The fabled thing called sleep

[Handofpwn]

Heres the set up. It is twelve thirty AM where I live and sleep is no where in sight. Sure, I could turn off my laptop and close my eyes, but that never helps. The problem is is that my body is just not ready to sleep. So I implore you, escapists, tell me what you do when you cannot sleep.

 

[xitel]

Honestly, I just lie there and try to go to sleep. It takes me about 45 minutes to an hour, and it's annoying as hell, but it works.

EDIT: I've been told that when you can't get to sleep, you aren't supposed to just lie there. You're supposed to alternate 30 minutes of lying with your eyes closed, then get up and go somewhere else, like a chair or something, and read a book or forums for 15 minutes, then try to go to sleep again.

 

[Bored Tomatoe]

In every one of these threads, I say the same damn thing: Sleeping Pills. If you body can't do it, drugs can. If you have no pills on you, try reading, or doing something mentally tiring.

 

[ellimist337]

I do what you just said doesn't help you: just close my eyes; so I'm not sure how much I can help. I also try to think about nothing, but that's always easier said than done.

 

[RavingPenguin]

something meaningless like read the dictionary or count sheep, until I feel tired. Usually its something that calms my mind.

 

[Fenring]

Well, right now I'm reading Atlas Shrugged, i'm about a hundred pages in. I really like it, the only thing is, after 11p.m. it will put me to sleep. So in conclusion, try reading a big book, or any book.

 

[Handofpwn]

In every one of these threads, I say the same damn thing: Sleeping Pills. If you body can't do it, drugs can. If you have no pills on you, try reading, or doing something mentally tiring.

If only I could convince my mother that I need pills. I'm still 17 and cant legally get them myself here.

 

[Roamin11]

I don't really sleep well anyway if I'm not up all night then I'm having nightmares, I can't offer you any adivce other then go to a loud bar meet a nice girl so you won't need to sleep.

 

[joystickjunki3]

Never heard of that thing... what did you call it? "Sleep?"

 

[darthzew]

Hold your breath. It takes massive willpower, but eventually your body will knock itself out.

Don't do that unless you're REALLY desperate...

But in a more serious and practical suggestion, try listening to quiet music. Try something classical or I use the album M4 by a Canadian group called Faunts. That album has me out by the third track.

 

[Jenkins]

I sleep on average three hours a night.
Pills may help, but I always awake feeling rested so it's not much of a problem to me.

Evil demon begone!

I wish I could get off with only 3 hours of sleep a night... think of all the things I could achieve in one day!

 

[Handofpwn]

My problem with the three hour plan is that I'm a "snoozer." I set my alarm for a reasonable hour and then proceed to hit the snooze button 20 or 30 times. That wouldnt be so bad if i didnt need hefty doses of caffeine afterward. Actually, the problem might be my caffeine addiction, but I'm already to committed to the stuff to quit. XP

+1

 

[OneManBand]

Heres the set up. It is twelve thirty AM where I live and sleep is no where in sight. Sure, I could turn off my laptop and close my eyes, but that never helps. The problem is is that my body is just not ready to sleep. So I implore you, escapists, tell me what you do when you cannot sleep.

I browse the internet until I'm tired enough to sleep. I'm actually scheduling an appointment to see a doc.

Once I've gotten to sleep getting 5 hours isn't too hard [I cap out there] but I tend to get about 3 thanks to having to get back up at 0600.

Thank god for coffee and Mountian Dew.

 

[Sweep117]

As my work shift every day is 10:30pm - 7:00am, I am very familiar with the boat you're in. My general practice is, of course, to lie in bed with my eyes closed trying to sleep. That works only a small percentage of the time. I've wasted hours at a time doing this. I find I really have to judge my current mental state to discern my current ability to get to sleep. If my mind is too active, I don't have much of a chance. Reading helps, no matter what the topic. I like what xitel wrote in his edit. Just vary the things you're doing. I'm so trying that next time I'm in this situation, which could very well be when I get home in the morning...

 

[GRoXERs]

Try doing homework you don't need to do - especially something you hate (for me it's organic chemistry) - that's pretty much guaranteed to put you to sleep.

 

[nekolux]

Oh don't try to think about nothing. In fact go think about whatever you want. Building terminators and getting them to wage war against the world with you being skynet. Or like torturing the fox executives, or creating a fully sentient terminator and then molding her flesh cover to be like summer glau. Then trick yourself into thinking she IS summer glau and you're dating a totally hot and cute sci fi actress...

I totally dont think about stuff like that before i sleep. Nope.

 

[Specter_]

So I implore you, escapists, tell me what you do when you cannot sleep.

Since I didn't sleep last night (here it's 6:30 now):

Well, surfed the net for any (more or less) usefull informations, watched some tv, played a bit of Fallout3, watched a movie and smoked a lot of cigarettes...

 

[Evilbunny]

I've heard trying to not fall asleep works. I've tried it and although it's never made me fall asleep I do feel more accomplished in the morning because at least I did what I was trying to do, which is really what I wasn't trying to do. I know, it's confusing.