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  1. #1
    bisous is offline Red Diamond level (10,000+ posts)
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    Default Techniques for Getting me BACK to sleep?

    This might be a longshot, but here goes...

    I have been waking up on the dot at 4:00 am ever since the time change. I'm imagining that this will eventually adjust to my normal 5:00 am in time but because this occasionally happens in other circumstances (waking up early) I'm wondering if there are any good techniques for getting BACK to sleep.

    I'm TIRED at 4. But my mind just can't quiet down and I'm not good at letting it relax. I'm kind of excited to be awake even though my body isn't ready.

    FWIW, I'm great at getting myself to sleep at night. For YEARS now (maybe 10 or more!) I have an exercise where I imagine that I suddenly live in someone else's home and how I would make it work for our family. I know this sounds random but it works GREAT. As much as I'd love to stay up and think about this task, I inevitably fall asleep within 5 minutes.

    That technique DOES NOT work in the morning! I end up designing the whole house, lol. Then I'm tired for the rest of the day. Usually I'm happier if I just get up and get something done. But I just wondered if anyone has any tips for visualizations or things to think about that work in the morning? It is like it has to be somewhat boring but interesting things only make me more awake...I haven't tried "counting sheep" (which sounds super boring--so maybe I should?) but I'm thinking some kind of mind game along those lines?

    TIA!

  2. #2
    Kindra178 is offline Red Diamond level (10,000+ posts)
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    Don’t think I’m crazy ok?! There’s a “thing” out there on left nostril breathing as a way to fall asleep. I first heard about it from Sara Gottfried. You literally hold your right nostril shut and focus on left nostril breathing!


    Sent from my iPhone using Baby Bargains

  3. #3
    bisous is offline Red Diamond level (10,000+ posts)
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kindra178 View Post
    Don’t think I’m crazy ok?! There’s a “thing” out there on left nostril breathing as a way to fall asleep. I first heard about it from Sara Gottfried. You literally hold your right nostril shut and focus on left nostril breathing!


    Sent from my iPhone using Baby Bargains
    Hey, counting sheep is weird if you think about it! This is exactly the kind of hack I want to try. I like that it is something you can probably do while quasi-awake. I'm going to try it. I will google it to see if there are any other tips out there!

  4. #4
    Mommy_Mea is offline Emerald level (3000+ posts)
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    This has started happening for me ever since menopause. I just move out to the couch and read and usually fall back to sleep for a few more hours

    So change in location plus a distraction from thinking about falling asleep.
    DS1 June 2009
    DS2 June 2011

  5. #5
    Liziz is offline Emerald level (3000+ posts)
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    First -- I often use something super similar to fall asleep -- so crazy to hear someone else does it!

    Another random thing I do sometimes is pick a random theme "girls names" or "fruits" or "types of vehicles" or "flowers" etc. and then I try to go A-Z and name one thing for each letter (so if you were doing girls names it could be "Amelia, Barbara, Caitlin, Diana" etc.. I almost never make it to Z.
    Lizi

  6. #6
    Tenasparkl is offline Emerald level (3000+ posts)
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mommy_Mea View Post
    I just move out to the couch and read and usually fall back to sleep for a few more hours

    So change in location plus a distraction from thinking about falling asleep.
    This works for me too. Somehow the playroom couch puts me right back to sleep (especially if my dog curls up by my legs)

  7. #7
    Gracemom is offline Sapphire level (2000+ posts)
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    I’ve been waking up at 2 am. I listen to a podcast I’ve already listened to on low volume. I make sure not to look at a screen and keep my eyes closed. And since I’ve already heard it I don’t feel compelled to listen attentively. I’m usually back asleep in 10 min.

  8. #8
    basil is offline Sapphire level (2000+ posts)
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    Not sure if sound is an issue. It sounds really crazy, but I usually watch QVC. I've never bought anything from there, but I find the endless droning on about products and the hosts ability to just keep talking about nothing at all incredibly soothing. When traveling, I have some headband style earphones and some Youtube channels that feel the same to me. We don't have cable but I'm able to get it on our antenna. I owe so much sleep to QVC!
    DS- 8/11
    DD- 5/14

  9. #9
    gatorsmom is offline Pink Diamond level (15,000+ posts)
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    I read this in Readers Digest when I was in High school. The relaxation/limp part of this actually help me relieve muscle pain.

    You start with your right leg and tense up the muscles in it. Hold the tenseness tight then let those muscles relax completely until they are limp. Work your way around your body tightening and loosening muscle groups. At the end, tighten and tense up your entire body and let it go limp completely. It should help you relax enough to fall asleep. You aren’t moving a whole lot either so you shouldn’t disturb anyone else sleeping in your bed or room.
    " I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent." Mahatma Gandhi

    "This is the ultimate weakness of violence: It multiplies evil and violence in the universe. It doesn't solve any problems." Martin Luther King, Jr.

  10. #10
    NCGrandma is offline Emerald level (3000+ posts)
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    Default Techniques for Getting me BACK to sleep?

    Quote Originally Posted by gatorsmom View Post
    I read this in Readers Digest when I was in High school. The relaxation/limp part of this actually help me relieve muscle pain.

    You start with your right leg and tense up the muscles in it. Hold the tenseness tight then let those muscles relax completely until they are limp. Work your way around your body tightening and loosening muscle groups. At the end, tighten and tense up your entire body and let it go limp completely. It should help you relax enough to fall asleep. You aren’t moving a whole lot either so you shouldn’t disturb anyone else sleeping in your bed or room.
    Many years ago, I taught this technique to DC, starting at a very young age. It was so successful that I felt like it was almost cheating!


    Sent from my iPad using Baby Bargains

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