I fall asleep like someone hit me with a hammer. Problem is, I’ll wake up 3-4 hours later and can’t get back to sleep. I don’t have a problem not looking at the clock though. I just don’t want to know if I have 2 hours or two minutes.
I run through my mind how I would explain/teach someone how to play chess. So something you know, that will keep you from thinking of other things.
Carbs do it for me. Pasta or potatoes, something like that. Avoid putting sharp cheddar on it, though, or you will probably have weird dreams.
Before checking the clock, do some sort of lengthy mental exercise. For example, when you feel the need to check the clock, slowly count backwards from 100. Then each time afterwards you want to check the clock again, add 50 to the number. So the first time it’s 100, then 150, then 200, etc. Force yourself to count slowly by counting like this: 100-onethousand, 99-onethousand, …
The counting will serve a few purposes. One is that it will provide an impediment to looking at the clock, so your brain won’t keep trying to force you to look. Another is that if you decide you have to look, it gives you some time break the link between desire and reward. Your brain loves creating desires that have quick rewards (I want you to check the time --> Yay! I got to see the time). By counting in between, your brain won’t have such a strong reward cycle. And another reason is that the counting can help you relax and fall asleep.
Your brain may still be wanting you to look at the clock when you’re counting, but don’t give in. Wait until you get all the way to zero no matter how much of a tantrum your brain throws. Your brain has developed a bad habit, and it’s up to you to straighten it out.
Last night, I was wide awake despite waking up at 3:30 and not being able to go back to sleep 2 nights in a row. When I finally fell asleep, I woke up at 1:30 and couldn’t go back to sleep. I just can’t get sleepy enough to fall asleep these past few nights.
What’s wrong with me?
Try asking a doctor.
If I let my mind take me on a journey in the wee hours of the night, it tries to kill me. It’s actually kind of interesting…I’ll start out thinking of something innocuous and pretty soon I’m on the topic of “worst things that have ever happened to me or will soon happen”. (I’m reasonably sane in the daytime). Now that I can recognize it happening, I forcibly redirect onto mundane topics like, “what am I going to wear tomorrow” or “mentally remodel the bathroom”.
It sounds like you might be overly anxious or maybe stressed. Is there anything going in your life which is contributing to that? Anything that would cause you to be unusually stressed out? Also, do you drink a lot of caffeine? Stimulants don’t help. Spending time on the computer also doesn’t help. Things like social media and gaming revs up your mind and makes it harder to sleep.
Are you in a place where marijuana is legal? You could try that. I’ve had opportunity to try it and it helped with my sleep. It made my thoughts more fluid and less likely to get fixated on a particular topic. It was easier to drift off to sleep that way.
It also might be time to talk to a doctor. They have a variety of different medications they can try depending on your symptoms.
I have anxiety problems. I’ve been worrying about my sleep lately.
I drink 2 sodas a day.
Cut out the soda or at least stop your caffeine intake as early in the day as you can. That combined with taking a benedryl or two may go a long way.
It’s an OTC drug but you probably should check with a doctor about making significant changes in sleep hygiene. Benedryl gives some people a bigger “hangover” than others.
I’m still not that tired despite waking up at 1 and not being able to go back to sleep.
Is there something wrong with me?
What did you do between 1 and when you got up?
I got up at 1 to go to the bathroom. I tried to go back to sleep for an hour, but I gave up around 2.
Yes; otherwise you wouldn’t be asking us. Have you talked to a doctor about your sleep issues, or your anxiety?
A trick I used to use: If I wake up in the night and I can’t go back to sleep, I get up and perform some unpleasant chore, such as vacuuming the living room. Whew! Just thinking about it wears me out. And if it doesn’t work, hey, clean carpet.
Forgot to mention: Sleeping isn’t just about resting your mind. You might need to do more exercise. Your muscles should be fatigued enough that your body is exhausted and ready for sleep. If your body is restless and still has energy, you are probably not getting enough exercise.
Not saying that is specifically your problem, just a piece of General advice I’m throwing out there.
Try drinking a 12-pack of beer a day. You’ll sleep just fine. 
Apart from all the night time toilet/bathroom visits you’ll need to make 
At this point, you probably should see a doctor. Your sleep schedule is very irregular, and being anxious about the it will just make it harder to get better. You don’t have to go to a sleep specialist. A regular doctor can prescribe something that will work. Tell your doctor if cost is a concern. Some sleep meds are very cheap and you can try them first before going with something more expensive.
I had a really cool old Lumitime clock with the pre-LED digital display like Lumitime Clock Video. It was kind of bright, and cool to see the digits change. After it broke, I put in a (dimmer) digital clock and got bored looking at it; I’ve been sleeping better since then.
Another night time clock issue was when we inherited a chiming mantel clock, which chimes the hours and dings a bell on the half-hour. I thought it would be really annoying, but hearing (not seeing) it chime, or more specifically not hearing it chime, let me know that I had slept through those hours at least. I was surprised that it actually made me sleep better.