How do you go to sleep at night?

ChaCha9904

I can say one of the worst habits I have ever picked up is going to sleep at one in the morning night after night. Whether I have to get up at 7 or able to sleep in, that is my regular bed time. This is obviously causing havoc on my body and I'm aware of it but even if I tell myself all day that I need to be in bed by eleven, it never happens. I have a hard time shutting myself down and since my kid goes to be at 8, it's the only "me" time that I have so I take advantage of it.

Anyway, I know going to sleep early would balance out a lot of things in my life. So what are your night practices that get you to bed at a reasonable hour?

sammiliegh

I'd love to responses to this too!

I also do the same, once my son is in bed, it's "me time"..and that is the only me time I get! So, I use it haha

cominupmilhouse

Some nights, the only reason I get any sleep at all is Melatonin. I HATE having to depend on a tablet for something that should come naturally like sleep but I've struggled with insomnia since my early teens and it is truly miserable!

MizSaz

I make an effort to 'unplug' before I go to bed. No tv, no computer, no phone, I just lay in my bed with some low light and a book. It definitely takes a little getting used to but if you force yourself to do it for a week, it'll get easier.

And if all else fails, Tylenol PM.

llw1013

I just bought a bottle of melatonin too. It seems that the older I get, the less sleep I can get. I have sometimes tried half a benadryl and sometimes 1 Tylenol PM, but neither is very effective and I'm dragging myself out of bed in the mornings....
I'm going to try the melatonin tonight.

skinnyinnotime

I am the same, don't like going to bed as feel I'm wasting my life sleeping and why should I go to bed early at this age? Lol!! Of course the next morning I am like a zombie who needs lots of tea to function.

So I have been of no help at all.

ChristyU74

I make an effort to 'unplug' before I go to bed. No tv, no computer, no phone, I just lay in my bed with some low light and a book. It definitely takes a little getting used to but if you force yourself to do it for a week, it'll get easier.

And if all else fails, Tylenol PM.

^^This! I have to get up at 5:30 every day for work, and so I really can't stay up too late, or I'm a zombie. I love being a night owl, but just have to force myself to relax. A glass of red wine, a good book, and I'm usually off to sleep.

Jani2416

I go to bed after midnight and up at 5-5:30 every day.....I usually wake up 1-2 times per night. I have awful sleep habits.

AliciaBeth78

Sadly, I take some Tylenol PM an hour or two before bed - it's the only thing that works for me

2012asv

wow this topic is right on par with how i feel today. I have heard about melatonin. Going to try it out!

capriciousmoon

I don't know why it matters when you go to sleep, the important thing is getting enough sleep. I only force myself to sleep at a certain time if I have to wake up early, usually sitting in bed and reading helps. If I can sleep in I just go to bed when I'm tired.

exacerbe

I'm not sure about everyone else, but I like to lay down and close my eyes.

mem50

I have what I call my wind down time. I get home from work at 10:45 pm as a rule. I have a little dinner, shower, and crawl into bed with a book. DH understands and leaves me alone during this period of time. If this fails I just find a comfortable position and meditate. Next thing I know its morning.

skinnygirl078

Lots and lots of Trazodone!
Chronic insomniac, definitely medicated.

Coco_UK

I listen to podcasts on my iphone. Some great inspirational stuff that I don't get around listening to during the day :-)

GeorgieLove708

I was the same. Actually worse. For years I have not gone to bed before 3 or 4 am and been up no later than 7:30-8 (it's when the kids get up). I've tried forcing myself to go to bed earlier and it just doesn't work. So, I had my husband start waking me up when he got home from work (he works 4:30 pm-5am). After two days of waking up at 5:30 am I started easily going to sleep somewhere between 9 and 11 and waking up on my own between 5 and 6 and I feel great!

dfborders

I go to bed with my husband around 9:30 (he gets up around 2:50 a.m.) and if I can't fall asleep after a half hour or hour I get up. Many nights I get back up - but what are you gonna do - I have dealt with sleep issues for what seems like forever...

erintheinspiration

I used to take Tylenol PM before bed and it really did knock me out and I slept great... however, when I woke up I felt like I was in a haze for most of the morning. I have taken Melatonin before, but it seems to take a little longer for it to kick in. It works though.

darrensurrey

I just go to bed at 11am if I have to be up early. Gentle music; visualise landscapes... eventually, will nod off!

nlwilliamson

Melatonin gave me very vivid and very bizarre dreams, I hear some other people have the same problem, so I guess just be aware of it if you haven't tried it yet It will make you sleep though

lanie37

Get some Lavender for your room, Go to bed at a reasonable hour and read a little. I dont have a TV or take my laptop into my bedroom as I know I wouldnt switch off. A warm bath should also help you to switch off. Try and avoid meds, as your body could start to depend on them better to train yourself to do it naturally. Lavender is great to have in the bedroom its a natural relaxant.

belt983

I took the TV out of the bedroom, it just makes it harder for me to sleep. I bought one of those white noise machines and that helps a lot. I also read for about 15 minutes before I go to sleep and that helps me unwind and forget about the day.

