Do this when you can't sleep

If you are anything like me lying awake at night is one of the most boring things ever. You see, you’re trying to sleep so can’t do anything. But yet you’re not sleeping and time is just dragging. This article aims to give you some ideas of what things to do when you can’t sleep.

Firstly don’t give up straight away. Give yourself some time to fall asleep but if after 20 or 30 minutes it hasn’t happened here are some suggestions. Get out of bed and sit somewhere else for a while. The reason you need to do this to keep your brain from making associations. The bed should only be used for two things: sleeping and sex. If you start introducing additional activities in bed then you risk your brain not realising it’s time for sleep.

Now that we’re out of bed its time to do something not-so-stimulating. Read a book, make sure that book is not too exciting. Something like Harry Potter will not do as it could work as a stimulant because of how exciting it is. I like to read non-fiction books about mental health. Peoples experiences with depression, anxiety, bipolar and anything else that’s a very human experience. Probably the best introduction to these types of books is Matt Haig’s Reasons to Stay Alive.

My personal favourite is Robert Webb’s How Not To Be A Boy. He is an actor and comedian best known for his work in Peep Show. His memoir is his story about bisexuality, his relationship with his father and his sometimes not very nice experiences with his partners. It’s incredibly raw and honest and is a must-read for anyone interested in toxic masculinity.

Listening to the right kind of music can help you unwind before getting back into bed. I recommend listening to something relaxing and lo-fi. Remember we’re trying to avoid too much stimulation. You could also try listening to an audiobook – the best place to do this would be Audible.com which also has a selection of podcasts on a variety of subjects.

Another thing that’s worth trying is sleep hypnosis. This is usually delivered over audio files so is perfect for playing on your phone while you relax before returning to bed. The Six Steps To Sleep program has been around for a long time and may well help you get into the mindset for sleep.

If you are going to be using your phone or other electronic items don’t forget to put night mode on. You can usually do this via your settings. It helps to limit the amount of blue light being emitted.
Take the time to relax

Relaxing is very important before bed, so before you get back into bed consider running a bath and putting the kettle on. A warm bath is super relaxing and is the perfect place to unwind from the day. Start listing all the things you are grateful for. Take the time to unpack the baggage in your mind.

This time for reflection can help the more stressed and anxious among us. Ensure you have a cup of chamomile tea as well and really take your time to enjoy the moment. Don’t get too comfy though as it’s not advised to fall asleep in the bath.

Try these tips and let me know how you get on either in the comments below or you can email me at tom@sleepwakersclub.com. Be sure to sign up to our mail list if you would like to be notified of new articles and special offers!

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