Sleep

I think myself into a dream, imagine I'm a character in a film etc which I was told by a hypnotist (who I happened to be next to at an event and said most of his clients were for sleep problems so I said that's what I did to get to sleep) that that is self hypnosis - who knew?
Other than that listen to the radio

I struggle to get to sleep and have found that it is useless to try and go to bed early as I just lie there fore hours! So now I stay up until 1am or so. This doesn't always work but sometimes it helps. I just have one of those brains that won't switch off and sometimes it can be 5 or 6am before I drift off! Thank god I am retired and don't need to set an alarm!

We go to bed around 12.30 my husband drops off in minutes but I usually read for another hour or two until I fall asleep

Do you ever hear a man complaining that he can't sleep?
I think we women are programmd to wake at any little sound, As we have babies to care for. but that's not relevant in old age.
At this stage in my life I take as much help as I can. Including (including over the counter) drugs.

I seem to have a set routine these days. Changed
my bedding by putting a flanellette sheet under my wool duvet and cover, topped with a home made crochet lightweight woollen blanket, topped with a heavy welsh wool blanket, much more weight now. I wear home made woollen bedsocks if outside temperatures get below 10.

I try not to stay downstairs if I start getting sleepy in my chair, I go upstairs and get ready for bed, that wakes me up so I go downstairs for a bit longer. I always get up early around 5.30 to 6.30 so I go to bed at 9 most times, read for a short while while my electric underblanket warms up, switch it off, lay down and use my remote to listen to a talk channel quietly, on the radio, set on a timer

The old natural ways had two sleeps and that happens to me every single night, then I turn the talk on the radio on again and cannot make out the words if I lay on my side. So my mind focuses on trying to listen and that is usually enough to send me back to sleep

I have some small oatcakes on my bedside table, I may sometimes need just one and always sleep well after that. Oat is avena sativa, know for promoting sleep

Another sleep aid might, rarely, be gaviscon tablets, which are also in my bedside drawer. I can tell if my stomach acid is too active, when silent gerd may occur and keep me awake. Has not happened for a long time but is a possibility that I am ready for

Crosswords tend to make me sleepy too. So then I do the bedtime routine and, once in bed and comfortable, recite poetry to myself. Works a treat most of the time; I very rarely get a whole poem out.

EV, I do vaguely recollect that brand you mention. Had a quick nip upstairs to see but no. My label says Moderna Sorrento Sole Mio. I'm sure somebody could interpret that. I'll settle for warm and wonderful!

I'm a sound sleeper and rarely change my sleeping position. I play Classic FM, and when I am ready to go to sleep, I tell Alexa to stop playing after 20 minutes and am hardly ever awake by that deadline.

What really annoys me is when I fall asleep reading a book in bed, it falls onto my face, so I put the book down ... and then can't get to sleep.

Kim19 I used to have a heap of Witney wool blankets, satin bound edges and gave them to my D after H died, then I invested in Merino wool bedding ( not cheap ) but lasts and is good for your body.
I have it dry-cleaned every summer ready for winter as it won't fit in the machine.

I've always preferred weight/ bedding to just a duvet. A doctor also recommended weight too in the 60's/ 70's.

Sandwiched between Merino wool bedding---guaranteed.

Could I make it clear that it wasn't a 'weighted' blanket I used. Don't even know what that it is - a blanket with weights in? Mine was simply a regular wool blanket excavated from cupboard. A wedding gift fifty two years ago.

I see there’s another thread with an active discussion on weighted blankets if anyone might find it of interest. I noticed them in the middle aisle in Aldi yesterday for £29

Sacha
I have just abandoned the weighted blanket.
I think it’s fine if you lie perfectly still, but it’s very hard to move.
Also, it really is very hot, not so bad in winter, but unbearable in summer.

I have always struggled getting to sleep but it’s got worse in recent years. I’ve tried going to bed later, reading or listening to relaxing music, often falling asleep with my headphones still in. I use lavender pillow spray and don’t drink strong coffee after lunch time or eat heavy meals late on. If I do manage to fall asleep quite quickly I seem to wake up with a start after two or three hours and then struggle getting back to sleep. I’m now retired so I can at least have a lie in if necessary but try not to get up too late as it just leads to more problems at the other end of the day. I envy people who can nod off the minute their head hits the pillow and wake refreshed. Looking back I think I’ve always been a light sleeper, as a child I used to struggle to get to sleep and often had bad dreams.
Interesting that the extra blanket worked for you Kim19, I have been considering a weighted blanket, heard good things about them but wondered if I’d be too warm.

