping forecast in my day. Loved all those wild names in wild places.

Honestly. The Archers on bbc sounds is perfext for any insomniac. Omnibus if seriously not able to sleep- but usually the 12.5 mins single episode does the trick every time.

Have to say I am interested in current affairs, politics, business etc but also find the Economist unreadable! I get that it is trying to be balanced and objective but for me it is too formulaic and dull.

There is, apparently, a style bible that the TE columnists MUST adhere to very closely. It's a long bible. That probably explains the formulaic feel to it. You do notice it after a while.