We recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us how they deal with not being able to sleep. Here’s what they said:
Please note that these aren't medical recommendations. Be sure to check with your doctor before starting any kind of treatment.
1. Imagine that you are powering down your body, part by part.
2. Make a mental list of every bed you've ever slept in.
3. Masturbate.
4. Use the app Noisli to curate the perfect soundtrack of soothing noises to fall asleep to.
"You can basically DJ your sleep soundtrack by adding and adjusting sounds (ocean, streams, wind, thunder, general white noise, etc.)."
—Bailey Ko, Facebook
5. Count glow-in-the-dark ceiling stars.
6. Keep your alarm clock out of your line of sight.
7. Transform your bedroom into the perfect minimalist environment for sleep.
8. Make your bedroom a screen-free zone.
9. But if you need to work before bed, use the app f.lux to minimize the blue light coming from your screen.
10. Try a structured breathing technique to help you relax.
11. Get warm and cozy with a heating pack and body pillow.
12. Listen to audiobook versions of childhood favorites.
—Jenny Sue, Facebook
13. Or just listen to Stephen Fry narrate the Harry Potter audiobooks.
14. Do something creative like doodling, coloring, or journaling.
15. Listen to the Sleep With Me podcast.
16. Or other podcasters with soothing voices.
17. Take a hot bath, sip herbal tea, and cuddle up with a heated pillow.
"Hot epsom salt bath, followed by a warm Dream Time Calming Crescent Shoulder Wrap, whilst sipping Sleepytime Extra tea. A sleeping cat next to you is also very effective."
—Christine Law, Facebook
18. Keep a notepad by your bed to jot down repetitive thoughts.
19. Smoke weed (legally).
"I smoke marijuana. Now, I don’t smoke in the daytime or when I’m out and about. But at nighttime, smoking is the only thing that makes me sleepy enough to where I can fall asleep. I live in California so I have my doctor's recommendation. Plus, there’s a dispensary within a mile of anywhere. It’s been the best thing to happen to my nights."
20. Exercise in the evening.
21. Make up an ongoing story and add to it every night.
"I make up stories/movies in my head. It takes my mind off of everything I'm worried about in real life. I even have an ongoing story in my head that I continue with every night. Sometimes my mind wanders and it's hard to focus on the story, but once you get really into it you'll knock out."
22. Check in with yourself to see if there are any ~feelings~ keeping you up that you can get out.
23. Mentally plan tomorrow's outfit.
24. Repeat a calming mantra while you imagine yourself in a relaxing situation.
Sleep tight!
Note: Answers have been edited and condensed for length.