How to Get To Sleep

[mythociate]

My best friend is having trouble sleeping, and (although it is now the next day, and she's probably 'figured it out by now') I can only give her the advice I got from a Catholic Priest in a dream-interpretation class:

Get comfortable, and STAY PERFECTLY STILL.

What advice could you add to that? Maybe a distraction to think of as you naturally drift off?

[timvolley]

I am not sure what I can add I usually fall asleep fast.

[jiuchan]

Chamomile tea! That's what I always drink before going to sleep. Helps with relaxing your body. =)

[rusgiftsaolcom]

Whenever I can't sleep I actually think about pleasant things, good friends, good childhood memories etc to help me fall asleep. So far it works for me.

[mjdoug03]

Take a sleep aid before bedtime, make sure you're in a cool, dark room, turn off all electronics!

[potluck6]

mybe some milk before bed have heard about tea never tried but might soon.

[kapeh12]

Common reasons for not being able to get to sleep:

Too hot or too cold - if this is it, make an adjustment to find the optimal temperature to relax/sleep.

Too tense - if muscles are tight, may have problems getting to sleep.  Do some stretches, or some self-massage on the tight areas to allow the body to better relax.  A good trick is to get a racket or tennis ball and roll your foot over it - there are a lot of trigger points on the bottom of your foot that when relaxed can relax your whole body.

Too hungry/thirsty - if you are hungry or thirsty, then your body will have a hard time going to sleep.  Eat a piece of toast or a small handful of crackers (something light), or drink a small glass of water.

Too much on your mind - if there are things you are worried about or concentrating on, these mental distractions won't let you relax to get to sleep.  These are the most common, and to get to sleep, one needs to find a way to push these issues out of your conscious mind enough to let your body get to sleep.  This is where those "counting sheep" tricks come in.  They are to get you to focus on something monotonous to allow your brain to "shut-down" so you can sleep.  Other techniques would be breathing exercises - like yoga breathing, concentrating on slow breathing in/out taking longer each time for the inhale/exhale, while concentrating on relaxing the muscles of each part of your body until you drift off to sleep.  Another technique is to simply repeat a word like "sleep" and try not to think of anything else until you naturally fall asleep.


Hope these suggestions help.

[kimber62372]

Diet and exercise is a KEY factor for sleepless nights! If she is active during the day and maintains a weekly workout regimen and eats properly, she or he will have NO problem getting to sleep. It helped my best friend who also suffered from insomnia. Good luck to her! 

[hollister237]

Wake up earlier and you will be more tired come bed time. Or do more with your day. Exercise more, use your brain more.

[mythociate]

Take a sleep aid before bedtime, make sure you're in a cool, dark room, turn off all electronics!

Hmm ... I sometimes take a sleep aid (my step-grandmother is a nurse, said something about 'a banana'; so that's my usual 'sleep aid' ... that, and/or beer), and it's mostly-dark; but I keep my TV on (muted) and watch it as I go to sleep, & do fine with 5 or 6 hours!