I usually look at my phone. Yes, I know that’s the last thing I should be doing.
Ask HN: When you can't fall asleep, what do you do?
31–40 of 44 posts
Re: Ask HN: When you can't fall asleep, what do you do?
#32I read a book. I have trouble reading books lately because I keep falling asleep, but that makes them perfect cures for insomnia.
But more seriously, reading some fiction (not news!) is a great way to clear the mind and distract your thoughts from all the stuff that's keeping you awake.
Re: Ask HN: When you can't fall asleep, what do you do?
#33Once I reached my 30's, not being able to fall asleep wasn't a problem for me anymore. YMMV.
Re: Ask HN: When you can't fall asleep, what do you do?
#34I listen to podcasts or lectures. If I want to stay awake to hear the whole thing, I almost certainly won't.
Re: Ask HN: When you can't fall asleep, what do you do?
#35When I can't sleep, I do something which I call the '1 2 3 4 5'-exercise. While still in bed, lay on your back and think of something you can 'see' (imagine it), anything as long as it's something that physically exists. For example: your car, a guitar, a chair. Imagine it and try to describe it to yourself in the best possible detail. 'My guitar is surf green, it's a Fender Carbonita, it has 22 frets, it has a maple…
As a kid I had a hard time getting to sleep (small home, could hear everything). I eventually learned to block everything out and sleep using the following routine:
1. Start breathing as slow as possible.
2. Count breathes, starting at 100 and working back.
That usually did the trick.
Re: Ask HN: When you can't fall asleep, what do you do?
#36Take an antihistamine which makes me drowsy, and then I sleep. Sleepiness is often a function or two things:
(a) feeling comfortable
(b) not being too busy minded about things
In my case, sometimes I just don't feel comfortable enough. However, I think even a sugar pill would help some, because in some cases it's just a matter of deciding to stop thinking about things enough to settle down.
Re: Ask HN: When you can't fall asleep, what do you do?
#37Melatonin[1][2] I just have to be careful about taking it too late, if I really need to be up the next morning. I find that when I take melatonin, I really need my full 8 hours (or more) of sleep, or I feel pretty groggy for quite a while after waking up. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin [2]: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/melatonin-overview
This And don't consume any stimulants that will keep you awake in the evening. Flux, and avoid blue light. Works good.
Yeah, the avoiding stimulants is big as well, at least for me. Strangely enough, I feel like that's one thing that's changed as I've gotten older - when I was younger, I could drink coffee right before bedtime and still fall asleep. Now, I find that if I don't cut out the caffeine well in advance of bedtime then it affects my ability to fall asleep.
I'm not very good at the "avoiding blue light" part, I really need to start doing that. But I'm really bad for surfing the 'net or reading some kind document on the computer, right up until time to close my eyes. :-(
Re: Ask HN: When you can't fall asleep, what do you do?
#38As someone who has always had issues sleeping I hope I can be of some help. I take 6mg of melatonin. Every night. I have found it allows me to fall asleep within a half hour instead of it taking two hours. Maintaining good sleep hygiene is often very helpful. Avoid blue light before going to bed. Physical activity and exercise are important. Try not to eat right before going to bed. When I am really stressed out and…
I don't have trouble sleeping, but when you refer to daydreaming, this is exactly what I do. I play out stories in my mind where I'm in a fictional fantasy (not related to my life in anyway). Another thing I experienced was when I cut out sugar and caffeine, I'd be able to fall asleep in almost any place. Again, that may only be my experiences.
^^ when I quit coffee, falling asleep comes easy also.
Re: Ask HN: When you can't fall asleep, what do you do?
#39meditating to sleep has helped me a lot. Personally I find that having trouble sleeping is related to not letting go of certain things that happened during the day or event from before.
Re: Ask HN: When you can't fall asleep, what do you do?
#40When I can't sleep, I do something which I call the '1 2 3 4 5'-exercise. While still in bed, lay on your back and think of something you can 'see' (imagine it), anything as long as it's something that physically exists. For example: your car, a guitar, a chair. Imagine it and try to describe it to yourself in the best possible detail. 'My guitar is surf green, it's a Fender Carbonita, it has 22 frets, it has a maple…
As a kid I had a hard time getting to sleep (small home, could hear everything). I eventually learned to block everything out and sleep using the following routine: 1. Start breathing as slow as possible. 2. Count breathes, starting at 100 and working back. That usually did the trick.
What happens when you hit zero? Do you go to negative numbers? =)