# How do you sleep at night? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 21, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472 "2011-01-21T17:39:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Grapefruit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@Grapefruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grapefruit)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/21 "2011-01-21T21:32:52Z")
Oops. Should have clarified. I’m asking for both of you… Both the occurrence and the wheedling happen on weekends for me. Not sure I can handle the daily ritual of either… ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/22 "2011-01-21T21:39:10Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > On a pile of money and women. Damn, you beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/23 "2011-01-21T22:09:46Z")
Fan on, lights out, lie there for about 15 minutes until I drift off. I can occasionally fall asleep with the lights on if I’m exhausted. I absolutely cannot sleep without the fan on. If there’s a power outage in the middle of the night and it goes off, I wake up instantly. If I don’t bring along a fan on trips where we sleep in hotels, I will spend the whole trip exhausted because it takes me hours to fall asleep without the white noise and I wake up frequently. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/24 "2011-01-21T22:24:05Z")
I rarely have thoughts ruminating in my hear at night so it’s down and out. I don’t even feel the dog climb up on the bed most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/25 "2011-01-21T23:29:33Z")
I can’t sleep in the dark and quiet. I generally put up a season of a tv show (like south park or family guy) on repeat on my computer, which I can see and hear from bed–loud enough to hear everything but not loud enough to wake me from a sound sleep. My higher brain’s activity switch has no “off” position and must be occupied with sound, or else (or else what? exactly!). I don’t know if I’m just anxious, or maybe I have OC tendencies because I will start thinking about something and not be able to stop obsessing about it (reminiscing about high school, sexual fantasies, bills that need paying, things I’m doing wrong, my direction in life, my old cats, friends/family who’ve died–random shit, not always bad, but always distracting). If I turn off the computer I can lay awake in bed for hours, and when I do get to sleep it will not be restful (for the times I have been forced to sleep in the dark and quiet–like visiting mom). If I turn it on, I’m asleep within 15 minutes at the most, and I stay that way. I only slept over with my ex a few times (in his bed which was really comfortable), but I couldn’t sleep well because he didn’t have any electronics in his room except an alarm clock. I would wake up sporadically, confused and disoriented by the complete darkness and silence. Unable to get back to bed but unable to motivate myself to get up and do anything about it. I HATE that feeling. I also have problems with immediately-post-dream sleep paralysis that come and go, but that seems independently random regardless if I’m watching something or not. I’ve had nights where I get 3 episodes in a row, and other times where I go months without it. Not really sure why but maybe it’s related. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/26 "2011-01-22T00:41:50Z")
The bedroom is for sex and sleep. I don’t have a tv in there, and I mostly don’t read in there. I do both of those things in the living room, and when I’m done, I go into the bedroom, undress, turn out the light, and go to sleep, which may or may not be preceded by thinking about stuff. If I find myself thinking about stuff to the point that precludes sleep, I get up, go back into the living room, and numb my mind with some Real Housewives or something until I’m confident that I can go to sleep. FWIW, I think that the person who requires the least distraction to go to sleep wins dominion over the bedroom, since distractions can be easily accommodated elsewhere in the house. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/27 "2011-01-22T00:46:52Z")
> [@Grapefruit](#): > > My SO has been talking lately about moving in together, but I don’t know if that will really work because our “go to sleep” rituals differ quite a bit from each other. Poll is for the purpose of seeing what people usually do, but of course, elaborate in a reply. If your style differs from your SO’s and you live together or spend more than half of the week sleeping with each other, how do you work around the differences? Our sleeping is so incompatible that we have separate rooms. When it’s time for him to go to sleep, I usually go into his room and snuggle with him in his bed and chat for a while. Usually one or more of the cats will come in for some attention as well. Then he turns out his light and I leave, or he reads a little. Sometimes we both read. Anyway, when it’s time for him to sleep, I get up and go back into the main part of the house. Then when it’s time for me to go to sleep, I have a strict (doctor’s orders) regimen of medication, taking a bath and having a cup of tea and reading and then trying like hell to fall asleep in my own room. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/28 "2011-01-22T00:56:18Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > FWIW, I think that the person who requires the least distraction to go to sleep wins dominion over the bedroom, since distractions can be easily accommodated elsewhere in the house. I can’t argue with this, but if it were the case in my living situation, I’d be sleeping on the couch every night. Separate bedrooms maybe? I can’t use headphones because I’m a side sleeper and I turn over a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/29 "2011-01-22T01:01:59Z")
