What do you do to help you sleep at night when you have a lot on your mind?

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  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    night-train-express-20171108080132.jpg
  • AwesomeSquirrel
    AwesomeSquirrel Posts: 644 Member
    It depends a little bit on how bad it is. In a regular day I fall asleep fine and sleep well. Sometimes however, especially if I’m worried about something that happened that day or is on the schedule tomorrow it can be a disaster. Here are some ways I’m working on it:

    Pre-bed:
    - not eat candy or crisps after 8pm (I generally go to bed around 10pm). I mainly think the sugar here is the trigger for me, but sometimes salty snacks will impact me as well.
    - Not use my computer or phone in my bedroom. Reading a book is fine, but I’m working on my bedroom being a screen free zone. One way I do this is to never allow myself to plug in a charger there.
    - Use my sunrise alarm clock on the reverse setting to gradually introduce darkness (it also moves through the white -yellow-red spectrum which is supposed to help prepare the body for sleep.

    If hard to fall asleep in general:
    - get back up, open a window and go in the other room to read a chapter in a book. Then repeat the sunrise reversal thing.
    - Play some quiet, soothing music while trying to fall asleep. I like Ludovico Einaudi.
    - I have a lavender pillow spray and roll-on aromatherapy to put on wrists

    If hard to fall asleep because major stress/I’m upset:
    - make a cup of peppermint tea, sip while trying to calm down
    - Say out loud what I’m feeling and why
    - If possible, decide how to take action in the morning and articulate that verbally
    - If action is not possible/already taken care of, articulate that verbally
    - If needed, call a friend. I’m lucky to have friends in a different time zone who will be awake.

    Reflecting on my response to this thread I’m grateful to realise that it has been a long time since I needed to refer to the third section of my reply <3
  • psychod787
    psychod787 Posts: 4,099 Member
    I mean I just move all day, so I get some of the best sleep ever. Wearing one's self out can do wonders for sleep.
  • ChrissyChickie
    ChrissyChickie Posts: 182 Member
    kindalikevelma wrote: »
    xtqbvv9hk3dc.jpeg

    Magnesium has been helpful for me when I feel restless. This is what I take.

    I have also heard people singing the praises of this stuff.
  • Mellouk89
    Mellouk89 Posts: 469 Member
    I had problematic insomnia when I used to work a job I really hated. When I quit that job and I began to sleep better. It's because I was stressed for the next day.
  • jmakleanaddo
    jmakleanaddo Posts: 101 Member
    ChrissyChickie wrote: »
    Not to be indecent, but since nobody mentioned this... sex can really help. https://www.sleepscore.com/can-sex-help-you-sleep-better/#:~:text=Sex and Sleep
    ,to%20fall%20asleep%20more%20easily.

    Haha only if this was an option at this point 😅 but thanks for the suggestion
  • jmakleanaddo
    jmakleanaddo Posts: 101 Member
    mynameisnobody1990 wrote: »
    This on repeat

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvmOoSFhhJ4

    Now this i found incredibly helpful! Thank you!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • PaperDoll_
    PaperDoll_ Posts: 32,857 Member
    dmkoenig wrote: »
    This is one of the crazier things, but I have had a lot of success with an acupressure mat. Basically it's a pad with a lot of little plastic nails, so it's literally like sleeping on a bed of nails. I find it works really well when my mind is racing and I can't relax. Works best on direct skin. The first 30 seconds it is rather uncomfortable as you might expect, and then I start getting a tingly feeling in my hands and extremities. Then the discomfort goes away and I start to fall into a deep relaxation. It's quite interesting but there are literally thousands of positive reviews with similar stories. Happy sleeping! https://www.amazon.com/Spoonk-Relief-Regular-Acupressure-Pagoda/dp/B00BGWQT2Y

    I have one of these, and I love it! Actually think it’s the best thing I’ve ever bought off Amazon.
  • kindalikevelma
    kindalikevelma Posts: 1,337 Member
    ChrissyChickie wrote: »
    kindalikevelma wrote: »
    xtqbvv9hk3dc.jpeg

    Magnesium has been helpful for me when I feel restless. This is what I take.

    I have also heard people singing the praises of this stuff.

    I was pretty skeptical about this stuff, but I swear by it now. I’ve tried a combination of other ingestible sleep remedies, but nothing else really does it for me. Aside from THC which knocks me out and leaves me cloudy, so I refrain.
  • tuckerrj
    tuckerrj Posts: 1,453 Member
    What works for me is clearing my mind of all thoughts. It's not as easy as it sounds. But repeatedly stopping in mid-thought and staring into the blackness of my shut eyes and concentrating on it. But after a few weeks of practice I can finally focus on, , , nothingness.
  • _Figgzie_
    _Figgzie_ Posts: 3,506 Member
    slow down your breathing. try to do a 5-7 second count breathing in and out. the combination of slowing down your breathing and giving your mind something to do will help you knock out
  • midlomel1971
    midlomel1971 Posts: 1,283 Member
    I read every night for about 10-15 minutes. It helps turn my brain off.
  • DeliciousAmbiguity1
    DeliciousAmbiguity1 Posts: 75 Member
    I struggle with sleep too. I do find that some kind of back ground noise helps me to relax if not sleep. With does leave me feeling better rested. I like thunder storm recordings.
  • laura14fit
    laura14fit Posts: 37 Member
    Reading before bed instead of screen time. Listening to rain sounds in a dark, cooled bedroom. Counting my blessings and praying for all the people in my life. DON'T lie in bed tossing and turning. Make the bed a place for peaceful repose. If all rlse fails, just get up and sit with a small light and a book. Go back to bed as soon as you start to tire even a little. Look at the stars or the moon. Cultivate peace inside yourself, daytime or nighttime. Sleep will come.
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