Emily is Smiling

I've had insomnia for almost as long as I can remember.  If you're visiting this article right now, chances are that you suffer from insomnia too.  I understand how miserable the feeling is.  Pure exhaustion... yet you're unable to sleep.  It's awful!

Over the last couple of weeks, I've given several tips to beating your insomnia, at least for one night.  Today is my final installment of these fifty tips.  I hope at least one of them helps you out.  In order to see the last ten tips, click here.

Here are the last ten tips to beating insomnia:

Focus on your senses rather than trains of thoughts.  This might seem weird, but it really works.  Instead of allowing yourself to focus on a specific worry, focus on your senses.  How soft your blanket is, how comforting your room smells, the dim lighting, the quietness all around you, the minty freshness of your breath after you brushed your teeth...  Focus on comforting senses rather than worries about the next day.

Try to set a specific bedtime.  Bedtimes are annoying.  I realize that.  However, getting your mind and body used to going to bed at a specific time will often help you become tired as your bedtime draws near.

Soak in the sun.  Try to get at least fifteen minutes of Vitamin D each day by standing in the sunshine.  Go on a walk with your dog.  Sit out in your yard and read a book.  When your body receives natural Vitamin D, you will be able to sleep better at night.

Exercise during the daytime.  Exercise is important to help you sleep at night.  It will keep your body healthy and active, and your body's internal clock will be more likely to tire when it comes time to go to bed.  However, be sure not to exercise at least two hours before you go to bed.  Otherwise, your adrenaline will be rushing through your body and your blood pressure will be high... not good factors for trying to sleep.

Make a list of things to do tomorrow.  If you tend to lie awake all night worrying about things you have to do the next day, write a big list about thirty minutes before you go to bed.  Even if it's a bunch of little things like, "Go to the store" or "Email Mom," those worries will be curbed enough for you to think about rest.  You'll have them available for you to remember as soon as you wake up the next morning.

Listen to an audio sleeping tape.  I know this will probably make most people laugh, but here goes.  Some professionals have made CDs that you can put into a stereo and listen to right before you go to sleep.  They basically consist of someone with a gentle voice coaxing you to fall asleep.  My dad bought me one by a guy named Frank A. Prince called Speed Sleep.  You can check it out here if you want.  It worked the first night, but after that, I was too curious about what the guy was saying to fall asleep.  Decide for yourself.

Don't sleep in too late in the mornings.  As an eighteen-year-old teen, I absolutely love to sleep in.  It's something I enjoy.  But when you sleep in and get a fourteen hour night's rest, your body isn't going to want to go to sleep at ten o'clock the next night.  That's just how life is.  So if you're struggling with horrible insomnia during the week, you may not want to sleep in during the weekends.

Stare at one place on your ceiling.  This works for some people, but it rarely works for me.  Find one spot on your ceiling that isn't too distracting.  Just a place, like a corner, or a crack... not a water stain that could be transformed into all sorts of pictures in your mind.  Stare at your sleep spot every time you want to fall asleep and don't think about anything else.  Eventually your bored mind might let you drift into slumber.

Place a sleeping pill by your bed.  Now, don't use sleeping pills unless they are prescribed to you by a doctor.  Sometimes the mere comfort of a sleeping pill by your bed can make your subconscious think, "If I can't sleep tonight, I'll have a backup plan."  This will decrease your anxiety and you may be able to sleep without the sleeping pill. 

Visit your doctor.  If nothing works and you are simply getting no sleep, please visit your doctor.  He or she will know how to best help you with your situation.  I'm not a doctor.  I'm simply a fellow insomniac, and in some cases, my silly tips just won't be able to help you out.

Sweet dreams, insomniacs: