Some good tips here I'm going to try out. I also wake up around the same time every day. Have been doing this for at least 20 years I think.
My issue is I wake up often in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. Some kind of insomnia. Doesn't happen all the time, but annoying when it does.
Two things that have helped me:
1) White noise. I downloaded a free app to my iPad and have it play rain drops. There are numerous types of white noise to select from and it's much better if you play your iPad through an amp of some kind. I use a cheap set of Logitech computer speakers. It also drowns out the neighbors next door.
2) Tell yourself you must not fall asleep. Sounds counter-intuitive, but every have something important like an interview or exam the next morning that you are anxious about? The thought that goes through my mind then is, "I MUST go to sleep, if I don't it will be terrible." So I flip it around and pretend I must stay awake at all costs. It's worked! Not all the time, but it has.
My issue is I wake up often in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. Some kind of insomnia. Doesn't happen all the time, but annoying when it does.
Two things that have helped me:
1) White noise. I downloaded a free app to my iPad and have it play rain drops. There are numerous types of white noise to select from and it's much better if you play your iPad through an amp of some kind. I use a cheap set of Logitech computer speakers. It also drowns out the neighbors next door.
2) Tell yourself you must not fall asleep. Sounds counter-intuitive, but every have something important like an interview or exam the next morning that you are anxious about? The thought that goes through my mind then is, "I MUST go to sleep, if I don't it will be terrible." So I flip it around and pretend I must stay awake at all costs. It's worked! Not all the time, but it has.