any good ideas on how to relax before bedtime?

Question

and i don't want the usual "have sex, read, excersize, yoga, sleeping pills, or drugs" type of answers... i want suggestions that are original. i have trouble getting to sleep at night and would like some sure fire ways to just pass out when i hit the sheets.

and i put this in the art section on purpose.

Answer 1

i would say draw or something creative but its not so easy to draw while laying down, how about playing some games on a handheld like a psp ds or gameboy, Watch tv, a movie, or listen to music.

Answer 2

Hey, I also have trouble sleeping so here is my suggestion - make sleeping fun!
I had a really hard time in high school, mostly, cause I was very stressed, and what I did was like this -
preparation: change the sheets Every few days, even every day so that they'll be fresh and clean.
a- take a long long looong shower/bath and use a lot of armonatic soaps.
b- light some sentic candles with a smell I really like and turn on music (even load) as I dress.
c- Put on my favorite gentle music, read a book or write in my journal. After i finish reading i turn off all the lights except a small one as far as I can from the bed and just listen to the music and forget the world is even there.

That what helped me, that and taking a gentle walk at 1am when no one is outside and everything is quiet.

Answer 3

Take deep, calming breaths, close your eyes, and plan the next day. Figure out what you're going to wear, whether or not you need to iron it, how long it would take you to get to work if you had a bagel opposed to running by Starbucks and grabbing a latte, etc. Plan what you're going to do when you first arrive at work; figure out what needs to be done and how you will accomplish each goal. Think about all the little problems that you might encounter during your day and solve them.

You might find that some of the anxiety that you've encountered while trying to fall asleep has a lot to do with how you approach your day: if you feel like you're unprepared for whatever the day has to offer, you're much more likely to lie in bed at night worrying about things rather than getting a good night's sleep. If you have a 'plan of attack,' so to speak, it could ease your anxiety and you'll find you're snoozing in no time.

Answer 4

I would suggest creating a ritual. For example my ritual (because I suffer from sever insomnia) goes like this:

an hour before my designated bed time - I prepare a cup of Night Tea (it has natural herbs like chamomile to help you sleep). Then I light a candle and sit on my couch and play one of my singing bowls. My body now responds and starts gearing down when I start this ritual. I don't do any last minute computer things before bed. When I am done with my tea - I wash my face with warm water and go get in bed.

I think the most important thing is the consistancy and creating an atmosphere of calm.

Answer 5

First, you need to get the tension out. If you watch cats, you'll see how they stretch before they lie down and go to sleep. Try that too - do some stretching out and strain some muscles before trying to go to sleep. Relaxing goes much easier that way. If that doesn't work out, then come out to Yahoo! answers and answer some questions (sometime you can find some really boring ones). Or try studying - that's been a real sleeping pill for me ever since I started school 17 years ago.

Answer 6

Take a few really deep breaths and do some stretches (easy ones like a cat). You could also try listening to white noise (like very low TV, static, or a fan) or you could listen to soft, soothing music. When you lay down and get comfortable, go through all of your body parts in your mind and tell yourself to relax them (for example "relax my hands"). Just focus on relaxing all your muscles. I used to have a lot more trouble getting to sleep because I would drink caffeine throughout the day, and that really effected me (even though I didn't drink any at night). Unless you're a real addict, try cutting out or cutting down on your caffeine intake.

Answer 7

I have the same problem....sometimes a nice hot shower works for me or I drink a cup of tea (lemon and honey mixed together). If those two don't work, then I'm up all night. My doctor has prescribed sleeping pills for me, but with all the possible side effects I'd rather not sleep than take them.

Hope you find something that works for you.

Answer 8

If you are over 21, a glass of wine and some soothing music can work wonders. Also, a warm bath with low lights. And if all else fails, sometimes I will take out a dictionary and just start reading. Within 45 min. I will be out. Good luck with your problem, insomnia is a pain.

Answer 9

Are you tired? How many hours do you normaly sleep? What are your eating habbits? Did you just get off of work? Is there something on your mind?
These are all factors for my sleep patterns. If you have trouble sleeping because you have to much on your mind, then I suggest wrtiing before you go to bed. Write down what is troubling you or what your are thinking about. Write down what you have to do tomorrow. Somehow this eases my mind and allows me to relax. Hope you found this helpful.

Answer 10

Russell....i recently study approximately the "bedbug" epidemic in my community newspaper & it made my epidermis crawl. I even have not experienced any themes with the scary bugs as a effect far. I vacuum my mattress pillows & mattressess 2 cases a month & spray them with Lysol & enable the spray dry & enable the mattress & mattressess air out thoroughly. i've got complete this in general for years with the entire mattresses interior the apartment. i'm now no longer particular if it makes a metamorphosis wherein BB are frightened or now no longer.The Terminix guy is going to make a pursuits scheduled seek advice from to my place of living next week & i visit ask him what i'm able to do to dodge from getting those critters. i do no longer understand somebody who has been bothered by the BB, so i'm now no longer particular if a medical expert has to prescribe an antibiotic or now no longer.

Answer 11

I listen to Sade and kick back with a good glass of wine, preferabaly a white wine. Or I have also found that spending the day shopping, not necessarily buying, but lots of browsing and coming in at the end of day can be exhausting.