5am. Can't sleep since the hounds woke me up

[ukgimp]

How the hell does one clear ones head. Thought keeping me up.

I need Zen or some shite like that.

Any suggestions. 

[littleman]

Sometimes when I can't sleep I wake up my wife, a half-hour later I'm asleep.

[ukgimp]

Good idea. Mind you I can't help but thunk my gf would like me to start waking up other peoples wives :-)

[Travoli]

I recommend pushups to failure and some stretching.  Usually does the trick for me.

[agerhart]

A glass of two or scotch winds me down

[dogboy]

First, I imposed a rule that does not allow me to think in bed. If I want to problem solve, I need to get up. This solves issues at many levels... the rest can be handled by sleeping on the couch and watching boring tv.

[DrCool]

If I am trying to sleep and it is taking longer than 15 minutes or so I get up and do something. Usually that something is watching mindless TV or something like that and many times I just fall asleep in the sofa and never make it back to bed. I HATE lying in bed and not being able to sleep and it often happens because my mind is racing.

[TallTroll]

I try working on an intractable problem in my head, usually puts me out inside 10 minutes. Don't try to clear your mind, it doesn't like it, give it something inconsequential to do. For extra geek points, the problem I work on is planning a starbase assault in Star Fleet Battles rules 

[JamesR]

brain dump - I clear my head by writing it all down on paper.  It's an amazingly simply tool to get rid of all those thoughts.  Once the mind knows it has been taken care of (put down on paper) it just tends to relax.

[mick g]

>>>>>Have a wank.

ha ha brilliant

[Brad]

Grab my iPhone and read an ebook (fiction).  Usually that will put me back asleep.

[Drastic]

Capt. Obvious strikes again:
http://www.emaxhealth.com/1020/lights-out-dusk-bedtime-lowers-chances-diabetes-insomnia

IOW, turn the lights out, dummy.

Seriously though, lights on average of 90 minutes before bedtime can affect melatonin and could cause insomnia.

New proof that my man cave has its benefits.

[Rumbas]

>New proof that my man cave has its benefits.

Awesome, awesome. I like it in my basement as well. Not much external light, only 3 fish tanks, the tv and the glow from a couple of computer monitors. We were meant to live in caves.

[dougs]

Earlier in the day record a conversation you have with someone

Play the conversation back

Normally your first conversation puts me to sleep...so twice is bound to do it:)

Doug:)

[Rupert]

I have lots of ways:

Get up and work.  nothing so satisfying as doing something.
Write it all down....

Self relaxation... do it on my daughter too when she struggles.