How to Fall Back Asleep

We’ve all that fine experience of waking up, wired, in the middle of the night, unable to fall back asleep. It can happen because we’re stressed out, jolted to life by a howling nightmare or neighbor’s dog or for apparently no reason whatsoever. Once our heart calms down, it may often feel impossible to fall back to sleep. But a few steps will bring you back to dreamland, cuddled in blankets and all.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Boring book or newspaper section
• Paper and pen
• Warm milk
• Garlic (optional)

1. Get out of bed. Lying there stewing about how you can’t fall back asleep will not make it happen.
2. Read something really boring. Options include the biography of Martha Washington, a book about 1950s’ hairstyles or the newspaper’s financial pages.
3. Write lists. Any mechanical, mindless activity will certainly help the sleep cart come charging down the ramp. Topics can include what’s been stressing you out, the top 10 terrifying things about the nightmare that just woke you or ways to confront your neighbor about his howling dog.
4. Exercise. No, we’re not talking running 20 moonlit miles or bench pressing twice your weight. Simple stretching will do, releasing the anxiety from your bones. If your waking is habitual, invest in some instructional books or videos outlining stress-reducing yoga routines.
5. Follow up the simple stretches or yoga with meditation. Breathe deep, deeper, deepest. Let the stress float forth from the top of your head. Chant the word "sleeeeeeeeeeeep."
6. Drink warm milk infused with garlic. It may sound gross, but the Old Farmer’s Almanac swears it will have you sleeping in a matter of moments. Skip the garlic part if you just can’t handle the thought.

Tips & Warnings

• If you work in finances and they excite you, don’t read the financial pages to calm you down. Ditto if you’re a major fan of Martha Washington.
• Don’t engage in exercise that quickens your heart rate, like jumping jacks. This just awakens you further.
• Don’t smoke. Nicotine, too, increases the heart rate and makes falling back to sleep that much harder.
• Don’t drink tea unless it’s really “all natural” made from something like rose petals. Even the decaffeinated teas have a trace of caffeine that will help keep you awake.
• Don’t forget to use the bathroom so you don’t wake up again needing to do so.