But what to do? Well, even if you are going to be frustrated by being awake, and even if you will be worrying about performing tomorrow, and even if you are angry about being awake again, it is better to have these feelings while sitting up than while lying in your comfortable bed. This is to prevent the negative associations that can develop between “trying to fall asleep” and “the bed.” It is vitally important, and a long term issue, that your bed be a place of pleasantness, if not happiness and calmness. Being tortured in bed by insomnia just sets up your brain to be in that habit--not good for falling asleep.
The usual advice is to get up, go sit in a comfortable place in another room, and doing something relaxing. For example, I advise against vacuuming or paying the bills. Reading and having a hot tea is good, or just sitting and having a hot tea. This is a good time to meditate or to pray so that your mind is focused on something besides your sleep problem. Also, such an internal activity makes you independent—you don’t need that book, CD, or TV to distract you—you can do it yourself. Remember, however, that meditation, prayer, or a relaxation technique are not methods to actually put you to sleep; rather, they are general stress reducers that allow you to occupy your brain when you are forced to be awake.
They help sleep indirectly in several ways. Other good activities would probably include listening to relaxing music, but not dancing to it. Maybe TV, although the brighness and commercials are generally stimulating, so I don’t recommend it. A computer is fine, especially if you are reading boring political analysis for example, not surfing websites that are stimulating. A lot of people ask me if sex helps sleep. I’m not sure, but this is usually a short-lived activity that gets your mind off your problems, after which sleep might come easier; so give it a try too.
If you are going to worry, it is still better to do this in another room than your bed, if possible. If not possible, at least sit up, turn on a DIM light, and then worry. Make a list of things you are troubled by or need to get done this week. Many times, life seems worse in the night, and better in the morning. Although it is not technically true, in some ways, “the darkest hour is just before the dawn.”
I found a web site with some good suggestions for things to do in the night, and I have added it to my blog roll, isleepless.com.
This site is for people with insomnia, and it appears to be run by a person with insomnia. There are several good reads on this site, including a long list of things to do in the night, although I have not been to all of the site. Take a look some night when you can’t sleep; it will be one way to help yourself and your sleep.
