What Do You Do When You Can't Sleep?
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I'm wide awake. Again. Listening to the clock tick round. What do you do when you can't sleep?
Films6102. Good to hear that breathing exercises work for you. Thanks for the tip. Have you seen the breathing exercise that sunny101 posted in this thread? Maybe it'll help you.
I just try to relax and think of happy times, usually a time when I was enjoying when abroad
hspexy, What a lovely way to fall asleep! Sometimes the simplest ways are the most effective. You're so kind reminding me of this.
I have a dehumidifier and have suffered for years with insomnia. I tried Pukka night time bundle last week and it was amazing half an hour before you want to fall asleep have some and its so nice as well 
belleshowsdogs, You're so kind giving me the benefit of your experience. Herbal tea can be a helpful thing. Always a plus if it tastes good too! Will have to give the dehumidifier a try. How much should I be looking to spend for a decent, middle-of-the-range one would you say?
kfe202 To be honest, I didn't spend very much as I was sceptical it would work. I got mine for £13 from SHEIN and have used it every single night for months and it hasn't stopped working or anything. you obviously have to buy more scents and I spent £11 on a huge bottle of lavender from Wax Lyrical and I just add a couple of drops. It's lovely
Hope this helps!
This isn't a panacea for insomniacs but I recently watched this, during lockdown, and the effect was pretty mind-blowing and worth a try for anyone unable to sleep through anxiety. Wim Hof was on This Morning showing a technique to help. Start at about 6mins 30secs
sunny101, you're so kind sharing this with us. Thank you. I will give it a try the next time a chance arises.
Get up and do something. I don't really see much point in lying in bed for hours on end wide awake. Unless I am really cosy that is. 
You're so right. Lying in bed listening to the clock tick round is the most pointless thing and one of the most frustrating. What kinds of things do you do when you can't sleep and get up?
RegularComper90 That's cool. Pretty much what I'm doing now. Great minds think alike!
I usually listen to a podcast about white collar crime and that usually sends me on my way. My favourite at the moment is called Swindled and the host has a thrillingly monotonous voice that I find both relaxing and engaging.
I normally put a program on like Snapped or Most evil killers and I fall asleep after 10 mins even though I don’t mind watching that kind of thing!
Glad to hear that something works for you. Nooo thanks, though! I'm not as brave as you.
You're so right that phone screens are supposed to be bad when trying to sleep. But hey, if that's what works for you, why not?
When I can't sleep, I get up, make a cup of tea and watch a bit of TV until I start to feel sleepy and then go back to bed; that's what my GP recommended to me.
I tend to sleep very well but last night I couldn't and I'm so knackered today. I just waited to fall asleep, I probably should have gotten up and tried again later
Watch "The Office" or "Malcolm in the Middle."
I tried radio, but it doesn't actually let me go to sleep. Pretty handy that a tablet can do all this.
I go downstairs and make a cup of milky tea, then watch something on TV - by the time I've finished my tea, I usually feel a bit sleepy.
I got a botanics lavender pillow spray in my advent calendar yesterday and I had an amazing sleep last night
Watch something on Netflix or listen to a podcast (which I’ve found is better because I don’t need to be looking at a screen)
You're so right. Listening would be much better than watching something because of being able to get away from a screen. What a good idea. I'll definitely try that. Thank you.
2:38 am I'm wide awake... irritated because I can't sleep... can't focus on watching films, not to mention reading books. So fed up with it as it's every night 
I use tropic sleepy spray. Sometimes helps sometimes doesn’t. But I usually go on my phone for s little but then nod back off
I listen to noises/music- usually like waterfall or rain music, or sea noises. Or i count back from 100 in 3s, because i generally find when i can't sleep its because i am worrying about something and constantly thinking about it, so counting backwards distracts my mind. i also sometimes do breathing exercises to calm my whole body down
I usually (stupidly) pick up my phone and play a game or look on apps which just makes me even worse.
Usually i just watch a movie on netflix or disney + or on sky store/cinema but i can also listen to a audiobook or just watch some tv
I usually just read in bed to help me fall asleep and have a warm drink like hot chocolate or ovaltine
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