Been through this before, so I know it gets better eventually, but what do you folks generally do to optimize beddy-bye time? To the insomniacs, what are some things you do in the wee hours/early morning for a relaxing start to your day?

This morning’s choice is checking out the music of Casiopea - saw them mentioned in a meme here recently, then later on saw one of my favourite gig spaces has a great local fusion jazz band doing a show covering them at the end of the month. Very chill, feels like menu music of a mid-90s Japanese 3D game in a very good way, lol. Funny how these things happen sometimes, kinda like seeing the car model you just bought everywhere on the road shortly after purchase.

  • Iceblade@lemmy.worldEnglish
    9·
    1 day ago

    I usually put on an audio book or podcast. Lets me put away the screen and turn off the lights. Also keeps the mind sufficiently occupied to not get caught up in runaway thoughts. Inevitably fall asleep after half an hour or so.

    • reallykindasorta@slrpnk.netEnglish
      5·
      24 hours ago

      Seconding audiobooks! If you’re in the US you can usually rent them free via Libby app by entering your library card info.

      • Cracks_InTheWalls@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
        2·
        20 hours ago

        And for the Canadians in the room, same here!

        Now, there’s gonna be holds on the really good stuff* from past experience, but regardless it’s an awesome service.

        *Off topic story: I used to work a job that would have unexpected, lengthy periods of downtime. There was one of these periods where I’d browse the new acquisitions in my local library system. There was a book with photos of goats that had 68 holds on it. Literally, it was just a goat photography book.

        To this day, I am intensely curious about who these 68 people were, and why they didn’t just get their pictures of goats from the internet like us normal people.

        • reallykindasorta@slrpnk.netEnglish
          2·
          19 hours ago

          I wish there was some way to dig into this mysterious goat photo collection’s popularity! Do you remember the title?

          I almost info dumped in my post but didn’t so now you’ve given me the opportunity to share my additional libby tips for people who aren’t familiar:

          • Put holds on popular titles you want to read so that you’ll be in line for them and will have a rotating door of available titles. You can choose to ‘deliver later’ to let the next person in line read it before you without going to the back of the line.
          • Some library systems have a larger selection than others and even within the same system some allow more holds than others (this is the case in NYC at least) so it’s worth picking up a card wherever you’re eligible including university libraries.
          • If your library system is underfunded and you have family in an area more well funded, they likely have a broader selection. Perhaps a family member who isn’t digitally inclined might let you use their library card #. [Caveat that they will have access to your history via their library record].
          • Cracks_InTheWalls@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
            2·
            18 hours ago

            Lol, found it - Beautiful Goats: Portraits of Classic Breeds by Felicity Stockwell. My prevailing theory is that there’s a group of folks in my city who just put holds on everything and pass on the titles they don’t actually want.

            Good tips!

            • reallykindasorta@slrpnk.netEnglish
              1·
              17 hours ago

              Ohh good sleuthing. My library doesn’t have it:( Are there any holds on it now?

              I’m racking my brain for another theory because I don’t understand reserving a book you don’t want, but I’m coming up blank!

    • Cracks_InTheWalls@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
      2·
      20 hours ago

      Huh - interesting. May just be a function of habit, but I always found stuff like that keeps me awake. I know other people don’t, though - my wife falls asleep to podcasts, but she also puts the TV on as background noise. Never understood that myself - it’s either music, or I’m going to be glued to whatever is on even if I have no inherent interest in it.

      Learned a lot about Canada-US border security, food television competitions, and drag competitions that way, lol.

      Always interesting to see what strokes work for different folks, though!