If you have trouble falling asleep or have racing thoughts

[Grim Chieftain]

I found something that really helps me. I read the other day that you should go through the alphabet and name as many words as you can that start with each letter. I did that for a few nights, and it really helped.

But the last two nights, I've taken it up a bit and have gone through the alphabet identifying words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings - like seen and scene, road and rode, prophet and profit. It's really fun and helps me fall asleep and stay asleep.

If you are having sleep issues, you might want to give it a try.

[deRien]

1. It's sometimes

referred to as monkey brain… that’s a good way to calm your thoughts down… I think anything that’s repetitive can help🙂

[Ocelot II]

2. I do that, but with specific topics,

for example, cities beginning with a, b, etc., or composers, or animals. Usually works pretty well.

[Grim Chieftain]

3. Great ideas

I'll be sure to try those.

[Marthe48]

4. I've done something like this for years

Way back when, I started with names. Then I thought of drinks from A-Z. Then I thought of A-Z alphabetized words with 4 syllables and different endings. Then I thought of A-Z with the second letter a. I can make a list like that with a, but so far not the other vowels. Recently made a list of place names.

This year, I've added acupressure and lavender oil. With the acupressure, just gently grip the thumb on one hand with the thumb and forefinger of the other. If you want to try lavender oil, it works very well for me. I dab some on my pillow.

I have trouble sleeping and staying asleep

[Sogo]

5. Best thing I've found for falling asleep is to soak my feet for 10 minutes before getting into bed in hot water with

a cup each of baking soda and Epsom salt.

You're welcome.

[Jilly_in_VA]

6. I do that sometimes

One thing i've found that really helps is a trick I read about somewhere. I count slowly to 30 (I sync my counting with the ocean waves on our white noise machine), then open my eyes just a slit while counting to 5, then close them while concentrating on my breathing. If that's not working I start just letting my brain go to random words on no subject at all, and if that's STILL not working I go to a trick I read about from a surgeion who says she does this when waking up in the middle of the night with "monkey brain"---with eyes closed, move them slowly from up to one side to down to the othe side. Repeat several times, rest, repeat if necessary, although she said it usually isn't necessary and I've found it isn't either.

[Polly Hennessey]

7. I did that. I would pick a specific word like 'rain' then

come up with five different words as I spelled out the word. Example: ‘r’ realize, ruin, really, rump, roll then on to ‘a’. It does work.

[wnylib]

8. I think that it might not work for me.

I would probably get so wrapped up in the process that it would keep me awake trying to think of more and more words.

Reminds me of my tonsillectomy preparation when I was 6 years old. The anesthetic was ether. A nurse asked if I could count to100. Indignantly, I said, "Yes, of course." So she said that I should reverse it and count backwards from 100.

When I got to around 93 and started feeling drowsy, I made a mistake. I was alert enough to know that what I said was wrong, so I started over at 100. The nurse said it was ok to make a mistake, but I caught myself again at about 96 the second time.

I remember hearing the nurse say to someone else (probably the anesthesiologist), "Oh, for God's sake. We can't do this all day. Give her more."

I have never been diagnosed with OCD, but I was apparently a perfectionist at age 6.

[Grim Chieftain]

9. Oh bless your heart

Last edited Thu Jul 9, 2026, 03:59 PM - Edit history (1)

Hope you don't mind that your post made me chuckle. Unfortunately, not everything works for everyone. I have been struggling with huge sleep issues for about a year and this finally worked for me.

I had my tonsils removed when I was about the same age and had trouble with the procedure, too. The gas or whatever they gave me was horrid. I kept trying to turn my head and a nurse held me so I had to inhale it. It still creeps me out. Yuck.

I hope you can find something to help you get a sound night's sleep.

[wnylib]

16. I have found something that works well for me.

I select a movie that is low key and easy to watch and listen to. No thrillers or fast action spy flicks. No murder detective stories which would keep me awake trying to follow the details and figure out who the culprit is. Just easy going, low key films, often one that I've seen before so that I don't feel like I'm missing something when I drift off.

I guess that even in my old age, I still need a bedtime story.

[phxjurist]

10. Gummies!

[FakeNoose]

11. Reading has been my go-to solution for years

Thank goodness they invented Kindles (e-book readers) because my Kindle never loses what page I'm on. Reading hard copy books was always a problem because I used to fall sleep, let go of the book, and lose the page.

[multigraincracker]

12. A cup of Sleep support Herbal Tea.

Works for me.

[Grim Chieftain]

14. Great idea

Wish I could drink herbal tea before bed, but after a couple hours, I'd have to get up - for obvious reasons. Oh, the joys of getting old.

[progressoid]

13. Listening to the meditations of Marcus Aurelius by a monotonous British baritone

Sometimes that works for me.

[utopian]

15. I use a mental batting cage

Whack baseballs till I doze off. Works like a charm.

[IcyPeas]

17. Listening to calming or boring podcasts....

As long as the tone of voice is appealing to my ears... it usually lulls me to sleep.