And this is from a shift worker that has to sleep odd schedules and it works for me.

manderson27

I am a night owl, up until 1 or 2am usually. Never have any trouble falling asleep. Just lie down and off I go.

I am like a doll, tip me back and my eyes will close :laugh:

moran1917

I have bedtime rituals of sorts. On night's that I know I am wound tight and going to have sleeping issues but have to get up anyways I start with a bubble bath that smells like lavendar. I just soak in it, even a cool bath in the summer. I like to deep breath in the tub to try and relax.

Then I put on fresh pjs. I like to relax watching tv. But nothing important. Just like a one hour drama. I let myself watch one or two shows. Then I go down and get in bed.

Next I cue up a progressive muscle relaxation on my ipod and do the exercises. Usually this is enough to get me sleeping.

If that does not work I will take gravol (dramamine in USA), benedryl allegery medicine will also make me sleepy.

love2nicks

Just a word of caution about melatonin. It is not meant to be taken long term. Your body will stop producing it by itself and you will become dependant on it. Just a caution. Benadryl has been aproved as a sleep aid. We often give it to patients in the hospital to help them sleep. It is the "pm" ingredient in Tylenol PM and way cheaper to buy it just as a generic benadryl and no extra meds to go along with it. That is of course you are like me. Sudafed knocks me out, benadryl and nyquil make me wired.

It sounds more than anything you need to create a better habbit of going to bed. I like to lay down and watch TV. no technology for me after 9:30 and I"m asleep by 11. My kids are a little older so the Me time aspect isn't as bad, but It wasn't that long ago, so I do remember that need. You will get the "me" time soon enough but the sleep you will get will benefit your body and mood more than the "quiet" time.

Blaineyyy

I go to sleep when I'm literally about to crash on the desk/where-ever I am. And unfortunately that can range from anywhere from 1am-7am, but either way I'll ALWAYS wake up and stay up at 10am. It's such a pain. -.-

SuperCindy185

I never have allowed a TV in the room #1, I listen to soft - instrumental music - no words as that gets the mind going.
Other ideas is a HOT Bath or Shower to help you relax, do some calming breathing exercises before you go to sleep.

When I fall of sleep I think of a place that is really cool that and fun to be in and relax, whether that is walking through a field of lollipops and trying the different flavors, or swinging in a hamoc - laying out on a deck of a yaht, floating on a cloud - the futher from real life the better as that will help to remove the thought of the day and relax you.

When all else fails - I just get up for an hour or so and do something that I really don't want to do, like dishes, going through a closet and eliminating cloths, going through stacks of papers and tossing or filing etc. That usually makes me tired and if that doesn't work I take a 1/2 of Advil PM since sometimes it is the tense muscles that don't want to relax.

Good luck and here is to dreamy sleep!
P.S. The quickest way to good health and less stress is sleep - not to mention it really helps in weight loss too.

montana_girl

I learned this from a natuopath and it works great for me (when I stick to it!).

No screens (tv, computer, laptop, phones) 30 minutes prior to bed.
Take 5 to 10 mg of Melatonin 20 to 30 minutes before bed
Take a hot bath/shower or meditate before bed
Read for 15 to 20 minutes

Turn out the light. If you don't fall asleep within 10 to 15 minutes, then get up and read, meditate or doing something (no screens though) for 15 to 30 minutes and try again.

Hope you find something that works for you! :flowerforyou:

BosLady1

Oh man.. bed time for my son is def "me" time. I call it mommy time... and look forward to it.. not matter how much I love my son! He is my world and I am a stay at home mommy. My bedtime is also 1am, no matter what. To make that even more interesting.. my body has decided to have insomnia frequently as well as exhaustion. I am a mess most days.. and cannot fix these problems. I feel that I need mommy time to keep me relaxed and normal, yet I need and want more sleep. If I go to bed before 1am I am awake until 1 or later trying to sleep, then I get consumed with thoughts like.. if I go to sleep now, I will get X amt of hours before he wakes up. If I REALLLLY can't sleep I will take melatonin, tylenol or advil pm. I find that with my exhaustion though, I can't wake up the next day :grumble: (as in I'm awake.. but just can't get moving) so I try not to take those things. I got the exhaustion after a 4 month long bout of bronchitis.. ugh.. the dr just keeps telling me "drink more water" ok sure.. I will drink more but I already do at least 8-10 or more glasses a day, and no other fluids. This is my daily routine, and cannot change it... so I'm just working on dealing with it. Good luck everyone :flowerforyou:

luvp1nk

I am so tired by 10 PM that I usually don't have a problem falling asleep. Chasing after the kid, working, and working out tires me out pretty well. On the nights when my mind is racing, I use the Tylenol PM or Melatonin. Melatonin gives me weird(er) dreams, the Tylenol PM makes me groggy in the morning. I would try going to sleep 5 minutes earlier every day until you are getting to bed earlier.

AJ_Pete

One potato, two potato, three potato..... take melatonin at 8-9pm.