depends on energy level.
tired, low energy, can’t sleep - listen to music, watch TV
not tired, high energy - exercise, go for a walk, play video games
Not sleep
I used to have really bad insomnia, but through lower caffeine, extra exercise, and a consistent sleep schedule I’ve mostly beaten it.
But today I’m sick, which almost always means being up the entire night. Not a great combo.
When all of my usual tricks fail I usually just embrace it. Get up, watch TV, play a game, or read. No reason to be bored AND miserable.
Curious how other people handle it.
im pretty tolerant to caffiene, so it doesnt keep me awake most of the time.
I think the science says it’s important to associate the bedroom with sleep. That means that if you can’t sleep while in bed, it’s better to get up and see if you can do some stuff to make you more tired. I would advise against anything with a screen though.
Extreme example from my therapist: get up and do something you hate. Clean the grout in your bathroom with a toothbrush. After 15 minutes, go back to bed.
I actually love that idea. It will help associate _and _ you’re doing something productive? Talk about win-win
Read a book
I just don’t. 🥲
But just like you, after trying out different positions and spending 10-15 mins trying unsuccessfully to fall asleep, I just start living. What choice do I have? I even go to the gym mostly to help with my digestive issues and insomnia but even then, more often than not, the latter remains a problem. I know eventually I will crash and get some sleep whether my brain wants it or not so 🤷♂️. Not ideal but hey, at least I’m really squeezing the juice out of life!
ASMR. If I’m really desperate, alcohol and/or weed, but you’re sick so maybe just ASMR and NyQuil. Feel better soon!
Zopiclone, Fedi, porn, YouTube, The Elder Scrolls soundtrack, sext with a previous fling, gym, write heartfelt messages to family members, poke myself with pocket knife without causing lacerations, spy on my pothead neighbors, writhe.
Its funny how pretending to sleep can so often turn into sleep. Fake it till you make it.
If I’m stuck worrying about something or reliving an event, I need to get my mind out of the fear or problem solving mode. I use the alphabet game where you pick a category then give an answer for each letter. Desserts, plants, countries, anything like that. If you can’t get one, skip it and come back. If it doesn’t work, a horny version tends to help one-track my kind.
… 😏 ✋🏿
Heard this trick on the radio a few months ago and it seems to work for me.
Think of a word, I usually do something short like “cat” or “dog”. Let’s use “dog” for this example.
Take the first letter and list every single word you can think of that starts with the same letter. So, for “dog”, think of all words that start with the letter “d”
Once you run out of “d” words or are taking more than a few seconds between each one, go to the next letter and do the same thing. So, all words that start with “o”. Continue until you’re asleep or have to pick a new word.
So basically boring yourself to sleep. lol
Yes… But also working on your vocabulary!
… So double yes
Slow paced docs, reading a book, listening to sounds of rain, low/no caffeine hot tea, weed
Watching your cat clean themselves is also right up there.
Get up, wash my face, then read. Have to get your mind off sleep.
If it’s just one night, I meditate to try to clear my mind and keep it from racing and keeping me awake, and if that doesn’t help I take diphenhydramine. If it happens over many nights, I quit drinking alcohol and caffeine, and maybe take nyquil to get me through any discomfort from quitting those.
