When you can’t sleep…
by Kerry
Ok, people. Bring it on. Your sure-fire tricks of the trade, home remedies, whatever.
Reading doesn’t always work for me.
I can’t stomach warm milk.
And hot tea isn’t my miracle.
Your suggestions of what works for you?…
I have a somewhat silly reply! I’m in college and whenever I get really frustrated with anything I pretend that come sun down I’m going to set off to Hawaii and or transfer to the University of Hawaii with my dog. Sort of ridiculous but it sure is relaxing for me! (we’re going to get an apartment next to the beach and a fancy restaurant =P)
Love it, Ana! Thanks! I’ll try anything :)
You know how when you’re trying to sleep you start freaking out about how you’re not going to get enough rest and how awful it will make your day tomorrow? Maybe it’s just me. But anyway, what I do is think about how relaxing it is to lay in bed and not have to do anything. And about how good rest is for me (even if I’m not sleeping). This usually works to keep me from getting more worked up about not getting sleep. And then, similarly to Ana, I imagine my perfect day (complete with sleeping in and a massage). It usually works.
Thank you, Steph. It’s so true about how we freak ourselves out all the more by thinking about NOT sleeping!! Horrible. Hard for me to flip the shutdown switch in my mind at the end of the day sometimes.
I wish I could help you! I have been in a terrible rut of being up until the wee hours of the morning… then finally falling asleep. :( Need to figure something out myself. Let me know if you find a fix!
Ugh… I feel bad that you can relate.
These days I usually don’t need any help to fall asleep but to stay awake. But When I used to have trouble, I would listen to a guided relaxation meditation and that would always put me to sleep. I used one with an option for different endings and picked the one where they would not awake you at the end.
Interesting you mention this because I was just thinking about listening to “something” to help drown out any stray thoughts. My hubby is a pretty sound sleeper so I think I can get away with it. Thanks for your suggestion!
Well, since it’s going on one and I just got up because I couldn’t sleep, I’m not sure I have any advice. Unless it is don’t drink tea after 5:00! Sometimes I pray myself to sleep. Tonight I was listening to a book on my Kindle.
Yes, if I drink certain things after 7 especially,… Good point. My 2 yr old has been climbing in bed with us lately which isn’t helping my dilemma much. Yes, am praying too! Haven’t thought about listening to a book but definitely an option – I can use my son’s kindle. Thanks! Hope you weren’t up very long. :(
COUNT! Seriously, and this actually takes a ton of effort. But this is a no-fail method for me. I count from 1 to 10 and back to 1 with each breath and repeat as necessary. But here’s the trick: I can’t think of anything else. The minute any thought pops up in my head, I acknowledge it but force it out of my mind. I have a visual of the number in black on an all-white background to help me focus on just the number. This always works for me, although I hate doing it because it’s so boring, but I suppose that’s why it works!
I’ll try. I always tell my kids to try this but can’t say I’ve ever forced myself to try it! Hmmm
My husband likes to listen to music as he is winding down. Here is my very random tip..change your pillowcase to a fresh clean one. :-)
Check! Just did this tonight. Great tip ;)
My friends and I were talking about this the other day. They once heard another friend call insomnia “bonus time”. I’ve had much of it the last couple of years, and usually I will read, write out all the renegade thoughts in my brain, and/or clean until I feel really tired.
Yes – it has ended up being creative bonus time for me! Sometimes my favorite time to clean is in the evening when no one can mess it back up 5 minutes later!!