I am a huge advocate of sleeping well. Over the years I have read a number of articles about it, and try to practice what I've learned.

I can't do everything they suggest however, it's just not practical. For example, I can't sleep in a totally dark room. There are a number of things in my bedroom that have lights on them, and I just don't think it is practical to either remove them from the room or cover them before heading off to bed.

Specifically I'm talking about a light on my land line phone that indicated it is charged. Two lights on my clock that indicate that two alarms are set, a light on my PAP machine that indicates it is turned on -- which it is supposed to be when I am in bed and using it!

But these are all just little red or green lights, and I figure that if I close my eyes, I don't see them...

I think the thing that works the best to calm my brain and get me ready to sleep each night is a pre-bed ritual that includes taking a nice hot bath -- often reading in the tub. (And yes,I do use this time to read the books I review for the NABBW. And yes, now and then one or two of them have accidentally fallen into the tub. Thankfully each one has been able to be reclaimed and finished!)

I just read an article that says about 70 million Americans suffer from sleep problems. It specifically notes that good sleep can be harder to achieve as we age.

I know my next door neighbor, who's in her 80s, also takes a hot bath each night. She uses hers to ease her aching back, while the genesis for mine was restless legs. (I refused to take the meds the sleep specialist wanted to give me. And by chance I discovered that a nice hot pre-bedtime bath works great to still my legs. And no chemicals involved!!)

So I'm just curious: does anyone else have trouble sleeping? Does anyone else have personal tricks to share that help them sleep?

I'd love to hear what others are experiencing. Especially since the article says that a 2011 study found subjects with insomnia incurred 75% more in health-care costs than those without insomnia.

So here's to health inducing sleep!!

Oh Lord, yes, I have trouble sleeping, lol! It’s even worse since I have gotten older. Apparently I have had trouble sleeping even when I was a wee girl so my mother told me.

I have tried all the “experts’ rules” for a good nights sleep for 35 years or more. Only one thing has been sort of helpful. I go to bed the same time every night whether it is a weekend or not. If I miss my sleep window, I might as well stay up because I will toss and turn all night trying to get to sleep.

Aids for sleeping----you name it,I have tried it most likely, except for sleeping pills. I won’t take them. If I find something that seems like it will work, it is always temporary. It lasts only about 3-4 days and then I’m back to not sleeping well again. The Cherry Juice thing that everyone is all crazy about right now, did not work for me neither. I drank it for 6 months---nothing.

Not sleeping well, makes for a sleepy, butt-dragging tired day.

I used to sleep quite well --for many years even when my career was in its peak years.

For a variety of reasons, I can't sleep well consistently and long all the time. Some of it is psychological.

Anyway, yes a hot shower helps...and daily exercise helps me, probably more than I realize. (and my digestive system. Important when aging. :))

Sleep - sometimes tricky.

Anybody else go to bed feeling fine and wake up about 2 A.M. with a hip and leg hurting so bad they can hardly stand it? I bought foam padding to put on top of the mattress. That doesn't help. We have two guest bedrooms, but I hate leaving hubby to sleep by himself and know he won't move. I don't know if changing mattresses will help. After I'm up awhile, the pain goes away. I put pain patches on once in a while and rub the hip and leg with Sombra, Sore No More cream. That helps.

Jabber, I know what you mean: my husband complains lately that if he sleeps in the same position too long one of his hips starts to hurt.

I currently don't have issues like you are describing. I credit my sleep preparation procedures, which I do every night, with my ability to sleep very well.

(Oh, I do have to get up to go to the bathroom somewhere between 1-3x/night. But I get up, go and come back to bed with as little "muss and fuss" as possible, so that I can get right back to sleep. )

I DID have trouble with sleeping and leg discomfort during the months when I was recovering from my knee replacement surgeries. Early on, for example, I was taking pain meds again during the night. So I'd wake up for that.

Sometimes if the discomfort was bad enough, I'd get up and walk into the kitchen where I'd get a glass of milk and maybe a small bite to eat. And then I'd do a series of simple knee exercises at the counter. Using the counter like a ballet bar, to steady myself. All of this using only the light from a night light in the kitchen, to try not to wake up too much.

(I told my primary care doc about this. She thought exercising in the middle of the night was hilarious. But it worked for me.)

Then if I still didn't feel like I could get back to sleep, I'd go for my "nuclear weapon": I'd wrap myself in a blanket and try sleeping in the recliner chair we bought for me to use when recovering from the second surgery. It has heat and vibration, so I'd use that to help me get relaxed and pain-free, and then I'd finally get back to sleep.

IN an hour or so, when I'd next wake up, usually because the heat in the chair turned off and my blanket isn't keeping me warm, I'd head back to the bedroom and sleep there again.

Well I'm still having problems. I keep thinking, wishing and praying that I'll work out of it shortly. It's only been happening these past several weeks. Methinks it's sciatica, so I'm sticking with the "Sore No More"..."Sombra" pain med.

How's that working, Jabber? I'm not familiar with Sombra.

But one of the physical therapists at the fitness center I use, told me that pain I told her I'm experiencing - running down the back of my leg - is sciatica. She told me to take Aleve. I count on the hot baths with epsom salts that I take every night - and the Aleve.

Sombra, aka Sore No More, works. I put it on before bed but it wears off by morning and I have to reapply more. Then the pain goes away quickly. It's that first, getting out of bed thing, that's really bothersome. They changed the name of Sombra recently. It is now {Sore No More}. It's cheaper than going to the doctor.

Which one of the 'sore no more' do you use, Jabber. I might give it a try. I fetch my Ace cold compress out of the freezer when I'm hurting, and my mag gel when my leg/hip is restless. Sometimes when I wake, get up and walk, my heels hurt. I don't know if it's from sleeping too hard in one position, or what. It doesn't happen all the time... but when it does, it makes me start my day a bit grouchy.