Falling Asleep

[kushwoho44]

Hey guys,

I have troubles falling asleep at night thinking about school and stuff. Was just wondering, what can be done to help this out?

Also, how much sleep do I need per night?

Regards.

[pi]

Also, how much sleep do I need per night?

I don't do psych, so I don't know specifics. But around 8hrs is usually recommended.

[Russ]

It's variable but 8-9 hours is optimal. Less isn't bad unless you're doing it regularly, you can work a full day off only a few hours sleep if you have to.

Sleep aids: herbal tea (passionflower, chamomile) and meditation. 10 minutes of a guided meditation and 10 minutes of a relaxing music track, every night straight before sleeping for at least a month

[Souljette_93]

You seem to be stressed with school..take it easy, take day by day, and don't worry. 8 hours of sleep is good for you.

[SDPHD]

Two methods I know work (because I've done/do it myself).

Left heavy weights regularly. Every day your entire body should ache and you should feel hella tired by the end of the day.

Sleep less. If you sleep like ≤5 hours a night consistently, whenever you shut your eyes, they stay shut. I don't really reccomend this though, it kills your ability to concentrate etc.

[kushwoho44]

Thanks guys, I was told by Dr.Michael-Carr Gregg that 9.25 hours of actual sleep was optimal. That's a huge amount of time, given that it takes me and most people I know at least 45 mins to actually fall asleep and properly wake up, 10 hours of sleep and associated sleep time seemed crazy.

Russ, do you have any tips on how to meditate, I just close my eyes and think about nothing in a dark room, it's really good but I'm just curious if that's all I have to do to be doing it right.

[Predator]

The sleep topic seems to have been covered. But the differences between an average night of sleep vs a good one will show at the beginning of the day and the end. You will be more alert at the start of the day rather than still waking up and at the end you will still have some energy. Exercise can also help here, I found that going for a run or playing sport allowed me to keep alert and awake.

It seems like your school thoughts are interrupting your train of thought when you should really be allowing your mind and brain to shut down and slow down.
To combat this you could write down on paper what is going through your head and cross it off as you believe that little situation is resolved.

[Russ]

Russ, do you have any tips on how to meditate, I just close my eyes and think about nothing in a dark room, it's really good but I'm just curious if that's all I have to do to be doing it right.

Guided meditations are designed for people wanting to try meditation. Put it on your iPod and listen to it, then switch to a music only track

Try here for some good guided meditations:

[Ghost!]

Three deep breathes, seven normal breathes, eyes closed, relaxed.

[happycat]

Usually it's about 8 hrs of sleep that reccommended for most people but there are some people that are fortunate in that they only require about 6-7 hrs sleep. How much one needs to sleep varies from individual to individual.

[slothpomba]

Theres actually not a lot of research into the 8 hours thing, its just something someone plucked out of the air.

7 Hours is even enough really but it varies from person to person, long as you don't feel tired *during* the day or find yourself nodding off in class or on the bus home (like i did!) then you're probably getting enough. Don't worry if you feel sleepy in the morning though, happens to everyone.

I survived year 11/12 on 4 or 5 hours sleep sometimes, it wasnt nice but i managed.

Point is just try to relax before bed and if youre not falling asleep easily when you go to bed you probably can't be all that sleep deprived, so i wouldn't worry about it too much.

If school is causing you anxiety though maybe find someone to talk it through with, thatd be a good idea.

[simpak]

Be careful or you'll end up like me.  Living on two hours sleep a night, driving through red lights and throwing up outside the Chemistry building.  Read: I feel ur pain.

[cyrus_atlantis]

According to Dr.Michael-Carr Gregg, microwave milk 1min20sec and it'll release some sort of sleep-induced chemical...making it easier 2 sleep. So perhaps try drink a cup of milk b4 bed

[transgression]

exercise

[chrisjb]

Personally, I listen to shitboring podcasts or search through radio frequencies until I find something mindnumbing and then lie down and listen. Works a charm.