Ways to Fall Asleep

by Koren Dides
(State College, Pa)

White Noise


I just recently got promoted which led to me working night shift. Even though I feel exhausted when I arrived home I found myself not being able to fall asleep due to the quietness.

So I began to turn the fan on the middle level and the light sound combined with deep breaths in through my nose and out through my mouth, I found myself asleep in no time!


Hi Koren. Good luck with the new promotion and good luck with getting plenty of rest. I did the night shift for a while and never was able to get enough sleep during the day. There was always to much else going on.

These pages are related to white noise and the night shift.

Sleep Sound Machines

Night Shift



Former Night Worker
by: Debra Stang

Hi. When I first started out as a social worker, I used to work in an inner city emergency room from 4:00 PM until midnight. I couldn't sleep after I got home either, but it wasn't because of the noise. It was because I was still too wired from the rapid pace of the ER. I learned that taking a warm shower and drinking a cup of herbal tea relaxed me enough to go to sleep.

Debra Stang
Alliant Professional Networking Specialist
http://news.uofthenet.info/topics/psychology/sleep/

Fun Focus

by Mike Hunt
(America)

Focus on one thing like walking through a garden. You then start to feel its real and now you are in deep sleep, and then you just let the night take you away as if you're sailing on white fluffy clouds.

I Fall Asleep Using One Simple Method

by Claire

Here's one trick I use to fall asleep if sleep doesn't want to find me... I can't remember when I started doing this, although I think it was after the birth of my son, when obviously I was even more sleep deprived than ever!

What I do, even if I am feeling wide awake, is imagine this very big, old, brown book, and it's actually floating in a white misty cloud. And on the front of the book, in big silver letters, is written "The Book of Sleep"

And once I've got that picture firmly in my mind, I just look at it. Until I fall asleep!

And that really is it. It's a bit like I'm taking myself on a journey, and once I fall asleep (and I always dream) I'm free to "read" the book, and dream away.

I've no idea why this works for me, but it does.

I've just googled the name of the book, and in fact see that there is a book of the same name - but it's not MY book!

Moonbeauty Sleeping

by bridget kelly o'sheehan
(slough,berks,uk)

I usually tend to drink a bit of coffee a day but I seem to have a milky coffee before i go to sleep and then just try to relax and be calm when falling asleep and then I'm off to dream land.

Otherwise, I'll sit there listening to my fiancee chatting a lot and it eventually tires me out and then i hit the sack :)

I hope this helps.

Wee Bit Of Hypnosis

by Emily
(Wisconsin)

I took my idea from a hypnosis CD I bought in college. I would put on the one for a ten minute nap, but would end up sleeping for four hours. HA.

The concept is laying in a position that allows you to relax ALL of your muscles. Then you imagine you are in a relaxing place. I always imagine that I'm entering an ancient Greek watering hole... where I'm there alone, it's the perfect temperature, the colors are neutral rustic brown, but there are ferns there, and a fountain. (I think water is very soothing). billowing white curtains in the slight breeze. sometimes it's sunset, sometimes it's a moonlit room. depending on mood.

But in order to get into the room, there are ten steps I must descend. With the first step, I focus on completely relaxing my feet and hands, to the point where I imagine they are so very heavy. The next step is my arms and legs. Then, the third step down, I focus on my neck and back. By the time I get there, I'm usually asleep.


Thanks Emily. That is an excellent use of imagery to help you fall asleep. We should all have something that works that well.

Meditate and Dream

by Har
(Sri Lanka)

I am one of the few who are lucky to sleep whenever and where ever I want to sleep. Also wake up from a five minute sleep and be fresh as I had a whole night sleep.

The secret is simple. When I want to sleep, I close my eyes and concentrate on my breathing. It may take time to practice this but I can guarantee the results would be perfect. However, in times of hardships, when it is harder to concentrate on breathing, I start on a dream I love - A trip to my favorite place(I am a trip lover), or a dream about my future the way I want it. This not only makes me go to sleep but takes my mind away from the hardships and I can wake up as fresh and happy.