What do you do when you can't sleep?

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This post reminds me.. the sleep expert guy also noted that it's very difficult to force yourself to go to sleep at a certain time since there are so many variables to when you'll be tired, so he recommends controlling what you can and getting up at the same time every morning. So, if you might not get much sleep the first few nights, but then since you're still getting up in the morning at the same time eventually you get really tired in the evening and end up getting to sleep earlier and getting a solid night's sleep - still rising again at the same time.. this method is supposed to eventually get you into a proper wake/sleep routine.

It makes sense that it would work, but since my work shifts are random days/nights I can't commit to the same wake time.

It's terrible advice, but I watch Netflix or Hulu on my ipad until I fall asleep. I have chronic fatigue stuff from lupus, and have a history of being a night owl due to both my 'way' and the fact that I can't do much in the day time due to lupus. I stopped fighting not sleeping and I stopped calling it 'insomnia' because I can sleep, just not the way the majority of people do. I have the luxury of not having to be anywhere most mornings, though.

As another poster said, I don't force myself anymore. I find not freaking out about not sleeping helps me sleep.

Sorry, but I can't help be reminded of this early rock n' roll song


Unlike the singer a lot of things race through my mind and milkmen have not come around in decades.

Try reading a book, or magazine, while in bed. The more you try to force yourself to stay awake to read the more your body insists on sleeping.

I listen to music.
Sometimes I listen to videos.
There are also youtube videos of fireplaces crackling, with rain falling on the roof that I like quite a lot.

I meditate, lying down in bed.
the intense peace getting over me often lets me drift into sleep, and if it doesn't, at least i get some good physical and mental rest; which is good enough to cover part of the week. (more than 4 nights a week, or 2 in a row gets problematic however)

A shot of whiskey.

I wouldn't recommend it, though.

Yup. I gravitate to this a lot. Works best with melatonin... (I put myself on the slightly bonkers 5mg dose 2 or 3 times a week)

I go in another room, wearing minimal clothes (lower body temp helps w/ sleep), turn the lights off (less light is better before bed), and read some sort of self-help book on my iPad in negative lighting mode (black backdrop with white/lit letters). I avoid eating an hour before bed (ideally 3 hours), will eat almonds and maybe small glass of milk with it right before bed. I then wait till I feel tired to go to bed. Oh, and I try to go to the bathroom very close to bed (just really think about going and hopefully will go). I try to take every measure necessary to avoid resorting to sleeping medication.

Read away, choose a book that isn't overly stimulating, just keep reading with the intent of reading never-endlessly, there's no guarantees when it comes to sleep, so even if my potential to sleep in a given night is over the ideal hour past bedtime, reading will bring that time to sleep as close as possible to that hour mark. Fortunately for us we are skilled at losing ourselves in activities. Fight the urge to stay in bed if you have trouble sleeping (the no man's land of too lazy to get up, but not sleepy enough to fall asleep).

I just decide to sit and write a bit, that seems to help most of the time.

i only got over my insomnia last year, i had it since i was two, what i did was i took sleeping pills regularly in a sleep schedule, took it at 9 or 10pm and then after a bit i took it less and less and eventually was able to condition myself to fall asleep at night time, although it still takes me an hour to fall asleep its a bit difference.

Exercise ( jogging / treadmill / light weight lifting ) until completely exhausted and then take a warm shower until you are completely relaxed. The exercise helps you clear your mind and makes you feel fulfilled and sleepy.