When I was young every once in a while I used to "sneak" into my parents room in the mornings, on Saturdays and during the summers, to snuggle with my mom in bed. I can't perfectly remember, but as I recall if my mom wasn't already awake reading a book, most of the time she would wake up to give admittance and exchange morning pleasantries, and often even if she had already been up reading reading, ended up falling asleep for a short while more. The idea of being able to fall asleep right after waking up from being asleep all night was strange to me and I found myself wondering ~ HOW DOES SHE DO THAT?! with great amazement.
She had six kids. 'Nuff said! But my small mind couldn't grasp that concept.
I don't know if you know this, but snuggling with your mom is boring if she's just going to sleep. Not a big fan of boredom at that age I decided on many of these occasions that if she was asleep I wanted to sleep too. Not being tired I had to learn how to put myself to sleep so I studied her sleeping. I figured out that when she was asleep she breathed deep and slow, so I breathed deep and slow. Not sure how long it took but that usually did the trick and before I new it I was waking up in mom's bed. It's a good memory:)
I feel like that sometimes still. Every once and a while I will have short waves of insomnia and I again have to figure out how to put myself to sleep. I've figured out lots of different ways but for some reason they never seem to last. In the past I've tried the whole breathing tactic, hot shower, I've had Nate stroke the side of my face (it worked for Bud when he was a little baby, why not me right?) I've stroked my own nose (I know it sounds weird, but it's another trick that worked for Bud). I've also just given into the insomnia with the assumption that I must not be falling asleep because I didn't work hard enough~ so I give up on sleep and clean for a couple (or 3 or 4) of hours and try again to sleep when I'm happy with how clean my house is. These little tricks all worked at one time, and the charm of each has, over time, worn off. Bummer. My latest trick has been to read my scriptures, and not in the hope that I'll fall asleep reading. I actually read a chapter or more before I close my eyes to sleep and its great because I'm awake enough to pay attention to what I read but when I'm done my head is clear enough to let me fall asleep. That didn't work tonight.
So once again I feel like that 5 year old girl trying to figure out how to fall asleep on command. I don't have 6 kids yet. Maybe when (IF) I do this won't be so much an issue? Until then ~ How do you fall asleep when you can't sleep?
When I was younger and couldn't sleep my mum would come into my room and help me imagine walking in the woods to a meadow and all kinds of other relaxing things. Actually when I first read about the meadow in Twilight it made me think of that. So once I was a bit older I would just imagine it myself and it would help me relax enough to fall asleep.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that sometimes just the anxiety of not being able to sleep keeps you from winding down and falling asleep so I've heard you can try by going to sleep a half hour earlier..don't know if it works, honestly it's either a physical or a mental thing, but it sounds more like a mental. Your probably an over thinker and can't wind down?? RELAX..jk as if it's that easy. Honestly I've never really struggled with sleep, but it really sounds like your over thinking and I'm not sure how you just shut that off.
ReplyDeleteIf you find something that works everytime, let me know. With working nights, my body struggles to know when I am supposed to be awake or asleep. One thing that sometimes works for me is someone playing with my hair. My mom did it every single night when I was little while cuddling with me in bed. To this day, if someone starts playing with my hair, my eyes usually start to get heavy. Devry has been great at playing with my hair when I can't sleep, the only problem now is that it has become a trigger for him to fall asleep too, So I am lucky if I get 2 minutes of him playing with my hair before he's out.
ReplyDeleteOh, friend, I feel your pain!! If you figure it out please share!!! I used to be the easiest sleeper EVER, I could lay down a be asleep instantly ... and sleep through anything .... not anymore.
ReplyDeleteI think for me its a mind thing sometimes ... I just cant turn my brain off. so focusing on a relaxing thought sometimes will work .... but if you figure out anything else let me know!!!
A few years ago I went to a seminar on the energy of color, which was incredible. There were lots of different things I learned there and one of them had to do with sleep. Color has energy that can stimulate you to do something. Why do you think fast food chains pretty much use all the same colors? They promote eating. The color that best promotes sleep is purple. If you can, get a purple pillow case, a lavender spray or candle and think purple thoughts. Believe me it works. The energy that comes from purple stimulates melatonin production and of course melatonin helps you get drowsy so you can sleep.
ReplyDeleteAlso, stretching before you go to bed can really help stimulate sleep. Mentally go through each area of your body and stretch and relax starting with your toes. Most of the time I'm out before I reach my shoulders, so its a really great exercise to do in bed.
I could keep going because as you know, I suffer from a bit of insomnia occassionally too. Hope that helps.
I know what you mean! Some nights I just can't sleep. I usually read or watch something until I start feeling drowsy. Other times, I just take advantage of my awakeness and get more stuff done
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