How to fall asleep easier?

Oh how I wish I knew.

Last night I actually went full nocturnal and slept 9am to 6pm. When I'm on a long holiday I always sleep later, but that, just... wow. I'm starting to feel it's my bed/positioning and the fact that I haven't found the off switch for my mind. I've got a small, old mattress which can't help so whenever I'm on someone else's bed in a different room I can usually get decent sleep. Maybe it's worth checking out your sleeping equipment and how comfy it is?

I've tried white noise, fans, hot baths, less electronics, warm milk. Can't say any of them have worked for me, I don't know if you've tried them but if you haven't it's worth a shot I'd say. You've probably got a job, so in that case this wouldn't be a good idea on weekdays, but maybe try stripping your room of everything time and work related, and opening your curtains a bit?

I doubt any of this'll help since you've probably already tried it, but it's worth a shot. Nightowls ftw!

 

If you can, try taking a melatonin pill every night about a hour before you go to bed. It takes a couple days to really kick in, and for you to get a really healthy routine starting, but even just the first night taking it should help you get to sleep WAY better. The only thing is, when it starts kicking in it KICKS IN. AS IN KICKS IN YOUR SKULL UNTIL YOU GO THE F*CK TO BED. So make sure you have homework done, 'kay?

It's a natural sleep supplement that many people nowadays lack, and it kicks your brain into the right rhythm so you can get to sleep.
Most people sleep indoors lol so the cycle of night and day doesn't affect us like it would naturally, and melatonin helps to get our bodies settled back into that cycle.

 

Here's a few things that have helped me in the past.

Have a cold shower right before bed, stand right under it for as long as you can - I know, it sounds like it would result in the opposite of the desired affect, but it makes you feel clean and fresh, clears your mind and can often bring on sleep more quickly. Especially during the hotter months.

Experiment with different kinds of pillows. Not just for under your head. Try cuddling them or putting them over your eyes/ears etc...

Learn to meditate / clear your mind.
If you've been on the internet or watching TV or doing homework within a couple of hours prior to trying to sleep, your mind will still be a bit busy. If you can learn to switch it off - sleep will come a lot more easily.

Do some intense exercise / cardio.
Probably make sure you've finished the exercise about 3 or 4 hours before you're due to go to sleep.
The more you push yourself and the more you tire your body out, the more it will love the rest and relaxation. Might also help with the flipping and flopping.

Read a boring book before you go to sleep.
If you have an e-reader or a tablet, try downloading some of those free / out of copyright books. The stories are good, but they don't absorb you as much as some more recent ones.
Either that, or read a book that you've already read before.
Just the act of 'trying' to keep your eyes open to read, often makes them want to close more.
Self-help books seem to work as well. They're usually pretty easy to put down mid-chapter. Maybe kill two birds with one stone and read a self-help book about lucid-dreaming.

Peace! (*hug*)

 

I was using this for something else but I found it put me to sleep so you could give it a try. Very relaxing.

Autogenic Training a guided relaxation - YouTube

 

Yeah I would also suggest Meltonin. When I take it I can't stay up even if I want to. :sleep:

 

Are you working or doing much in the day?

When i was unemployed and spending all my days just at home watching tv shows and on the computer, i had loads of trouble trying to sleep.

Now that i have a 9-5:30 job, i'm tired at 10:30pm and fall asleep within about 5 mins of hitting the pillow all through the night until 5mins before my alarm

 

It is important to have an evening ritual, getting rid of stimulations like computers and cellphone is important (for about an hour before bedtime).

Greely's point above is worth noting, doing your hard work during the day will make you tired. Is that your situation or do you bring work home with you?

It is also OK to wake up in the middle of the night. Happens to me often, I just get up, read or whatever and go back to bed when I inevitably feel sleepy. This doesn't seem to affect my day at all...

 

I stay up until I start feeling tired and drowsy. Then I fall asleep pretty fast. I can't sleep if I go to bed when I'm not sleepy yet. It takes a long time then. I suppose it's a problem when you need to get up early and still want to get a good night sleep. But if you go to bed at the same time every day, your body should adjust to it. Maybe it's stress. I'm not a doctor though.

 

Ditto. When I started working, I felt really tired when I got home, especially if I was working 12-hour shifts. I remember working a 12-hour shift from 1pm to 1am, and I was completely beat when I got home. Slept for 11 hours. :lol:

 

Teddys or something to cuddle helps me :3

 

I also get embarrassed. :rolle: Why should we be ashamed? Teddys are for all ages! :icon_bigg

---------- Post added 9th Jul 2014 at 10:09 AM ----------

Well that does sound bad. Luckily there's other people in my house so I don't worry about it. Lots of people take Melotonin though, especially people who take physiatrics meds in the morning it seems.

 

That actually happened to me today.I went to a movie last night and got home around 12:30 and I was so tired but i woke up two hours later.I been up since then and can't sleep. But usually when this happens I lay down and day dream then eventually fall asleep XD

 

I have done the melatonin in the past, not a major problem, but can be addictive. Just like anything you put in your bod that your body produces naturally, your body can stop producing it.

I would suggest 2 things. Go buy a new pillow, and try reading at bed time.

A new pillow I think is crucial. I couldnt imagine sleeping without one and you find yours to be uncomfortable. I think that is important to remedy lol.

 

I have done the melatonin in the past, not a major problem, but can be addictive. Just like anything you put in your bod that your body produces naturally, your body can stop producing it.

I would suggest 2 things. Go buy a new pillow, and try reading at bed time.

A new pillow I think is crucial. I couldnt imagine sleeping without one and you find yours to be uncomfortable. I think that is important to remedy lol.