How do you go to sleep at night?

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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...

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

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.

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:

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.

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.

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:

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