I rarely get a good nights sleep! Any tips?

Can you get a sleep study done? You may have sleep apnea or some other breathing issue that's disrupting your sleep pattern and keeping you from staying in a deep, restful sleep.

An alternative would be to try sleeping in a separate room from your DH. I have many, many friends who regularly sleep in their own room (with generous visiting privileges in both directions ) and they and their DHs sleep much better this way. DH and I often end up in separate rooms, as I tend to wake easily and then cannot get back to sleep because I can hear him breathing. Yes, just breathing. lol The longer I listen to it, the more irritated I get, and the more irritated I get, the less likely I am to fall back asleep.

ETA peasapie is a faster typer!

The first thing is to evaluate some things: how much screen time are getting a day? how much caffeine? how close to bed time are you eating? are you giving your body/mind any sort of time to wind down before bed?

I used to pooh-pooh such things, but I finally gave some things a try: no screen time for at least an hour before bed; I make sure I've had no caffeine after about 1pm; I read for at least 30 minutes something that's not going to stir my mind up; a cup of non-caffeine tea, especially Sleepytime Tea from Celestial Seasonings, does wonders for me.

Another thing that I scoffed at but was shocked at how well it work: sleep meditation. I use something I found on Audible of places: Glenn Harold's Ultimate Guide to Relaxing Sleep Every Night. Again, I really thought this was too cheesy to help but I was more than pleasantly surprised. The key is that your brain gets "turned off" as you go through his relaxation steps.

Finally, one thing my husband is convinced of is that I dream that I'm awake. There have been nights where I swear I've tossed and turned and been awake more than asleep and he *swears* that is not the case.

Getting a sleep study wouldn't hurt either

I think what you describe is pretty common for many women as they get older. I'm going to suggest something different than everyone else -- try getting a good half an hour or so of moderately strenuous physical activity in the late afternoon, or maybe right after dinner. Something like a very brisk (4 mph) walk. You don't want to do it too close to bedtime, and since you don't work, late afternoon would be ideal. Exercise is both a great stress reliever and a great sleep aid, but as you build up endurance, it also gives you more energy.

I didn't think I had a sleep problem until I started taking magnesium (I use Natural Calm). I was waking to go to the bathroom several times a night but now realize that I was waking first, then had to go to the bathroom. Now I typically wake up once at about 5:00 unless something else is waking me up.

Falling asleep can still be a problem for me due to RLS, heart palpitations and an all over feeling of tingling or itching (all of which I hoped would improve with the magnesium--it may help but hasn't made it go away).

I have sleep problems. My mind just doesn't want to shut off sometimes.

I sometimes take a sleeping pill to help, if its been a few days since I slept good.

Melatonin is something to try as well.

Regular exercise really helps with my sleep issues.

I agree about having a sleep study done. You should talk to your doctor about your sleep issues.

Other things that can help, in the meantime.

1) Avoid caffeine - especially after 5 pm
2) While you don't want to take meds, try an occasional Tylenol PM or something similar - it may relax you a bit more.  Also Valerian Root is a herb and a great sleep aid
3) When you wake up during the night, try the 4-7-8 breathing method (see below) - this usually puts me right to sleep.
4) When you wake up during the night, mentally tell yourself...do not think about other things, you can't do anything about those things right at this very moment while I am in bed - I will put that out of my mind until tomorrow morning. Instead, try to visualize your "happy place" - sitting on a porch in the mountains, sitting in a beach chair with your toes in the sand/water, laying in the sunshine, just visualize that you are somewhere else and you don't have a care in the world at that very moment.
5) Listen to some meditation/relaxation videos - there are several on you tube. Don't watch them, just play them on your phone and listen to them with earbuds - most the time, they will put you back to sleep.
6) Don't nap, even if you can.

I hope some of these tips help. It is miserable not being able to get the rest you need.


4-7-8 Breathing Instructions

To do the 4-7-8 breathing technique, you first need to exhale completely through your mouth while making a 'whoosh' sound.

Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four.

Now hold your breath for a count of seven.

After this time has elapsed, exhale completely through your mouth, making another whoosh sound for eight second in one large breath.

Now inhale again and repeat the cycle three times for a total of four breaths.

'Note that you always inhale quietly through your nose and exhale audibly through your mouth.

For me to have a good nights sleep, its imparitave that I have my room cold. Like 68 degrees.

Melatonin helps me get to sleep when my mind is not cooperating. It does not, however, keep me asleep like antihistamines do.
So an occasional melatonin is what I use.

Best sleep aid ever. Sleep like a rock, no hangover feeling the next day. 

I drink this, it works for me night time tea

Menopause has wrecked my already tenuous hold on a relaxing nights sleep .
I know this sounds silly, but having a hot water bottle at my feet helps me to get to sleep and get back to sleep if I wake in the night. I did find some research that says having very warm feet aids sleep, so I don't think it's just me.

I also write down everything on my mind before I go to sleep and have a pad and pen handy in case something occurs to me in bed. At least then, I'm not worrying about forgetting something important !

I have tried everything and don't have the ultimate solution yet. However, there is one tip from a psychiatrist that helps with some issues. You talked about having an overactive mind. Calming your mind can sometimes help you sleep. You want to do something boring and repetitive to clear your mind. I like to mentally go through the ABC's with some subject matter (names of books, names of people, etc.)