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If You Can't Fall Asleep Fast

78 Things to Do When You're Struggling With Chronic Insomnia

© Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen

Oct 15, 2007
78 Things To Do When You Can't Sleep, stock xchange tupikov
When you can't fall asleep fast, you make it worse by tossing and turning. To beat insomnia, try these 78 things to do when you can't sleep. You won't be bored!

If you've been struggling with chronic insomnia, you know that insomnia cures and treatments don't always work. You may also know that the lifestyle changes that are supposed to help you fall asleep fast (eg, not drinking caffeine or eating too much before bedtime, keeping regular sleep/wake hours, exercise, keep your bedroom dark and quiet, insomnia medications or insomnia cures) don't always help.

If it's 2 a.m. and you can't fall asleep yet again, those insomnia cures and lifestyle changes are meaningless! So instead, here are 78 things to do when you can't sleep. This will help you avoid the frustration of tossing and turning. Plus, you could even get some things done around the house or in your life when you can't sleep fast and are struggling with chronic insomnia…..

78 Things to Do When You Can't Fall Asleep

  1. Clean out your medicine cabinet
  2. Read the Yellow Pages to learn about your community
  3. Pluck your eyebrows
  4. Plan your meals for the week
  5. Make a budget (good insomnia treatment!)
  6. Make a list of things you love about your partner, child, or parent
  7. Make someone happy
  8. Listen to soothing music or soft rock
  9. Work on your novel
  10. Update your email list
  11. Write an apology to someone you've been avoiding
  12. Bake cookies
  13. Memorize 5 new words from the dictionary
  14. Organize your recipes
  15. Read your old journals
  16. Try aromatherapy
  17. Make your Christmas wish list
  18. Drink warm milk
  19. Freewrite everything that pops into your head
  20. Clean the bathroom
  21. Make a list of things to do before you die
  22. Pray (can be a cure for insomnia)
  23. Balance your checkbook
  24. Give yourself a manicure
  25. Research new hobbies
  26. Watch old movies
  27. Study or do homework
  28. Do yoga
  29. Clean out your kitchen cupboards
  30. Write a letter
  31. Update your resume
  32. Google old friends
  33. Clip your nose hairs
  34. Learn to crochet or knit
  35. Face your demons
  36. Meditate (could be good insomnia treatment)
  37. Practice self-hypnosis
  38. Find a sleep-mask
  39. Look at the stars
  40. Drink herbal tea
  41. Make a "to do" list for tomorrow
  42. Read poetry (could be an insomnia cure)
  43. Take a bubble bath
  44. Give yourself a pedicure
  45. Download your photos
  46. Organize your finances
  47. Sweep your deck or balcony
  48. Write a short story
  49. Pretend you're asleep
  50. Email your friends
  51. Draw your living room
  52. Have sex (solo or with your partner)
  53. Sort through old photos
  54. Make a scrapbook
  55. Play online trivia games
  56. Go for a walk
  57. Plan your next vacation
  58. Write a song
  59. Update your blog
  60. Dust the shelves (a sure cure for insomnia!)
  61. Listen to talk radio
  62. Talk a walk down memory lane
  63. Clean out your junk drawer
  64. Putter
  65. Do crossword puzzles
  66. Wax your bikini line
  67. Massage yourself – or ask your partner to
  68. Create a unique board game
  69. Clean out old computer files (another good insomnia treatment)
  70. Paint a self portrait
  71. Make soup
  72. Make jewelry
  73. Make love
  74. Read old magazines
  75. Lie on the grass
  76. Lie in the snow
  77. Lie in the rain
  78. Don't lie to yourself

If you found If You Can't Fall Asleep Fast: 78 Things To Do When You're Struggling With Chronic Insomnia helpful, try:


The copyright of the article If You Can't Fall Asleep Fast in Psychology is owned by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen. Permission to republish If You Can't Fall Asleep Fast in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.


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Comments
Oct 6, 2008 12:23 AM
Guest :
Reading that list made me sleepy.
Oct 22, 2008 5:36 AM
Guest :
I hope it helps.
Nov 7, 2008 3:46 PM
Abby Deliz :
What a great list, Laurie. Love the pic as well. I wish I could use some of these suggestions for my 22 month old insomniac! (Really. Not even a joke. My son does not sleep!) Maybe when he's older I can pass this onto him!
Jan 5, 2009 8:12 PM
Guest :
you can also count sheeps
Apr 9, 2009 8:29 PM
Guest :
im going to have to try this
Jun 20, 2009 2:56 AM
Guest :
Really good list! I enjoyed it and agree, as most people do, that these all will make you sleepy in a matter of time. My only problem is that if you need to wake up early don't these time consuming activities just decrease your amount of resting time and add to that heavy, tiresome, burden you will have to wake up to the next morning?
Jun 20, 2009 5:24 AM
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen :
Good point about waking up tired the next day.....but if you can't fall asleep fast, you shouldn't just keep tossing and turning. These tips for avoiding insomnia may distract you until your body will actually sleep.

I think either way (whether you toss and turn, or get up and do something), you're bound to be tired the next day. This way, you'll have achieved something while you can't sleep, at least! :-)
Jul 17, 2009 4:28 PM
Guest :
yeah true reading makes me sleep as well but need more tips ......:)
Aug 7, 2009 12:18 PM
Guest :
you can also eat a spoonfull of honey b4 u go 2 bed. it really works!
Sep 18, 2009 1:37 PM
Guest :
Aren't 52 and 73 the same?
Nov 5, 2009 9:17 PM
Guest :
im saving this. ty
11 Comments
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