What do you do when you can't sleep?


Read my kindle or sometimes watch a tv show on my phone. I don’t want to turn on a light and bother my husband who is a better sleeper than me. If it goes on too long, I go downstairs and watch tv.
 
Read on my Nook so the light doesn't wake my husband. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. I've learned that when I can't get back to sleep (like anytime after 2am) it's because i'm either cold, hungry, or worrying about something. If I'm still awake at 4am, I'll go downstairs, get a snack, and do some grading (which is usually what I am worrying about getting finished on time). I usually don't go to bed until 11pm or midnight, so it's an issue if I wake by 3am and can't go back to sleep.
 
Lucky for me, it almost never happens. One thing I don’t do, is if I ever wake up in the night, I don’t turn on any lights or expose myself to a screen. That would “wake my brain up” and I’d be ready to do for the day.
 
If my brain has woken up enough I can't get back to sleep, I play sudoku (Kindle) till my eyes get tired and I'm sleepy again. I used to read, but then I'd get too interested, and not get back to sleep...
 
This is me almost every night. I take 1/2 of a Kirkland sleeping pill a few times a week. Sometimes Melatonin but I have tried everything. Not much let's me get more than 4 hours of sleep. So,

I try to lay in bed hoping to fall asleep - but my mind is all over the place. I think of things, pray, count, etc.

If falling asleep after a while does not work, I will get up lay on the couch with or without TV on again hoping I will fall asleep eventually and get a few minutes of shut eye.

I might turn on my laptop or desktop.

I might start doing things around the house not making any noise (can't wake up DH).
 
I wake up frequently in the wee hours, usually 2-3 times between 1AM and 4AM. I do go to bed very early (9PM) because I get up at 5AM. When I wake up too early, I think about anything but my problems. If I start thinking about stuff I'm worried about, I try to redirect my brain. I write stories, so I'll work on a plot in my head, or plan what I want to wear in the morning, or how I want to play a certain scenario in a game or two I like - anything but something that is bothering me!
 





New Posts










Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE













DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest

Back
Top