Two things that haven't been mentioned yet.

You should try having sex or just masturbate right before you turn in. For a guy, it's a natural thing to immediately konk out and sleep like the dead. I guess for chicks, they'll just feel like staying up another couple of hours and having pillow talk or just be annoying, so make sure your partner is prepared to accept your lack of communication. If you wake up early, you've probably got morning wood, so just rub another one out and let the sandman take you away again.

You could also get drunk. Sure, this may be way too much fun for an every night occurence, but if you really need a good nights sleep, treat yourself to a few good drinks or get a heavy buzz on, as it always helps me to 'sleep it off' well into the afternoon. I guess nyquill could help out too. If you prematurely wake, just take another drag from the bedside flask and soon you'll be dreaming again.

Melatonin also works well. Maybe it was just the valerian root I got but it smelled awful

Valerian root is specially grown and imported from the eastern regions of the United Kingdom. Including e - d - s, an enzyme delivery system from 100% plant sources. Available in easy-to-swallow vegetable capsules for maximum assimilation and absorption.
Valerian is a hardy perennial flowering plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers. Valerian has been used as a sleep aid for over 1,000 years. It’s ability to help relax the central nervous system, promote feelings of calm, decrease levels of anxiety and stress and enhance sleep.
Valerian has often been used in complementary and alternative medicine for its sedative properties. It has been recommended for epilepsy but that has not been supported by modern research. Currently, the herb is mainly used as a remedy for insomnia.
t may also be used to ease stomach and menstrual cramps, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), some of the restlessness that accompanies attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and migraine symptoms. And, more rarely, it may be used to treat convulsions from a seizure disorder. In its most well-documented use, however, it is used as a calmant to help people sleep.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not use valerian. It should not be used while driving, operating heavy machinery or engaging in other activities which require one to be alert, due to its tranquilizing effects. Those with liver disease are also warned against taking valerian in combination with skullcap, another herb commonly used for anxiety.
Valerian root should not be used if taking anesthesia, sedatives or anti-anxiety medications without first consulting a healthcare practitioner.

Edited to remove spammy spam. Information is solid-JH

When I can't sleep I take a shot of Nyquil

Had a friend that used to do this...he got addicted to Nyquil!!

Hi
Well I do a count down method with a meditation track that clean out our daily stress every day. I do it at the end of every day, to clear out all my debris I gathered during the day

The Joy of having a track is that you just plug on to your MP3 and let the words take you to a journey. Your mind will be so empty after that.


When you wake up in the middle of the night & you can sleep .. just plug it on again.. you dont need any medication after that

Valerian has a relaxing effect on the nervous system, it promotes relaxation in persons leading a hectic lifestyle and helps support restful sleep. It was used and promoted anciently by 10th century Arabic physicians, it is still very popular in Europe and western Asia. It used since the ninth century for its calming properties, with a concentrated valerian extract. These are combined with the equally legendary calmatives hops and chamomile, and other selected botanicals from European and Chinese herbal traditions.

Pretty much anything used as a sleep aid for long periods of time will become "addictive", in the sense that you have trained yourself to not be able to sleep unless you have it. (Even if it does actually help.)

I would agree at looking at sleep cycles. The other thing I would think of, is that this happens to me when I'm extremely stressed at my work place. (Mind and body are preparing for the strenuous day ahead.) I would recommend some meditation before bed to try to clear this.

This is a simple form of samatha mediation. Simply get comfortable somewhere, preferably in a room as devoid as sensory input as possible. Close your eyes, and simply concentrate on something. (Common focuses are breathing or a mantra.) Think about nothing else. If another thought comes into your head, do whatever you need to do to acknowledge it, then immediately go back to focusing. You'll find that the thoughts that are most persistent are usually the things you're stressing about the most. By acknowledging them, you are allowing your mind to stop worrying about them and relax.

Are you staying busy right up until the moment you go to bed? If so, try doing something that requires minimal thought, nearly no movement, etc. (Ex: reading a non-brain intensive magazine or book). Lay in bed while you do it, read until your eyes are tired, put the book/magazine down, hit the light.

The problems I've had happen when I'm real busy and then hop into bed. I end up thinking about everything I didn't get done for the day... which makes me worry... and thus not sleep. Having a to-do list for every day has helped me as well. It is either taken care of, or moved to another day, and I know everything is "fine" and can sleep.

My wife on the other hand, literally falls asleep within 30-180 seconds of settling into bed. I'm jealous.

Same here. I only have trouble sleeping if I'm stressed or worried about things so it really helps to get organized. I've taken to using a little GTDish system to make sure everything I would be worrying about is taken out of my brain and into a system that will address it. Just having a way to "download" my brain greatly reduces the nagging worries that used to keep me awake. Combine that with a good exercise regime and I usually sleep just fine.

try Calms Forte Calms Forte tablets work quickly to help ease the symptoms of occasional sleeplessness due to simple nervous tension.

I don't know if anyone has asked you this, but when you wake up in the middle of the night, do you find yourself thinking about things that you need to do, or things that are upsetting and/or stressing you out?

I'm not sure if it was mentioned yet or not but supposedly sleeping with your head to the south is the best for a good night's sleep. It has something to do with the Earth's magnetic fields and where you are in relation to the equator.

Is that true about sleeping with your head to the south??? Seems a little made up LOL

It's gotta be true, I read it on the Internet.

Seriously, since I switched from north to south, my sleep has improved.