Waking up at 4am and can't go back to sleep! It is ruining the holiday! What to do?

Have some hot milk. If you don’t like it plain then add honey to it, or some kind of drinking chocolate. Milk is proven to help you sleep.
You can try listening to some very soft music, and reading makes you sleepy too.

You are psyching yourself out. Try reading or something else that will focus your mind on anything but how you aren’t going to sleep.

When I need to fall asleep I masturbate.

Don’t drink anything before bed… Or drink a little less.

thanks SO much, guys. I can’t read at 4am; my eyes won’t focus or barely stay open. And if I could read, I’d need a dim book light since light turns off melatonin. That’s why they say to sleep in the darkest room possible. @LuckyGuy, I have one medication I have to take but I will take it earlier; good idea. I take like 2 tablespoons of water with it. @johnpowell, I have zero problem FALLING asleep. I take one mg of Melatonin by Source Naturals and it knocks me out until 3 or 4am. I buy it in the largest bottle. Tonight I’m trying something I’ve not done in a couple years: cranberry capsules. Two now; two at 8pm. But I’m not optimistic.
I am so grateful for your help everyone. It means a lot , really it does.

_I take one mg of Melatonin _

I would skip that. And no alcohol, no sugar, caffeine, or whatever, Eliminate the variables.

I get this a lot, waking between 3am and 5am. Or I did, until I started bike commuting. The exercise seems to have eliminated the problem.

Not saying it’s the universal cure, but it’s worth a try. And it’s free. Take up some exercise routine. Biking, swimming, yoga, walking, etc. 30 minutes per day or more.

@jaytkay I agree it’s the best way . I must do it; you’re right. It’s too cold out now for most of your suggestions, though.
The only thing that puzzles me is Michael Jackson’s strenuous exercise and he could not sleep!

When I was getting in shape I wore ½ pound wrist weights under my long sleeve shirt. It is amazing how much extra effort they add to normal activities. I’d wear them all day and by bed time I would be totally wiped out. I slept great!

Aster, have you ever had a sleep study for sleep apnea? My wife has this problem and she takes Lunesta at night and it has worked wonders for her. She sleeps a solid 8 hours each night, where before now, she was like you. She had relm sleep first and in 10 minutes she is good to go for another 8 hours, before Lunesta. It was driving both of us crazy. Her doctor ordered the study and her sleep apnea was discovered.

Your insurance will probably not pay for an RX for Lunesta, without a sleep study. Wife had two before Blue Cross would pay for it.

And, Welcome to Fluther.

I feel your pain. I wake up between 2:30 & 3:30 almost every night and never get back to sleep until maybe 5:30 or 6am – which is hardly worth it. Like you, I’ve tried so many things, follow all the rules, even take Ambien… but my sleep is still screwed.

Is this relatively new for you? Did anything change around the same time you noticed this starting?

I have only recently heard of Figs, Swiss chard and dried cherries in connection with sleep and plan to give figs a try.

I am also interested in trying a light box – have you done that? If so, I’m interested to hear your thoughts.

Let me know if you find anything that helps and I’ll do the same. Good luck for a good night’s rest.

@john65pennington thanks for welcoming me but did you see my points? I’ve been on here over a year! R U the guy who told me how to make iced tea? I don’t have sleep apnea. I was ok last night on melatonin.
Last night: lights off 9pm. Awake at midnight!! Scared me!! Took another melatonin. Asleep again by 1am; awake at six thirty am. Still sleepy today but amazed that 2nd melatonin worked.
@Supacase I took Ambien years ago, hated it. Knocked me out the first two nights then never could sleep again without it. It’s one evil drug , IMO.

@Aster, Your timing is perfect for loading a wood burning stove. Just sayin’...

What, LGuy?? You mean I should be loading wood in the middle of the night? LOL