What To Do When You Can’t Sleep? – Here’s What I Do

Knowing in advance what to do when you can’t sleep prepares you for the times when you lie there awake wishing, or rather, knowing you ought to be asleep. The skill of knowing about your particular sleep patterns and problems really does help in the battle against insomnia. In short, the more you know about what keeps you awake at night the better chance you have of dealing with the problem and getting a good night’s sleep. That’s my opinion anyway.

Here is how I would answer the question of what to do when you can’t sleep?

I would ask myself what is keeping me awake. I might have something on my mind which won’t go away. I might have eaten too late and the food has not yet digested fully. It could be something on the television I have just been watching that has stayed in my mind. Each of these reasons has a counter reason, which is the solution to the problem.

Some of the solutions to my insomnia causes are easier and plainer to understand than others. For example, if I have something on my mind which does not want to go away, then I know I am going to have to have a strategy for dealing with that particular situation. Something that I have worked out in advance, and can now put into practice as I there lie in bed. I am prepared for when it happens.

On the other hand, if I have eaten too late, and can’t fall asleep, there is nothing I can do about it, other, than learn from my mistake and wait until I can get to sleep. On a side issue, when you are aware of the causes of insomnia, it is best to avoid foods, etc. which you know will keep you from falling asleep. Sleep is too important to treat lightly.

If noise and light keep you awake at night, why not try a sleep eye cover. There are some excellent products to choose from.

Photo by Valerie Everett