What do you do when you can't sleep?

[dexterdoglancashire]

Yep, you've guessed it - for once, I cant sleep (first time in years!). Ive had such a carp day, bad hair do included, that I can't sleep, have got up and am now playing on here, watching River Cottage (first series) to try to make me happy, not sure about the sleep thing tho.
Who's idea was it to have an extra hour's sleep, when I cant?
What do you do to make yourself sleepy?

[Newbie]

I always read when i can't sleep, until my eyelids are too heavy to continue. Failing that, get up & do something in anoher room for a while then go back & have another try.

[OllieMartin]

My step-dad taught me something he learned when he went to his wife's prenatal classes, which I use when i can't sleep and it seems to get me off pretty well.

Get into a comfortable position in which you usually sleep (fetal for me)
Tense your toes for 8 seconds, then release
Tense your calves for 8 seconds, then release
Tense your hamstrings for 8 seconds, then release,
continue with buttocks, stomach, back, shoulders, arms, hands neck and head.

Then think of a story or scene, don't problem solve or think about a particular subject. The ussual one I use is that you're in a corn field, you see a well in the middle of it and walk up to it gradually, you look inside.... and then just let your mind wander, let it create whatever story it wants.

That normally works for me. If not, hot wiskey, with honey and lemon!

[dexterdoglancashire]

My step-dad taught me something he learned when he went to his wife's prenatal classes, which I use when i can't sleep and it seems to get me off pretty well.

Get into a comfortable position in which you usually sleep (fetal for me)
Tense your toes for 8 seconds, then release
Tense your calves for 8 seconds, then release
Tense your hamstrings for 8 seconds, then release,
continue with buttocks, stomach, back, shoulders, arms, hands neck and head.

Then think of a story or scene, don't problem solve or think about a particular subject. The ussual one I use is that you're in a corn field, you see a well in the middle of it and walk up to it gradually, you look inside.... and then just let your mind wander, let it create whatever story it wants.

That normally works for me. If not, hot wiskey, with honey and lemon!

Thanks for that. Im still watching River Cottage, wide awake......I'll try it when I go back to bed, then no doubt I'll be grateful for that extra hour! (no pleasing me today I guess)
PS Like your last idea, don't have any whiskey in the house, unfortunately

[rustylady]

Curl up on the settee, put the telly on to watch something I really want to see - never fails!! Usually wake up around 1 am, cold with a stiff neck.

[zazen999]

I get into a really uncomfortable position and stay there for as long as you can; then move into your normal comfy sleeping position.

Or - try the Yoga tensing that Ollie mentioned

Or - get up and do some head exercises; stand up and move the head slowly turning round to the right and then the left 3 times - as slow as you possibly can. Then curl your head over again so that your ear touches your shoulder - to the right then left, as slow as you can. Then move your head as if you are looking up to the sky and then look down to your toes, as slow as you can; then standing up straight with arms by your sides, bend forward slowly and bring your hands down to your toes and come back up again, as slowly as you can. Even typing that made me yawn.

Sometimes though - you have lots on your mind and it is usually that that stops sleep - so I tell myself over and over 'there's nothing that can be done tonight' - like a Wizard of Oz Mantra......that often works.

[SarzWix]

I find that 'pretending' to be asleep makes me fall asleep, you know, like you did when you were young and you'd only just switched off th lamp and hid your book under the covers before your mum/dad walked in. So, laid in going to sleep position, eyes shut, trying to do slow 'sleep breathing'. Eventually, if I 'pretend' long enough, I do fall asleep. I think it's because all concentration goes on keeping the breathing right.

[Flummery]

Bit of T'ai Chi breathing does it for me. That and a good book. I hate it when I know I'm going to have to go to sleep and I'm just coming to a good bit!

[maytreefrannie]

I'm a crossword fan and sometimes make up cryptic clues - like think of a word at random and compose a clue to fit. Initially it brightens you, but after a couple of words I find I drift off to sleep.

[Brengirl]

I sometimes have a few sleepless nights. Usually when I have something on my mind. When I have tried all the above I give up trying. I decide to get up and do some of the jobs I have been putting off for ages. I just wonder why the next thing I know it's really getting up time.

[weekendwellies]

I am a big Kakuro fan, and always do one or two, depending how hard they are, before switching the light off. Fall asleep within moments of my head touching the pillow.

[OllieMartin]

I suffer from RLS sometimes, if I can't sleep because of that, there's nothing I can do. I just get up and come and read the Vine or watch some TV. I requested a prescription of sleeping pills off my doctor 4 weeks ago. I ring up every week and get the same response "He's said there's no problem with issuing them, he's just not sure on the dose" and I have to keep waiting!

[SlugLobber]

I normally just bug the cat. Poor thing almost rolls his eyes when I start tickling his belly in the night. If I can get him into a purring ecstacy, then I'm normally relaxed enough to have another go - especially if his throat is near my cheek, as the vibrations are very soothing!

Otherwise, I take the opportunity to plan what I would do with Daniel Craig if ...hmmm, we'll stop there. Family forum, after all!!

[snuffer]

Pain frequently wakes me during the night. My best friend is Radio 7. Plug the headphones in put them on and just try to relax. Not so good in the early hours because for some strange reason Radio 7 broadcasts Ceebeebies from about 5.00am. In that case it's Radio 4.

[Polly Fouracre]

I believe we have had this question/dilemma before. My contribution was to imagine you have a two acre field to plant as a market garden. (you can disregard ploughing, weeding, pests etc.!
Now, going through the alphabet, plant up your field. I'll guarantee you're asleep before you've sown your peas!!