Some people find avoiding drinks with caffine (that's coffee & tea, coke, energy drinks etc) from much earlier on in the afternoon (somewhere around 4:00pm at the latest) can help, especially if your body processes them slowly. It may just be the excitement of being away & all the differences that go with it. I always found that all that fresh air when camping really tires me out.
BTW, there's a worrying amount of alcohol mentioned on this thread, are you sure there's nothing you want to tell us you lot!
I never used to get a good nights sleep camping. My last trip I added in a wee bottle of WKD, then allowed it to ferment before having my last visit to the loo at night. I then god into my bed and read, something I never do in bed in a tent. I switched my light of as I got tired, just as I'd do at home and low and behold I only woke once through the night! Not sure if it was coincidence or if the one drink and reading actually made a difference.
Lavender pillow spray helps us relax at home. I guess it would work just as well away in a tent. Avon do a nice one. It may help deter the mozzies too.
If you have the means to play music very quietly, how about a relaxation CD or ipod download thingie (whatever it is the more up to date gadgets use nowadays)?
reading is a good idea - don't know why i didn't think of it before - I always read in bed at home (until OH starts moaning) - could get one of those little reading lamps that attaches to book - then at least i'm doing something productive instead of just laying there worrying about not sleeping.
And yeah - slightly worrying the amount of you who drink yourselves to sleep lol. (am definitely going to try a small southern before bed tho)
wolla
------------- Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to slide in sideways --- champagne in one hand and strawberries in the other --- screaming... WOOHOO, WHAT A RIDE!"
Was also going to comment on the amount of people who rely on alcohol! Don't get me wrong, I do drink from time to time, but would worry if it was just to knock me out.
My other worry would be with a 3 year ol I wouldn't want to be that out of it!
Anyway, hope you enjoy, and get a good nights' sleep.
------------- If you see a family struggling to put up the tent then it must be us!
lol - i don't think one small southern comfort before bed is going to make me so 'out of it' that my 3 year old would be in any danger.
------------- Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to slide in sideways --- champagne in one hand and strawberries in the other --- screaming... WOOHOO, WHAT A RIDE!"
Quote: Originally posted by ellspacer on 25/5/2010
I'm with you on the audiobooks, I have in-ear plugs for camping so all background noise at night is blocked out. I don't want the full bladder in the middle of the night with the alcohol option.
do you fall asleep with ear phones in? I'd thought about listening to music to send me off but was worried that i'd strangle myself in the night if i fell asleep with ear phones in.
------------- Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to slide in sideways --- champagne in one hand and strawberries in the other --- screaming... WOOHOO, WHAT A RIDE!"
Simple idea, give the Southern Comfort to the three year old, then when he's out of it you can get some sleep...
Actually I did do that to my father on a fishing trip when I was 4, he had a 4 pack of Courage Light ale, I had a bottle of Corona Cherryade (anyone else remember Corona?). I asked my dad if I could have a drink, he said yes, I had a drink alright, he looked round, I was flat on my back, snoring.
He had a bottle of cherryade, I had had all 4 tins of Courage... So he had a days fishing, pop to drink, I was completely plastered, he went home, fed up, no fish, no beer and a hell of a nagging session from my mother who said he had done it deliberately...
------------- Just remember, if it is older than yours, smaller than yours but next to yours, there is probably no credit owing on it...
lmao - fortunately the 3 year old sleeps better in the tent than he does at home though so that would just be waste of good booze
------------- Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to slide in sideways --- champagne in one hand and strawberries in the other --- screaming... WOOHOO, WHAT A RIDE!"
Quote: Originally posted by ellspacer on 25/5/2010I'm with you on the audiobooks, I have in-ear plugs for camping so all background noise at night is blocked out. I don't want the full bladder in the middle of the night with the alcohol option.
do you fall asleep with ear phones in? I'd thought about listening to music to send me off but was worried that i'd strangle myself in the night if i fell asleep with ear phones in.
I just put one ear in & lie on the opposite side. Mostly the earphone falls out, or I take it off just before I doze off. It is worth working out how to get the MP3 to play individual tracks so it's not talking to itself all night!
There is also LibriVox which is free to use. Their books are in the public domain (so you won't find any new books) and read by volunteers so the quality can be a bit hit & miss. LibriVox
I cant sleep on the first night - i think it takes adjustment to your surroundings and i find keeping busy in the day and a full belly of food and warmth helps !!!
Yes a drink or two - red wine !!
Its all about switcing off and sometimes i am shocked how stressed you can be !!!!
Good luck, after all the suggestions on here you will be asleep reading them !!!!
as everyone else has said, it does take a night or two to adjust.
i don't use ear plugs as i have tinitus and it makes it worse, and NO background noise means all i can hear is ringing all night.
i have to sleep with a fan on at night at home so i can't hear the ringing. when camping i tend to listen out for a continual noise i can focus on, like trees rustling in the wind or the sound of a stream and that blocks out the ringing.
the only problem i have is the dawn chorus on a clear morning, wakes me up with a shock - especially if there's wood pigeon with their hooting noises - but luckily i normally fall back to sleep after a while, unless that wood pigeon is in the tree next to you
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Tips on getting to sleep
Don't get me wrong, I do drink from time to time, but would worry if it was just to knock me out.
