Got sleep tips? Got tips for amusing yourself while you’re awake? Share all of it!
Drop your thoughts, ideas, and recommendations here. Or pop in and write a comment if you’re awake at a weird time and have nothing else to do.
Go to be early…shoot for 8 hours
I am asleep by 7pm
3 Likes
I do this. In bed before 8. But my body says, “It’s 2 am let’s think about all the things that don’t matter!”
4 Likes
That is soooooo accurate, 
1 Like
Glad you can relate!
1 Like
Especially when my cat decides to wake me up, 
1 Like
I usually try to eat something. Sometimes that panicked feeling in the middle of the night caused by an empty stomach.
Or maybe take magnesium or some electrolytes because I’m a little dehydrated and crampy in my legs.
Then I take the dog outside and wander in the night for awhile.
Usually I’m ready to try to get back to sleep after that.
1 Like
That cartoon is so accurate it’s creepy.
Smart idea.
Flameout is my favorite thing to take in the middle of the night for a couple reasons. Mainly, it’s a form of calories that won’t require me to brush my teeth after taking it. And it somehow decreases anxiety. If I have low blood sugar it’s usually just enough cals to allow me to fall back to sleep.
Another great call. I’ve usually got magnesium covered with bedtime supplements, but in the middle of the night I’ll chase Flameout with unflavored LMNT, which also doesn’t require any teeth-brushing.
Dramatically increasing my sodium intake has made me stop blacking out all the time, so that little change was a win. Yay electrolytes!
Couldn’t love this more.
2 Likes
Booking this thread as I basically roam the halls every morning around 2:30.
1 Like
I’m going to go with the most obvious answer…rub one out.
3 Likes
I usually keep a pen and pad by the side of the bed. If I wake up with something nagging at me, usually work related or kids related. I write it down and if I have a good idea about something I write that down too. This helps me to stop thinking about if and turn my brain off. Funny thing is reading those notes in the morning and often wondering WTF was I thinking about. I sometimes write notes about things that happened years ago with a great idea that I already did.
I sometimes try relaxation and visualization techniques to try and get back to sleep. These are a little hit and miss.
Last resort for me is to get up and go have a drink and just sit on the couch for few mins, this is often enough to make me feel real tired again and then I head back to bed.
4 Likes
Journal near bed like @simo74 but just before bed, i sit and write down some dots points on things i’m grateful for, along with other to do items, things that went well or poorly during the day. Use it as a brain dump.
Reduce stress at work (etc) where possible too.
These two things have helped me immensely transition from broken 2-3am random awakedness to sleeping through the night.
Add in consistent bedtime (and arise time) regardless of it being work or weekend.
3 Likes
I’ve had bouts of sleeplessness off and on for years. For the past several it has been on.
Sometimes I find myself running down these rabbit holes, usually involving shapes, numbers, and their relationships.
It doesn’t help me sleep, but it does give me something novel to think about while I don’t.
And The Hub. 
2 Likes
I feel partially responsible for this thread, so here are my answers.
1.) Writing down to do lists before bed. Avoiding screen-time and blue light. Unfortunately my wife likes to watch tv to wind down. Usually that’s when I do creative writing.
2.) Fats and protein. I’ll usually have Metabolic Drive, then a charcuterie plate to nibble on. Meat, cheese, pistachios, flax-seed crackers, snap peas, radishes, carrots, etc.
3.) I hate laying in be bored and awake, but getting up and folding laundry is boring enough to tire me out sometimes.
4.) Vodka.
5.) Stimulation/the hub just wake me up more. Although it’s annoying to wake up when you roll over and feel like a bike with the kickstand holding it up.
6.) Lucid dreaming. I have a few tells when it happens, like if light switches don’t work, asking someone what their name is and they freeze, being able to breath water.
1 Like
Checking the clock from time to time haha
2 Likes
I have 2 small children.
As soon as I hit the pillow usually between 11-12, I am out.
I used to be up all hours and have a weird sleep pattern / schedule. Children have changed that…
2 Likes
I’ve dealt with a few sleep issues. A few years ago insomnia. It would be common to not sleep at all 2-3 nights a week. I seemed to get past that, but up until recently I had an issue where I’d go to bed around 10 PM, and not be able to sleep until I got up to eat something. I’d not be hungry going to bed, but half an hour in or so I’d develop an appetite. I’d try to fight this, but usually would give in at around 11:30. I’d get up eat an average of 500-600 calories, then I’d be able to go back to bed and fall asleep. This would happen most nights. Having a snack right before bed did not help.
I realized I just wasn’t that tired when I’d go to bed at the same time as my wife at 10 PM. For me, going to bed when not tired made it hard to sleep, and then I’d think of food. I started not going to bed at the same time as my wife, and that has eliminated my night time eating. I do have a protein shake before bed, and I go about an hour later now (11 PM). I think I am on average actually falling asleep a bit earlier than when I was going to bed at 10. I still typically take a bit to fall asleep. If I am lucky it’s 10-15 minutes. Average is probably more like 45 minutes. Even still, this is about as well as I’ve slept in the last 10 years.
1 Like
My son came into the bedroom and woke me up in the middle of the night to say his butt smelled delicious, then ran out laughing like a banshee and slamming the door.
Somehow my wife decided my genes were responsible.
6 Likes