As an adult, I can think of only a few times when I’ve had insomnia. Two incidents of chronic insomnia occurred during huge life changes. Both cases lasted about a month; one was the result of a major relationship change, the other, a real estate transaction. In the first case, time started to heal me, and in the second, completion of the deal healed me. Otherwise, I’m generally a good sleeper. There are occasions, though, when I simply can’t fall asleep, and here are my Ten Ways to Beat Insomnia.
1. Count sheep. Really. I picture a meadow with a fence, and I have one fluffy sheep (oh, the wool!) jump over a fence. Then another. I think it bores me to sleep!
2. Read something dull. This is not the time for a book like The Hunger Games! Find a book that plods along. For me, most non-fiction fits the bill.
3. Drink warm milk. Some say it is purely psychological, but if you don’t mind the taste (I like it), then take the comfort. Just don’t make it a big glass!
4. Write. During my first bout with chronic insomnia, I did a lot of journal writing. I wrote until I felt spent, and sometimes that would enable me to drift off for an hour or so.
5. Clean. If you live with someone, don’t pull out the vacuum! Don’t wake up others, please! I find that sorting a drawer or a bookshelf is just dull enough to make me drowsy.
6. Get out of bed. There’s nothing worse than staring at the clock, knowing you have to get up in only a few hours, and you’ve had NO SLEEP! Well, there are worse things, but it stinks! Sometimes it helps me to move to the living room or the cozy chair in my studio with a blanket and pillow. No clock to mock me.
7. Make love. This doesn’t really work when a person has chronic insomnia due to a break up (I do not condone casual sex with strangers merely for sleeping purposes!), but if you’re in a relationship that is going well, maybe an orgasm or two will help you nod off to sleep.
8. Inhale lavender. Rub lavender oil on your pulse points or sprinkle it on your pillow and breathe it in. Maybe it is the scent, or maybe it is the deep breathing, but it works.
9. Work hard. Exercise, garden, clean. Whatever working hard physically means to you, do it. Sometimes we just need to wear our bodies out, and our minds will follow.
10. Drink a small cup of Sleepytime Tea. This stuff knocks me out. Seriously! I can’t have a mug if I want to stay up. I’m out within the hour!
I hope you don’t have insomnia, but if you do, what are your tricks to get to sleep?
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Guess what? There’s a new prompt up at Open Road Writing!
Good list! I’m going to try the Sleepytime tea. I bought some already but my SIL told me it made her get up 2 more times during the night to pee so I’ve been hesitant.
That’s why the small cup is important!!
This is what (usually) works for me: Naming the 50 states alphabetically in my head. If I miss one, I start over. It’ll definitely bore you to sleep. For some reason, I seem to always forget Minnesota.
I love that you put The Hunger Games. When I was reading that book it so stimulated my brain that it caused insomnia!
Dale is a big fan of #7 and luckily he doesn’t mind if I wake him up when I can’t sleep.
I have to be cool to cold to fall asleep.
I like to have a fan on for noise.
I remember the words of a sleep author: Just resting breathing calmly is nearly as good for you as sleep. Just lie there, really works for me. I know that is maddening for others though.
I nap .
I think sleep begets sleep. Really
I’ve tried #7 many times, much to the delight of the husband, but I just get a fresh wave of energy. I could clean the house!
Love the vacuum tip! There are times though when I feel an ornery streak and have the urge to wake up everyone sleeping peacefully just out of spite… so far I’ve not succombed to that urge.
I’m a huge fan of warm milk – I like it with a little bit of cinnamon.
It is a good list. Mine includes:
I start at the beginning of the day and replay everything in as much detail as possible (that always puts me to sleep).
But, if something is bugging me – I get up and write a letter to THE GODS about what I’m pissed off about. Once I write it down I sleep like a baby.