[mingyeow]

I had signs of insomnia in the last couple of years. Tried all the usual techniques, and I realized those just do not work for one simple reason - that the moment i do not fall asleep, i become frustrated. And that frustration in turn makes sleeping much harder.

So, I tried doing the exact opposite, and my sleep has been tremendously better since.

Essentially, i force myself to keep my eyes open. When I catch myself falling asleep, I actually force myself to keep them often again. Before i know it, it is morning.

It sounds counter-intuitive, but all my insomnia problems are over, including on a plane. Would love to know if it works for others, or if it is just a silly thing that works for only me.

[r32a_]

This is how some people overcome a creative block, they get frustrated when they don't get good ideas and that stops them from getting good ideas.

[PavlovsCat]

Regarding sleep, I also learned to "take it easy", so to speak. Instead of thinking "I have to get up soon, fall asleep already!!", I simply think "oh well, I might not sleep but at least I can rest my body a bit and think about stuff". I find that inventing things, be their stories, or imaginary programs, helps with drifting over from that into sleep.

As for creativity, I don't know if it's good for overall output volume, but I love to have a lot of things in the oven, on the backburner, and in the pantry, and switching occasionally. Sometimes I find that something I was burned out on excites me again, and other times I realize that something I was totally obsessed with for a short while after coming up with it isn't really that good, which is just as important.

[rgoodwintx]

Interestingly enough, I've recently found a couple of similar triggers. (Lifelong sleep issues, getting and staying asleep.)

- Thinking about a conversation (real or otherwise) between two OTHER people (I can't be involved), or - counting down backward and visualizing the numbers, but I have to visualize them floating above and behind my head (i.e. not floating in space, or looking directly at them (figuratively speaking)

Both scenarios, when they engage, seem like they trigger an almost physical sensation of the brain shifting modes. I'm sure someone has a reasoned explanation for this, but, crazy as it sounds, when I notice the thoughts seem to be "behind my head" I know it's working and I'll drop off to sleep shortly after. (This is imperfect, and I still don't have restful sleep, but anything that aids is still helpful.)

[scrollbar]

Similar for me, but instead of eyes open, I sit upright against the headboard and meditate eyes closed. I’ll find myself starting to fall over a few times as I nod off, and try to fight through it. After a few of these battles to stay awake I’ll give in, lay down, and sleep instantly.

[kaffeemitsahne]

I do something similar where I keep reading until I literally can't keep my eyes open and my e-reader falls over. Usually I find the next day that I don't even remember the last couple of pages I read.