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Sleeping Problems

I have been a night owl all my life. I have worked 2nd or 3rd shifts just because I am so not a morning person but then my mother was like that too come to think of it. I still struggle to sleep normal hours, I have terrible insomnia. I think some people like myself just function better when they listen to their inner clocks. I can of course get up to do what I have to for something but eventually I naturally return to my late night living.
 
Sablerose said:
I have been a night owl all my life. I have worked 2nd or 3rd shifts just because I am so not a morning person but then my mother was like that too come to think of it. I still struggle to sleep normal hours, I have terrible insomnia. I think some people like myself just function better when they listen to their inner clocks. I can of course get up to do what I have to for something but eventually I naturally return to my late night living.
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Same. Luckily I’m learning how to invest now so I don’t have to work for anyone. I don’t know if this is an aspie thing but it’s common
 
I know my husband is a night owl like I am however he sleeps the second his head hits the pillow, makes me crazy haha. (Yes, I envy his ability to do that, I can never shut my brain down like that) But he is a very quiet person I am pretty loud at times I'm told not sure if that makes a difference or not. We are like two sides of the same coin, So different yet so very alike in many ways.
 
Not sure this is an aspire thing or a personal thing

I can’t sleep to save my life

Everyone I try to sleep at night, my brain is hyper active and I tend to overthink

Never happens during the day, only happens at night

I don’t take naps, I tried a lot of methods, none of them work. None of them will work
 
Have you tried all of these? They may help.

  1. Establish a consistent sleep schedule: Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. This can help regulate your body's natural sleep-wake cycle.
  2. Create a relaxing bedtime routine: Develop a calming bedtime routine to help signal to your body that it's time to sleep. This could include taking a warm bath, reading a book, or practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation.
  3. Limit exposure to screens: The blue light emitted by electronic devices like phones, tablets, and computers can interfere with your body's natural sleep rhythms. Try to avoid using electronic devices for at least an hour before bedtime.
  4. Make your bedroom comfortable: Make sure your bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet. This can help create a more conducive sleep environment.
  5. Avoid stimulants: Stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol can interfere with sleep. Avoid consuming them before bedtime.
  6. Exercise regularly: Regular exercise can help improve sleep quality, but avoid exercising too close to bedtime as it may interfere with your ability to fall asleep.
 
I don't know if you take melatonin as a sleep aid. A recent chemical analysis of dozens of brands of melatonin showed that they rarely, if ever, contain the amount of melatonin as advertised and stated on the label.
 
I think that a small percentage of people are natural "night owls." Throughout history, there has been a need for night watchmen who stay alert, and groups without those genes did not last.
 
It’s 5 am and I’m still awake

I don’t know what it is but I can’t sleep

I tried a lot of methods. Exercising, listening to podcasts, nothing gets me tired.

Sometimes those strategies worked but it was temporary, as most times it don’t work

I just don’t get tired for some reason

I used to sleep at 2 or 3, now it’s 5 or 6
 
Super frustrating. I've been there, too and still battle to get a good night sleep. It can be very complicated to tackle, but I think it is possible to improve even the worst insomnia. My therapist has me convinced that sleeping well is a skill that can be learned. It involves many factors, though. For me, the goal of improved sleep lead to a whole bunch of lifestyle changes, but it has been good for me.

These are the helpful things that I've learned about and changed over the last year (some of which you already mentioned):

- No caffeine or a just a bit in the morning (even if, like me, it doesn't feel like it affects you that much)
- Keep lights dim after sunset and use as little artificial light as possible
- No eating 3 hours before sleeping time (but also don't go to bed hungry)
- Try to stick to a regular routine, even on weekends
- Exercise and fresh air during the day (as much as possible)
- Sleeping in a cool environment
- Magnesium and Vitamin B supplements
- Stay hydrated throughout the day
- Reduce or eliminate "added sugar" in your diet
- Balance social interactions to feel satisfied but not overwhelmed
- Engage in breathwork during the day (deep breathing)
- Increase your sense of purpose and feelings of gratitude in the day
- Address anxiety with therapy and positive coping skills (journaling, intentional breathing, using fidgets, minimizing sensory overload, etc.)

I know it's a lot. But these are the things that got me from 1-2 hours of sleep each night to 6-7 and sleep changes everything. It still feels like it takes a great deal of work to sleep, but I do think it is a habit that can be strengthened over time.
 
I know that feeling, sometimes it's like the only time I can sleep is when I have to wake up... but anyway sometimes I find it helpful to temporarily give up on the sleep attempt, and sit up, watch a movie on Netflix and then try again, I know it is against usual advice to look at screens before sleeping, but I see it as a lost battle if I'm sleepless anyway :) most nights my problem is not falling asleep but staying asleep.
 
It’s Ok for me to look at a ‘screen’ to fall asleep. But what I’m watching/doing is really what affects my ability to sleep.

I can watch YouTube, but it needs to be something that I’m interested in or I’ll get frustrated and drive myself insane trying to find something I like. If it’s something that I’m too much into, I won’t want to shut it off…. no sleep.

I’ll find something that is very interesting to me, but also sort of bland. Better if it’s something that I have seen several times. When I’m not really interested in how it ends, I’ll fall asleep with my phone in my hand.
 
Blue light affects sleep even a little bit.
So essentially if you do not use devices then you will get a good solid 8 hours usually
However most people use them to connect because a lot of people experience loneliness.
So therefore to conclude if people did not use smart devices then they would sleep better and more soundly.
And if you limit your time like just a little a day it does help a little.
 
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