Sleep isn't something you do. It's something that happens when the situation allows for it.
“Trying harder” can actually keep you awake longer.
One of my biggest takeaways from interviewing Dr. Michael Grandner was that you can’t force sleep. Worrying about why you’re still awake, and how you’ll feel tomorrow, can make it harder to settle back down.
Sometimes, getting up and taking a break until you feel sleepy can help interrupt that cycle. Letting go of the pressure to sleep won’t guarantee you fall asleep faster, but it can remove some of the stress keeping you awake.