I am having some insomnia where I wake soon after falling asleep and my doctor says to only stay in bed 20 minutes trying to fall back to sleep and if it takes longer I should instead get up and do something else to break a pattern of wakefulness in bed. But I am also not supposed to look at a clock.

So I am looking for a 'timer' solution that can count down 20 minutes but then I need it to NOT sound an alarm so if I am asleep I stay asleep and am not woken up by an alarm.

I am thinking I could listen to my MP3 player as I try to fall back asleep and set it to 20 minutes for it to go to sleep and if I am still awake when the music shuts off then I know I need to get up, if I am asleep, well then I am asleep.

But, it is a bit complicated to turn on the MP3 players and go through the menu choices to set 20 minutes for it to shuffle songs and then sleep after 20 minutes, I don't want to use that much brain function which I fear will more fully waken me when I don't want that if I wake up middle of the night. I'd like something I can have set before bedtime and if I wake up middle of the night I need only reach out and hit one button for it to start playing a quite sound or music and then turn itself off in 20 minutes so I know 20 minutes is up.

Anybody have a solution?

You're overthinking this. No wonder you have trouble sleeping and staying asleep! Consider taking Melatonin an hour before bed. Of course, make sure your doctor is okay with that. Also, develop a boring bedtime routine that you do every evening.

Thanks, but I wasn't looking for sleep help, I already have a doctor's advice. I wasn't sure where to categorize this question either.

Do know about melatonin. I am supposed to take the melatonin when I awake and doctor told me to start this stimulus therapy where I limit the time I lie in bed so I don't associate bed with lying there awake. I have to give melatonin time to work (20-30 mins) but not stay for an hour or more as I have been doing. It's not the original falling asleep that is the problem. I don't need sleep info, I need 'timer' info.

Why bother with a timer? Take the Melatonin an hour or so before you want to sleep. You shouldn't wake up soon after falling asleep.

Hello, I do appreciate your responses but they are not helpful because I do in fact wake up (melatonin before bedtime or not) after only 3 hours of sleep. Please stick to the topic of my question and not argue with my needs or advice of my doctor who is much more familiar with my situation than you are. Melatonin is not a magic cure all. No offense intended, but you really are not helping me get useful responses

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Originally Posted by wallabee4

Hello, I do appreciate your responses but they are not helpful because I do in fact wake up (melatonin before bedtime or not) after only 3 hours of sleep. Please stick to the topic of my question and not argue with my needs or advice of my doctor who is much more familiar with my situation than you are. Melatonin is not a magic cure all. No offense intended, but you really are not helping me get useful responses

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You are quite the jerk, aren't you?

You don't need a timer, just look at your watch.

Geez, forget it. Unless someone can explain to me exactly how to get a question answered as asked. You all know what happens when you assume don't you? And you call me the jerk, huh?

Another tip to you great and wonderful wizards of knowledge who apparently live on this site, sleeplessness is a symptom of depression. So you all just helped me a whole lot by attacking me and calling me a jerk since you can't even read that my doctor says don't look at a clock. A watch is just a small clock, braniac. Yes, sarcasm intended. If you don't know the answer to a question while thinking you are always the experts then for gosh sake's have the human decency to just move on to another one and stop berating me. Don't bother to reply I've unsubscribed to your BS.

I had sleep problems, couldn't stay asleep after a few hours, so then remembered J_9's comments on another question on how to fall asleep and stay asleep, which work very well! But you have left the site.... Maybe go to Radio Shack or an electrinics store and ask if there is such a timer as what you want.

You get a clock radio and hit the sleep button. Mine can be set for 10-60 minutes.

Follow your doctors directions and forget the timer since that too is a clock of sorts that measures time. It would seem you have complicated his instructions by being stuck on the notion of 20 minutes when in fact it makes no difference if its 10, or 30 minutes.

Can't sleep? Get up and do something until your mind is ready to allow you to fall asleep! Keep it simple!

wallabee, I'm wondering if your doctor means 'don't look at a clock with a lighted dial?' I have sleeping problems, and I too never toss and turn, but get up til I'm tired again. I have a clock that lights when I touch it. If you are awake enough to reach out and touch a clock, isn't it OK to do so? I'm not quite getting the need for something more complicated.

You also have no business telliing anyone to stay on topic, wallabee4. You came here for advise and you take what you get and sift through it all.

We are all volunteers here with other jobs, professions to take care of, so just be thankful that you get any type of advice at all.

Your apologies would be appreciated.

I, along with Joy, find no need for something more complicated.

Melatonin, present in our bodies from birth, decreases as we get older. Artificial melatonin is just as effective and organic in the form we buy it in.

You have a computer, use it to solve your problem; set timers and get the results you want.