How do you get to sleep?

NightBloomCereus · Mar 10, 2013

I sleep best if I'm taking care of myself on the whole, especially by eating right and working out regularly. It also helps to have balance by doing things not related to school and keeping a consistent sleep schedule, but that's not always possible. Also, I hear studying in bed is bad for sleep because it's better to train your brain that bed=sleepytime.

I find that if you take care of your body through diet and exercise you will sleep better. If that doesn't work you may want to visit the doc. Good luck :)

Rhi007 · Mar 10, 2013

A bad night I take phernergan otherwise a 3hr workout shower hot milk and lay on my tummy to sleep

HH_RN13, ASN, RN · Mar 10, 2013

Not the best method at all, but after having my daughter and heading to nursing school when she was 3 months old I had major sleep issues. I've tried everything I could and eventually I agreed to try ambien my dr prescribed. It was really a life saver for me. I've graduated since and haven't had problems sleeping and haven't used ambien anymore

coco317 · Mar 10, 2013

Trying listening to a meditation recording. "Meditation oasis" is a free podcast I downloaded on my phone. It usually does the trick in de-stressing me and knocking me out haha.

I will also take melatonin 3-5 mg as needed as a sleep aide. It's over the counter sold in the vitamin section of the drug store. I don't know if it interacts with any prescription meds so double check at the pharmacy if need be. * also-- I would try this first on a day where you don't need to be up real early. You need to allow yourself to get plenty of sleep so you're not groggy all day!

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Mar 10, 2013

Don't do anything stimulating before bed. Avoid watching TV, surfing the internet or using your phone before bedtime. Use your bed strictly for sleep - don't lounge in your bed watching TV or using your laptop. I wouldn't even read an enjoyable book because I find that I start to get into the reading and have to find out what happens next (and get antsy as a result!) so I have to continue reading.

As funny as this sounds, reading some nursing material actually helps me sleep! Do some relaxing yoga to help unwind, take a hot shower, drink some chamomile tea.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2013

I tend to find it very easy to fall asleep while reading my notes. About 45 minutes before I want to be asleep, I'll head up to bed, notes in hand. I get in a comfy (sleeping position, not sitting up w/back against the headboard etc) and start reading. Never fails I'm dead to the world within 15-30 minutes. My husband always ends up taking the notes off my face haha.

For me, reading my notes in bed does two things. First, after reading non-interesting material (mind you this never works with something I'm really interested in...latest novel etc) I feel my eyes getting heavy, hard to focus on the words and being in a comfy position..it puts me right to sleep Second, I always dream about the notes throughout the whole time I'm asleep. It's almost like having lecture over and over and over in my sleep. I wake up with the info fresh in my head.

For the times that I don't need to worry about studying and I can't sleep I play a solitare game on my phone, in the dark..I know they say not to do anything like that before bed but it honestly puts me into a lull and off to dream world I go.

i♥words · Mar 10, 2013

Writing in a journal about everything, especially stuff you can't (or won't) tell others. (I am reminded of my tween years when I wrote in a diary that had a plastic lock on it. :wacky: ) This is especially helpful when you want to rant about life and people but don't want anyone's "helpful" advice. I also read a chapter of a good book before I turn the light out. Nothing major, usually fiction.

Jill2Shay · Mar 11, 2013

5mg zolpidem.

Mewsin · Mar 11, 2013

we're supposed to sleep? says the girl who has to get up for class in 3 hours.

I have no advice this whole day things is killing me. I'm such a night girl that wow.

Stephalump · Mar 11, 2013

I used wine as a sleep aid last semester. Gained 10lbs.

I've switched to low-calorie hot bubbles baths. Works like a charm :). if all else fails, I can always start reading one of textbooks and be sleepy in about 7.5 minutes.

eva123 · Mar 11, 2013

Thank you all for the great advice :). I'd prefer to steer clear of meds and wine, but they are good suggestions. The more tips you come up with the merrier :cat: . Also, I'm a dorm student so my resources are limited as far as baths, and am not old enough to drink