During the day I only have to close my eyes and I’m gone, night time is another matter, I can lie awake for hours. If I’m awake for more than an hour, I get up and read, but I need to be up by about half five, so it’s often a very short night!
I have tried everything, nothing works.

I play classical music discs, my player switches itself off when the disc is finished,
I have a sound machine that gives a choice of white noise or various countryside sounds and projects a light show on to the ceiling, very soothing and I can set a timer.

I could sleep for Scotland, normally. If I have a disturbed night it is a disaster the next day so it is really important I get 8 solid hours with no getting up to go to the bathroom or for a cup of warm milk.
One bad night leads to others so I take 5-10mg of Phenergan, an antihistamine for about 3 nights in decreasing amounts and after that I am back to my usual sleeping pattern.
Especially useful when in other people’s homes as I find using the toilet during the night awkward.

Interesting happening from a very poor but resigned sleeper...... last week I read the temperature was to be -2 overnight and, for reason unknown (call me dippy) I decided to put a blanket atop my already thick duvet. I have slept like a log ever since and, no, I've never been aware of feeling cold previously. Quite the contrary. Always cosy. Don't understand this but gladly accept. I plan to go with the flow until the situation changes. I'm not a tea drinker but have heard people on here swear by a brand called Pukka. Maybe worth a try?

I can’t understand how I can sleep better in front of the tv than in my bed. I watched a couple of episodes of Downtown Abbey last night and started to nod off about 11pm. I woke up in the chair and was relieved to see that Downton was still playing and thought I hadn’t been asleep for long. But I was struggling to pick up the story. The penny dropped that I was watching on Prime and it continues on to the next episode. I looked at the time and it was 3am and I slept through several episodes!

Nanderin are you still working? I can understand the desperation if so. I have relaxed into not worrying about it now I'm retired. Most nights, I sleep for a couple of hours, then wake for a while then repeat. I have audible so I listen to that. I don't get up except for the loo. There's plenty of advice on here that might help.

Namsnanny

Lately Im still up at 4 or 5. I try not to use the laptop after 1 ish. To try to settle at 12 midnight but usually I just end up tossing and turning and switching the tv on now and again.
I've tried herbal tea Lemon Verbena, Chamomile etc. But it doesnt seem to help.
Also, I have a vaporizer, which I use to heat up essential oils, in an effort to help, but I havent noticed any change.
There was a thread started for those of us who like to post late at night, there will be more advice there I expect.

I am just the same, my body clock is all over the place at the moment. I know tonight is going to be bad as I’m wearing three sticky pads attached to a heart monitor, they were fitted yesterday and now the pads are itching like mad - feels like ants crawling over my skin underneath the pads!

So I’m just enjoying a gin and tonic and will probably have a top up soon! My alarm is set for 9 am as I have an appointment at 11 so can’t stay in bed too late.

I just try not to worry about being awake and to be grateful that I retired two years ago so it is not too important.

Nanderin, I have no problem going to sleep (usually 1 or 2 am) but never sleep for more than 3 or 4 hours at a time. I have two long walks every day, so I'm physically tired, a nice hot shower late in the evening, a read of my book, then bed when my eyes are tired.

If it's 5 am or later, I always get up, dressed, fed - and out with the dog for an hour or so. If I'm tired after lunch, I'll have a one hour nap. I set the kitchen timer - so it's never more than a hour - though, or I could be awake all night.

I've never needed much sleep. On the rare occasions when I've slept past 7 am, it's because I'm ill!

Lately Im still up at 4 or 5. I try not to use the laptop after 1 ish. To try to settle at 12 midnight but usually I just end up tossing and turning and switching the tv on now and again.
I've tried herbal tea Lemon Verbena, Chamomile etc. But it doesnt seem to help.
Also, I have a vaporizer, which I use to heat up essential oils, in an effort to help, but I havent noticed any change.
There was a thread started for those of us who like to post late at night, there will be more advice there I expect.

I find I sleep better with cosy bedsocks on and a microwaved wheat bag to cuddle. I read for ten minutes or so and hopefully then get to sleep. Sometimes I find it difficult to switch off my brain and if I have been awake for an hour I get up and do a sudoko in another room.