How do you make yourself fall back to sleep?

[Mayne]

Many nights I will wake up to piss and have a helluva time falling asleep.

One thing I do is sing the Gilligan's Island song to myself in my head...if that doesn't work I will pretend i'm going on a time travel adventure and ask myself what items I would put in a back pack.

 

[ctbaars]

Most people do wake up. It's normal. But I'm sorry, I do not have a solution for you. I "just" fall asleep again. Late night sugar and caffeine will affect normal sleep patterns.

 

[Mayne]

Most people do wake up. It's normal. But I'm sorry, I do not have a solution for you. I "just" fall asleep again. Late night sugar and caffeine will affect normal sleep patterns.

I am probably doing it wrong. I grab a bag of milk and drink a half of litre of it..smoke half a cigarette...then proceed to sing the damn song in my head with my eyes closed.

 

[zinfamous]

I "grab a bag of milk" is just one of those phrases that, even though I don't really understand it, endears those Canadians to me.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

If I wake up anytime before about 4am to go to the bathroom I usually have no problem falling back to sleep. I just get back in bed and next thing I know it's time to get up. After 4am, forget it. I won't be able to fall asleep. I'm usually up between 5-6am

 

[KMFJD]

i play music in the background like this and it's helped me

 

[balloonshark]

For me it helps to move slowly, let as little light in my eyes as possible and avoid looking at the clock. I have a major problem with racing thoughts so if that starts I'm screwed.

 

[Mai72]

I use an app that plays white noise, rain falling on the roof, etc. The one thing that I've done is I'll shut down my laptop an hour before sleep. So, no stimulation. I'll also put my phone upside down so I'm not looking at the blinking light. I use the phone to play the white noise, and as an alarm.

 

[FeuerFrei]

Can't get to sleep in the first place.
It DOES help to not know the current time. No need to pressure yourself as you see the night slipping away.

 

[snoopy7548]

Lately I've been waking up around 5a.m. to pee and I always fall back asleep until ~6a.m. when my alarm clock goes off. I just get into bed, think about how warm and cozy it is, and before I know it I'm out.

Maybe your new plants will help a bit...

 

[homebrew2ny]

Get help rubbing one out...

 

[skull]

For me it helps to move slowly, let as little light in my eyes as possible and avoid looking at the clock. I have a major problem with racing thoughts so if that starts I'm screwed.

I have the racing thoughts problem too, I make up stories in my head kind of like playing out a tv show or something. That keeps my mind from going you need to do that in the morning but first you should do that and oh what about and you should do that this way.... Do the same thing to fall asleep in the first place. I also have black out curtains and don't look at the clock.

In maynes case its the drinking, alcohol is a stimulant when it wears off. When I was drinking I couldn't help but get up at 3 - 4 am and not fall back asleep.

 

[GibbyPruchesi]

I've been trying out this method and it seems to be quite cool though it does take some practice and well you have remember to actually do it. I also do some exercise after work and it also helps because I feel really tired in the evening and have no issue falling asleep, occasionally my mind races about some silly stuff but it's pretty rare these days.

 

[eng2d2]

Counting sheep works. I am serous.

 

[DietDrThunder]

What I have to do, and it does work for me, is close my eyes and try clear my head of any thought of the day before or what will be going on tomorrow. Then I concentrate on my breathing, taking slow medium breaths (inhale 1, 2, 3, exhale 1, 2, 3). I picture in my mind the color black, and try and not let my mind drift into problems. I also have a fan running for white noise and keep the room temperature at around 64F. When I do have to get up and piss during the night, I do not turn on any lights. I also have one of those red LED lights that isn't bright that shines inside the toilet bowl when you lift the lid. It gets me into the ballpark of where I need to aim.

 

[eng2d2]

So I got up at 4 today and saw your post at 520. I posted then started counting sheep and went back to sleep.

 

[dainthomas]

I've never understood how people have trouble sleeping. Maybe it's my time in the military, but I can sleep anywhere any time. And if I don't have to get up for some reason I can be out 9-10 hours no problem.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I always have a hard time initially falling asleep when I go to bed at night since I'm not tired. But when I wake up in middle of night to pee I'm usually super tired so I fall back asleep easily. In fact sometimes I fall back asleep and wake back up several times before I finally actually get up to pee. I'll usually dream about going to the bathroom in between each sleep session.

 

[snoopy7548]

I can usually sleep anywhere. I always sleep on flights, whether it's a two hour or five hour flight. Just put in my earphones, maybe put some soft music on, and lean up against the window.

Going to sleep at night is easy if you have a routine. I'm always in bed by 10p.m. and I read for 30-45 minutes. By the time I'm done reading I'm nodding off, and I probably fall asleep within ten minutes of turning the lights off.

It might also help if you don't have a TV or computer in your bedroom. For me, my bedroom is only used for sleep and reading in bed. No TV and no computer, just books.

 

[Muse]

Dreamland: Adventures in the Strange Science of Sleep by David K. Randall

Stanford U. launched a program to study sleep, it's discussed in this book that starts off alarmingly explaining the author's issue with sleep walking. The book investigates sleep in various aspects. Fact is, most people are ignorant of much important info concerning sleep. What stuck in my mind (I own the book) is the fact that people of IIRC all cultures do not sleep soundly all night. We go through cycles. That's well known, but what isn't so well known is that people typically (if not always) wake up for a time during the night. What people do in that maybe 1/2 hour period (can be much longer, obviously) varies considerably.

 

[Muse]

It might also help if you don't have a TV or computer in your bedroom. For me, my bedroom is only used for sleep and reading in bed. No TV and no computer, just books.

My bedroom has everything. Computer, books, music, had an analog TV but had stopped using it long ago, recently added a flat screen Roku TV and am about to unbox a 4K disc player!

I have no trouble going to sleep most nights. For around 6 months I've had issues a lot of times waking up at night because of left shoulder pain for which I can't find a suitable sleep position. Usually getting up for a while makes it go away. I'm working with a physical therapist who thinks I can resolve it over time.

 

[Mayne]

it's definitely the beers fucking up my sleep. why do i love beer so damn much?

 

[DietDrThunder]

Your not taking CBD on top of what you smoke are you? A study found that in the highest dose, the THC and CBD combination promoted wakefulness rather than sedation.

 

[nakedfrog]

Well, the half-cigarette probably isn't helping much either. You've got enough vices, probably ought to ditch the tobacco since it's got the least payout.

 

[Rifter]

I keep a 2 1/2 lb mini sledge hammer beside the bed, if i cant fall asleep i just grab it and hit myself in the head, works every time.