Should I stay in Bed or Get up if I can't sleep?

[WilsonFitbit]

Hello everyone. 😊

How are you today? 

Everyone has the occasional bout of insomnia, but when you're tossing and turning at 3am, knowing that "everyone goes through this" is small comfort. What you need to know is what to do. Should you get up, or stay in bed?

Here are some tips to help you decide what to do when you can't sleep.

When Should You Just Stay in Bed?

If you've woken up in the middle of the night, it's often a good idea to stay in bed, at least for a while. Waking up in the wee hours of the morning is quite common, and often all you need to get back to dreamland is to just lie there quietly. If you choose to do this, it helps to think about something pleasant, like a favorite memory or a place you find relaxing, like a mountain meadow or peaceful beach.

When to Make Yourself Get Up: 

If you've been struggling to nod off for more than half an hour, it's often best to get up. That doesn't mean, however, that you've given up for the night. Getting up can actually help you get back to sleep. By getting up and moving around, you can stretch your muscles to relieve tension and get your mind off your worries. Then, once you feel sleepy again, you can go back to bed.

How to Stay Up: 

What you do once you've decided to get up is crucial to helping yourself begin to feel tired. Don't turn on any bright lights or use a computer or a cell phone. The white light emitted by electronic devices mimics that of a daytime sky, telling your body it's time to be awake when it isn't.

Instead, turn on a dim reading lamp. Avoid any activities that might be upsetting, like scary movies. Instead, do something that will hold your attention without being over-stimulating, like reading a well-known book, doing a crossword puzzle, listening to soft, soothing music, or doing some gentle stretches.

Everyone knows a great mattress leads to better nights of sleep, but little know that it also makes getting up that much easier. Wake up rested, healthy, and ready for the day; get your brand new mattress and sleep on it tonight. 

I wonder what do you do when you can't sleep? Would you like to share some insights? 

See you around. 

[alexthecat]

When I wake up in the middle of the night, I try to lie very still and breathe deeply and relax. I do that to fake out my Fitbit and make it think that I'm still asleep, so I'll get a good sleep score in the morning. After a few minutes of doing that, I usually fall asleep again. 

[WilsonFitbit]

Nice input, @alexthecat. 

Great practice! I think I'll be trying this as well and I'm sure that this, along with meditation will be doing a great combination. 😊 Thanks for sharing!

Have a wonderful day! 

[kawaiiko]

I have really bad insomnia.  Sometimes I will lie awake till the sun comes up.  Most of my weeks, I have an average sleep of around 3-4 hours during the workweek and 12 on weekends.  

Still trying to figure out what is triggering my insomnia.  Part of it is work - I'm often working 15-20 hour work days 6 days a week and have been on edge for a while.  And the rest I assume is lack of activity and diet.  

Now that my work/life balance is starting to get a little better, I find that diet is helping me with the sleep.  This is the first week I have had consecutive good nights rest in a really long time.  

I find that drinking a green juice first thing in the morning helps me sleep well.  

Strangely, doing a hard workout seems to keep me awake longer.  I will try doing a yoga instead and see how that works out.  

I think the key here is - figure out what your body is saying.  

[WilsonFitbit]

Hello @kawaiiko. Nice to see you around! 

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I'm also glad to know that things have started to change for you and that your sleep is now improving! 😎 Besides the green juice, would you mind sharing which type of diet are you following? 

I'm positive that it will help us a lot! 

See you around.