I checked TV/radio, but I really put on a book on tape/CD. Then I pet the cats until they curl back up and eventually drop off. I’d guess it takes roughly 10-20 minutes. There’s also a CPAP and bite guard involved, which I’m guessing would be more off-putting than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/30 "2011-01-22T01:20:58Z")
Go up to bed, get the dogs settled around me, read for a bit and then lights out and sleep. Sometimes if it’s late or I’m really sleepy I skip the book and just cuddle around a dog and fall asleep. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/31 "2011-01-22T01:28:44Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > I think it’s kind of hilarious that you have “masturbate” as an option, but not “sex”. > > Generally, it’s go to bed, sex with the husband, he goes to sleep, I read for a while, turn out the light, and if I’m lucky I’m asleep within 30 min or so. I have to shower after sex and so does he\*. Otherwise we wake up later, sticky and uncomfortable. \*meaning he feels the same way, not that I make him do it ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/32 "2011-01-22T02:56:36Z")
No SO, but I need absolute silence and darkness to sleep. I sometimes read and often listen to music in bed. As soon as I’m ready for sleep, music off, book on bedside table and lights out then curl up and sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Rala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@Rala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rala)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/33 "2011-01-22T06:44:05Z")
I sit in bed and read/write/think about things for a while. Then I cover up anything that emits light, hide the digital clock behind a book (so I can’t check the time every ten minutes), turn out the light and toss around for about an hour until I finally drift off. Yeah, my routine does not work too well for me. Maybe I should try the TV/radio thing, but knowing me I’d get _interested_ in that and stay awake even longer. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/34 "2011-01-22T07:33:40Z")
I live alone, but sometimes I read a little, sometimes I don’t, and I generally drift off to sleep without a problem quite quickly. I do have to get up to pee a lot more as I get older, which appears to be an inevitable side effect of aging. But even then, I can return to sleep pretty quickly afterward. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/35 "2011-01-22T14:54:29Z")
I chose #2, because it’s close to my ideal (#1), but is more actual. But there are two things that shouldn’t be confused, what you do in order to wind down from the day and go to sleep, which can vary wildly for myself (TV on couch in familyroom, Reading, Internet, Hobbies, etc…); and actual room/sleeping conditions. For the best night’s sleep, I need it pitch black; dead silent; slightly on the cool side (~66-68ºF); a sheet, blanket and duvet; and a quality pillow that are all neat and straight. Otherwise, I’ll toss and turn all night. Luckily, my wife and me are compatible here. However, she likes to go to bed an hour or three before I do. So I try and be as quiet as possible when getting into bed because she’s such a light sleeper, where a nuke could go off next to my ear, and I’ll still be sleeping like a baby… if nukes weren’t so damn lethal. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/36 "2011-01-22T16:27:39Z")
I sleep like a baby; I wake up every two hours and cry. I can actually sleep pretty easily. Nothing really distracts me when I’m tired enough and my body demands sleep. I do have to have it kind of dark though, usually that’s just a hat over my face while I sleep [del]at work[/del] in public or on public transportation, etc. I have to sleep that way since I work at night and need sleep during the daylight hours. ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/37 "2011-01-22T17:48:29Z")
I’m pretty lucky in that our body clocks are off by a bit and I can generally sleep like a rock. So I go to bed first, within 30-45 minutes I’m out, and when he comes to bed about another hour after that, I don’t even stir. (I get to cuddle with two of the dogs as I drift off, the 3rd stays up for the possibility of snacks) The wake up side on weekends generally ends up being a pain in the butt though - cause it takes a miracle for me to sleep past 9, and he can easily sleep till 1. If I’m fairly quiet - and that’s why its a pain in the butt. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/38 "2011-01-22T18:42:37Z")
You forgot the “other” option for your poll. If I go to sleep at night I will get fired. I sleep during the day. No, I am not a vampire. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/39 "2011-01-22T18:47:02Z")
Other: chronic insomnia since I was a child. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2011, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472/40 "2011-01-23T08:23:01Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > On a pile of money and women. > What no “Lights out, crawl into bed, think about things for a while, get up, go pee, back to bed, think about things for a while, get up, take a melatonin, go pee, sigh, back to bed, think about things for a while, somehow fall asleep” option? Excepting it would be “pile of money” only (no women thanks and if I ever got lucky enough, I’d want just one man, “The One”), it’s pretty much this x10, and with lots of tossings and turnings thrown in for good measure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-at-night/568472.md?page=3)