What do you do when you can't sleep?
 

It doesn't help that by nature I'm a nightbird, but my job calls for early rising. I don't get much sleep on weeknights, and for years I've counted on weekends to catch up on sleep. These days I'm usually out early on weekend mornings, but when I do try to sleep in, I can't sleep. I know they say to keep the same sleep schedule seven days a week, but that's not going to happen for me.
Anyway, when I wake up prematurely I'll go into the other room and read, or I'll even...clean. Neither puts me back to sleep, but at least I've got something to show for my time.
What do you do when you need to sleep but can't?
(And BTW, warm milk is going nowhere near these lips.)

- Jake

When I can't sleep but really really need to I usually take a nighttime allergy pill lol...

It's (fortunately) a rarity that I have problems sleeping though...:)

OTher than a pill..cause I don't really like to take chemical help in sleeping I will read or just lie there and let my mind wander.

Pills scare me. I take them only when I must, and often the reaction is delayed anyway.
When I let my mind wander, sleep is harder. Often my mind wanders to To-Do lists or worries.

- Jake

Well, I listen to some slow music with the volume turned down. But it dosen't work for everybody :shocked:

Any music will keep me awake, no question. I've had plenty of problems with roommates over this over the years.

- Jake

umm geesh should I say this. Umm when I can't sleep I usually do something that um well... The Rattlesnake Shake.

ingredients:

1. a nice joint.
2. a small glass of red wine.
3. a tv set to either national geographic, adventure 1, or the history channel.

a combination of those 3 factors guarentees you sleep within 30 minutes max. never fails, i know what i'm talking about. :rolleyes:

I usually read and make some chamomile tea. This tea is great if you can't sleep - very relaxing.

If I can't sleep...
 

I play games online or read articles online until I am bored beyond consciousness...Then it's "nighty-nite".

I started sleeping with ear plugs in my ears because I absolutely can't sleep with noise and I have the rudest neighbors ever...so that doesn't work for me either...

My ex-bf though, he had to have a low radio on all night or he couldn't sleep well....strange...

I try not to take pills too...but once in a great while...I just resort to that..mostly because I'm no used to having problems sleeping...so I know I'll only do it every now and again...I'm lucky I guess...I've known many an insomniac over the years, but have been fortunate enough to never know insomnia :)

If I can't sleep, I usually bust out the portable CD player (Beth Gibbons/Portishead always works, but Dido has worked recently) and after a short while I'm out. I usually end up with the headphones off and wake up not remembering taking them off. :laugh:

I used to do something that I read in my Health textbook in 6th grade to "help you relax." Lie on your back with your eyes closed. Think of a pleasant place, a field, the sea, whatever. Take deep breaths, making sure the exhale is a little longer than the inhale. That used to knock me out, but not so much anymore.

I've also found that I can't fall asleep unless I'm on my side. I'm weird.

And I don't think I answered the question. :shrug:

I forgot! I do go online sometimes too when I can't fall asleep.

If I can't sleep I usually will either read, watch TV or go online. I find taking pills doesn't really help me.

Well, I did ask.

- Jake

1) I don't smoke.
2) Drinking anything will make me get up to pee before long.
3) I have no cable & don't even keep a TV in my bedroom.

Thanks for the suugestions, though.

- Jake