[is_that_so]

My tuppence worth

Warm drink (Milk based for me) - works some of the time.

Visualisation - imagine yourself sleeping for 8 hours.

Empty Mind - shut your mind down as if you were closing doors on each of the voices. This can is good for overactive minds but you need to train yourself to do it.

Music - Baroque is very good. Lyric late night is also good or any other kind of chill out music. Nice and low.

Reading - as long as it's not too much of page turner. Interesting but not overly exciting.

In this sticky weather cold water on wrists, ankles or if you feel brave the neck.

[honru]

If you're a crap sleeper, then it could be lack of the following:

● Sunlight (for the melatonin)
● Exercise

Also, make sure your body clock isn't out of whack... try waking up and going to bed at the same time every day. Yes, there might be the temptation to sleep in or stay up late at the weekend, but this will seriously hamper your ability to sleep deeply throughout the week.

Have to say, after knowing and applying this, the quality of my sleep has improved ten-fold.

[Tar.Aldarion]

Originally Posted by Blue_Lagoon

Tar, you are the king of insomnia. I reviewed your list, which seemed reasonable, but be honest, it doesn't work much for you. Hey, while I often stumble through the night, you are almost always there in the darkness stumbling too.

I am well aware of that.
Not sleeping for days is not such an uncommon thing on my part.
I'm afraid no 'tips' help me as it is my obsessive thinking that is the cause.

[Tar.Aldarion]

Merge this to the insomnia thread.

[Chinafoot]

Yep this and the insomnia thread will hopefully be stickified

We just needs mods first

[honru]

Whoops, just saw the insomnia thread now.

Really though, getting enough sunlight throughout the day is the key.

However, I disagree with needing eight hours sleep... it's quality, not quantity. If you master getting to the deep sleep stage early then you can rest for six hours or even four hours and still feel normal the following day.

[Tar.Aldarion]

Feeling normal does not mean you are fine, you only notice after doing it for long periods.

[honru]

?

[Tar.Aldarion]

If you consistently sleep at 4-6 hours a night, you will start to feel the effects.

[honru]

Yeah, if you don't stay at the REM or deep sleep stages consistantly.

[Black Swan]

Originally Posted by f®eak s©enery

If you're a crap sleeper, then it could be lack of the following:

● Sunlight (for the melatonin)
● Exercise

Also, make sure your body clock isn't out of whack... try waking up and going to bed at the same time every day. Yes, there might be the temptation to sleep in or stay up late at the weekend, but this will seriously hamper your ability to sleep deeply throughout the week.

Have to say, after knowing and applying this, the quality of my sleep has improved ten-fold.

I am a sleepless creature of the night...
1. Sunlight? Get plenty on the So Cal beaches and have a tan to prove it.
2. Exercise? Am a Black Belt in taekwondo, workout daily, part-time teach, and frequently compete, all very strenuous in terms of exercise.
3. Body clock? Have to go to work more or less about the same time during weekdays.
4. Diet? Eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of fluids, stay away from junk foods, don't eat desserts or other sugary foods (except chocolate once in awhile).
5. Recreational drugs? Don't drink much alcohol, and keep it to a glass if I do, don't do drugs, and don't smoke (pretty boring eh?).
6. My only vice is a couple of cups of java a day on average. Rarely more than 2 and sometimes none.
7. I do have an occasional nightmare, which obviously affects my sleep patterns. Have had counseling way back when about them... Didn't help.

[honru]

Are you stressed? Are you sleeping comfortably?

There could be other reasons why you aren't sleeping well.

[Black Swan]

Originally Posted by f®eak s©enery

Are you stressed? Are you sleeping comfortably?

There could be other reasons why you aren't sleeping well.

Stressed? Overseas, young, and alone since just before Christmas. Make quite a bit of money(with plenty going into savings and investments), but in an occupation that can be very demanding. Others in this line of work seem to get their sleep, so I do not know what would make me different.

Sleeping comfortably? When I sleep, sometimes, sometimes not. I sleep alone, so someone is not snoring or otherwise disturbing me. Near the beach the air is cool, clean, and the nights are quite pleasant, so the environment is not a factor. My bed is medium firm, gives good support, and I am not uncomfortable. My flat is in a very quiet area, away from cars or noisey neighbors.

[Black Swan]

Originally Posted by Tar.Aldarion

If you consistently sleep at 4-6 hours a night, you will start to feel the effects.

Yes. We both know this, don't we Tar?

[Ruu]

I guess this belongs here. A few years ago I manufactured bedding and furniture so I am pretty certain of the whole sleeping terminology. Heres a few suggestions (maybe can be stickied when a mod is decided). I'll try and dig up more later.

*The quality of your sleep
While sleeping, our bodies turn continuously and in doing so interrupts our sleep. The reason we continuously turn is that our bodies undergo counter pressure from our beds. The more contact our bodies have with our mattresses, the more evenly our weight is distributed and the less we turn during our sleep at night.

*What is good support during sleep?
While sleeping, our beds need to support our bodies, in order for the vertebral discs in our neck and back not to be crushed. To prevent this, sleeping on sagging or hard surfaces should be avoided.
Talalay Latex mattresses offer maximum support, whereby the shoulders and pelvis of the person lying on the mattress can sink more deeply into its surface, therefore simultaneously supporting a straight spine.

*Contrary to some popular opinion a hard bed is not the best way to ease the pain of a bad back. In addition, beds classed as "orthopaedic" are not considered to be best for bad backs.

*look for a mattress that is;

-Designed to conform to the spine's natural curves and to keep the spine in alignment
when you lay down.

-Designed to distribute pressure evenly across the body to help circulation, decrease body movement and enhance sleep quality.

-Designed to minimize the transfer of movement from one sleeping partner to the other.

-Designed with perimeter edge support.