Over the course of my life, I have had bouts of insomnia. Sometimes, the cause of the insomnia was easy to identify and other times I spent many a sleepless night pondering the reason of my inability to sleep. These days the cause of my sleeplessness is easily identified, but sadly – it is not so easily solved.
I thought I’d share what I do when I can’t sleep at night.
Thing One: Read
My first response is to try to fill my brain with a new place to go and most times filling my brain with something else brings sleep. It disrupts the train of worried thoughts that is racing around my head. I am unbelievably thankful for my iPad which allows me to read in bed without disturbing Steve because I have been doing lots of night reading the past week weeks!
Thing Two: Make Lists
If reading is not cutting it, my next “fix” is to de-clutter my brain (or clutter it more?) by thinking about things I need to get done, things I want to get done, things I want to try, and things I need to remember (my mammogram percolated to the top last week in one of these list making sessions, and you will be happy to know I go next Wednesday to get that mammogram done!) It amazes me at how much I remember from these nocturnal lists – which, sadly, means that I am pondering these lists all too regularly.
Thing Three: Meditate
It seems there is no shortage of things to meditate on these days… good and bad. But, my latest meditations include asking those Thai Navy Seals to come here to help with the reunification of the thousands of children trapped in Trump Hell… I think if they could successfully navigate the treacherous caves with such success, perhaps they can do the same here.
There you have my insomniac ramblings! Want to see more lists? Head on over to Carole’s!
I do those same things, in the same order when I can’t sleep. Insomnia is pretty awful since it affects so much of your life – losing sleep and worrying at night and wandering around tired and fuzzy-brained during the day. Here’s hoping you get back to good, restorative sleep very soon!
Oh man, I have those nights (weeks) too! And, like Bonny, I do the same things as you but generally I start with practicing my yoga breathing which seems to help me a lot. Hoping you can get some good rest soon.
I been there many times! It sounds like you have some good strategies, though, so I hope they are effective in helping you get to sleep. I’m afraid that given the state of things in this country right now, we’re all going to need all the help we can get to quiet our anxious brains!
I never had insomnia until peri-menopause and it’s sure no fun! I mostly just try to clear my mind and figure that even if I’m not sleeping my body is getting rest.
i could not sleep until after 0200 last night Im never like this! We had a wild evening at a soccer game, someone lost their phone who was with us, but none of that was on my mind. I think about FOOD that I cant eat anymore when I cant sleep. I also got up and watched for shooting stars….didnt see any
I don’t suffer from insomnia often, but when I do, I usually try those same “tricks” — but in the reverse order. I hope you’ll be able to find your way to sleep soon — and get out of the insomnia-rut. Wishing you a peacefl night of z-z-z-z-z. . .
XO
It seems like insomnia plagues women in particular; my DH falls asleep in seconds. Glad you’ve found a routine to help! BTW, do you know why my info doesn’t get saved even though I’ve checked the box…after each post so far?
I think so many of us suffer with the insomnia thing……I usually either lay there and complain in my mind or if I’m being good, pick up my knitting.
oh ugh, Kat, life is hard enough to handle when we’re well-rested – hope you enjoy a good night’s sleep soon! …and I’ll offer up two more suggestions – 1. savasana pose 2. composing blog posts. 🙂
Insomnia does not visit me often, but instead I wake up earlier than I’d like. Last night it was 4:00am. One does drag through the day when there has been not enough rest the night before. I play with puppy, because if I’m up he’s up. We have a nice morning together. Hope you get a good rest soon!
Oh dear, I do hope your insomnia is gone by the time you read this…
Sometimes I suffer from it too, but I never make lists, that gets me too agitated. Instead I try to ease down earlier in the evenings; no computer just before bed, and ( admitted; list making ) write down all my worries before I go to bed. The idea is that when on paper, I don’t have to think about it any more when I go to sleep…
I am sorry you have insomnia 🙁 I wake numerous times throughout the night and I usually fall asleep within an hour. sometimes much much faster. If I sleep for five to six hours straight it is a miracle and I LOVE it.