Best way to get to sleep quickly

[CoolBee]

For the next few weeks I HAVE to get up at 5am (not 'want' as I don't believe in the sanctity of holy getting up early) as I have to be somewhere.

So I need to somehow get to sleep rather earlier than my normal 2am, starting tonight. (Thursday is my first day of needing to be up that early).

Anyone got any good tips? (And please don't mention any proprietary medications as I won't be able to get them over here!)

[ButterflyWoman]

I'm a night owl, too. I find that in a situation like this, it's best to go to bed when I think I "should", read something not-too-attention-keeping (I find that archeology papers work well, but your mileage may vary ), and just go to sleep when I go to sleep. Then when I have to get up, I get up (because I have to), and if I'm tired, well.... I'm tired, and I'm more able to go to sleep early the next night.

If you're NOT someone who can function on not much sleep, this won't be helpful, of course, but this is how I've always done it. It's the only thing that works for me.

[CoolBee]

Archaeology papers, eh? Sound SO fascinating I might be awake all night
I'm just contemplating going up the shop and bludgeoning my system to death with a large quantity of chocolate to act as a natural tranquilizer.

I do detest getting up early so much! Sadly, if various things go according to plan, this may become an element of life I have to put up with in order to achieve other things - a good example of hating the process and enjoying the result!

[GregD]

Hi. Don't worry. Once you generate the habit it will become natural to you. It takes about 40 days to generate a habit.

In the meantime, wind down in preparation of sleep. Concentrating on breath is a method you can use. Any thoughts that come just let them pass, focus and re-focus on breathing and you will fall asleep.

Further to this see this article of mine, Natural Ways to Treat Insomnia,I know it is for insomnia which you do not have but it is the same situation, so the methods are all applicable to you

[ChrisGinsburg]

Get away from all computer and TV screens at least a couple hours before bed.

[stanmrak]

33 Sleep Aid Secrets from Dr. Mercola.

Ground yourself to the Earth while you sleep. Improved sleep is the most commonly reported benefit of grounding yourself. You can rig up a grounding wire for about $7 by using the directions found here: Earthing Products Let You Ground Yourself Almost Anywhere

[russianrocket]

Originally Posted by stanmrak

33 Sleep Aid Secrets from Dr. Mercola.

Ground yourself to the Earth while you sleep. Improved sleep is the most commonly reported benefit of grounding yourself. You can rig up a grounding wire for about $7 by using the directions found here: Earthing Products Let You Ground Yourself Almost Anywhere

lol something about plugging myself into a wall outlet... seems a little, umm, unnerving?

[stanmrak]

Originally Posted by russianrocket

lol something about plugging myself into a wall outlet... seems a little, umm, unnerving?

Actually, it's quite "grounding." You're only plugging into the grounded port of the electrical outlet - there's no juice in that hole. For someone deathly afraid of electricity, you can run a wire outside and stick it into the ground, just like an electrician grounds the electrical system in a house. Either way, it's the same effect as standing on the earth barefoot.

[Shane Snyder]

Not sure if this has been said, but:

If you are experienced with meditation you can use some of the same practices to help you fall asleep.

Since it sounds like you will be going to bed earlier than you are used to, you will probably be fidgety and your mind will be racing when you try to go to bed at 9pm-11pm. To me this is the same thing as when I try to meditate.

If you simply close your eyes, focus on your breathing for a little while and then visualize and imagine that you are in deep and blissful sleep, before you know it you will be sleeping.

If you actually try to do this I would wager that you would be asleep within 10 minutes.

[CoolBee]

Some good ideas to try
Meanwhile, I think nature is going to lend a big hand and slip me right back into the biphasic sleep pattern I had throughout most of my school and working life. Got home about 445pm, by 5.15pm was snoozing very soundly on the couch and did a whole sleep cycle (1.75 hours) which means technically speaking, I just need to get 3 sleep cycles in = 5.25 hours so can go to bed by midnight to get up 5.15am. Luckily, tomorrow and Saturday are the weekend over here so I can try it at low risk

[Razia]

Have more rice during your dinner ,that will make you sleep early.

[votoshka]

I have found a lot of good binaural beats or hypnosis mp3s that will be guaranteed to put me to sleep (some are not even supposed to ). There are some designed primarily for helping you go to sleep, though, and in my experience they work really well!