What Do You Do When You Can't Sleep

Moi

[colorcountry]

It's 4:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time, and I can't sleep. When I find myself awake and alert in the middle of the night, I do the following:

Toss

Turn

Go to the bathroom

Get a drink of water

Stretch

Toss

Turn

Get up

Log on to FreeRepublic

Read the "Latest News" (not much going on at 4:00 a.m.)

Post Stupid Vanities

So Freepers, please give me some suggestions on what to do! What do you do when you're wide awake in the middle of the night?

[colorcountry]

That sounds like a good idea, make a list. In my case, I can't sleep because of what occurred during the previous day. It would probably still help to write it down, summarize it, address each issue, etc.

[irishtenor]

There are times when I need more sleep, so I turn on the radio just enough to hear it without straining (Talk shows, of course) and I am soon snoozing.

[colorcountry]

I have a hard time spelling even on my best of days. When I'm without sellp, you better watch out! I had already posted "know" instead of "now," on this thread. I was just too late to correct it.

[irishtenor]

Spell-check is MY best friend:>)

[angkor]

As I get older I'm finding that one continuous 8-hour sleep doesn't happen anymore. Not often, anyway. But the key is, I've stopped worrying about it, just accept it as ...whatever. But my tolerance for laying in bed and and tossing and turning is about zero.

So when I can't sleep or wake up for whatever reason at 2:00 or 3:00AM, I get up and read blogs until I'm sleepy again. There are millions of them out there, and I've found some really nifty ones that are worth bookmarking and coming back to later.

There's no way I could or would want to be "productive" during my nocturnal wakeups. Reading blogs is a low-stress, inconsequential way of passing the time until I'm sleepy again.

[carlr]

If you have any kind of light in the bedroom(clock,power is on light from a VCR,DVD,computer)try to stare at it and concentrate on keeping your eyes open.
This will take your mind off whatever it is in high gear over.

[dakine]

Get a life, or two...

[angkor]

In my case, I can't sleep because of what occurred during the previous day.

In that case, might I suggest that you get a good journal (check http://www.moleskineus.com/), a nice pen, and start writing whenever you happen to feel like it, including your nighttime wakeups.

Many people including myself find this to be an effective way of putting things into perspective. There's a certain inexplicable good thing about keeping a journal, and no formula to it.

[colorcountry]

I never got into reading blogs. I'm a little slow on the computer. It took me four years of lurking before I signed up on FR as a member.

Maybe if you suggested some good blogs to read, I'd give it a try.

I had 5 young children for 17 continuous years who woke me up at least once a night. I remember wishing for just one quiet night of peaceful sleep. Now the house is quiet and I can't sleep.

[angkor]

Just go here and start poking around:

http://www.technorati.com

Try Blogfinder at the top menu, which will get you into blog categories where you can explore. Follow whatever links seem interesting.

You don't have to sign up for anything.

There is some really interesting stuff out there (of course depending on what your interests are). Something for everyone.

[angkor]

Now the house is quiet and I can't sleep.

Personally, I'm almost to the point of embracing "wakeups" as a mere aspect of getting older. Making the decision to stop worrying about it - actually to almost enjoying it - has been very helpful.

[Ulysses]

In the words of Bing Crosby...

Not this year! This year, the best version of that great song is on this cd...

[Robert A Cook PE]

Toss

Turn

Go to the bathroom

Get a drink of water

Stretch (Lay down on couch, Read something non-political)

Toss

Turn (Lay down on couch, Read something non-political)

Get up

Log on to FreeRepublic

Read the "Latest News" and "Word of the Day" (not much going on at 4:00 a.m.)

(Lay down on couch, Read something non-political)

[wolfcreek]

There are really tons of things to do besides alternating between porn sites and this post, dude.

How did you find out?

The best way I've found to get some sleep is to clear your mind of all the crap running around in there. Meditation, breathing techniques, even astral projection are just a few of the ways you can get some much needed rest. Staying up all night posting will only make matters worse.

[jocon307]

"I think it would be a fine time to vacuum"

LOL, I hear you. I too would like to do such things at three AM, but I really don't think it would go over big with neighbors and family.

FR is a God send for the sleepless, that is for sure.

[alwaysconservative]

Have paper and pen handy and write down all the busy thoughts in your mind. I journal before going to sleep (mostly, and when I forget, if I wake up during the night, I do my journal entries then), and usually that works for me.

Reading non-fiction.

Make sure your hands and feet are warm. For some strange reason, if your hands and feet are warm, you'll sleep more easily; at least that is what I've found.

My mom's remedy: think about how badly you won't want to get up in the morning, how good your pillow feels, and pretty soon you're snoozing away.

Good luck!

[jocon307]

Who is Diana Krall? I've seen the CD advertised but I have never heard of this lady. We often get hubby a Christmas CD, he likes all kinds of music, can you tell me a little more about her? If you think she beats der Bingle, she must be something special.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Listen to the stupid Coast-to-Coast am. I usually enjoy it. They're nuts.

[colorcountry]

Warm hands and warm feet. My grandmother used to put me to bed with a hot water bottle, and in the high mountains of Utah, it was a very good thing to have. Thinking about those times makes me feel sleepy.

My mother told me to start at my feet and relax...letting go of all the "wigglys," then move to your calf, then on to your knees, then thighs, eventually going all the way to the top of your head. I can't remember ever making it past my shoulders.

[Spiff]

Why waste time? Use it to do the work that you won't have time to do tomorrow 'cause you'll be too sleepy. All your work must be done on site, you say?

A notebook computer is a blessing. I keep a notebook computer beside the bed. If I can't sleep, I just pick it up and log in. I've always got work to do, so I can take care of some of that for the hour or so that I can't sleep. Or I log on to Free Republic and catch up on what is going on in the world.