Well it is finals week here in college, and for some reason, even though I have been studying and should be tired, I cannot sleep a wink. I have tried all the different things I usually do to fall asleep when i can't get to sleep right away. I have listened to soothing piano music, listened to deep breathing exercises, and even watched tv. Now before you go off and say "tv actually keeps you up," for me it doesn't. It really puts me to sleep after a good half hour or so of brainless activity. I don't care what studies show! haha

ANYWAY!!!!!

Besides taking medicine... What are some ways you guys get to sleep. Please keep this clean... and don't prescribe me any medication. I don't need that!

The trick is to try to stay awake. I know exactly what you're going through, man. I've got A levels coming up.

haha ya.. Think I will go play black ops or something on my PS3...

A levels= eww...

--Tell yourself you won't go to sleep until you've read at least 100 pages of a one of your favorite novels (altho this can lead to you falling asleep every time you read, eventually...)
--If you're not on a diet/prone to indigestion, a warm meal that's high in protein (not fat or sugar).
--listen to an audiobook of some dull non-fiction book while lying in bed. A nice, rumbling, low-toned voice.

...don't surf the internet. For me at least, that means I'm going to be awake for another 5 hours. haha

What usually works for me is thinking about not thinking. If you lay in your bed and consciously think to yourself not to think about anything else, you'll be too bored to stay awake for long. I don't mean thinking "don't think don't think don't think" over and over again, I mean actively preventing yourself from dwelling on any thoughts that pop into your head. Just make sure you stick to it- just because you don't fall asleep within a few minutes doesn't mean it's a good idea to get out of bed and try something else. Even trying to do things that you know make you tired is still giving your brain a reason to stay awake.

Similar to what others have said so far really, it's all about trying to stay awake.

I normally set myself a goal, I'll find a good film on TV that I want to stay up to watch. I never make it through the first set of advertisemants...

Hold your breath until you lose consciousness.

Why, is that what you do?

I heard that causes brain damage. . .

Ahhh!... I remember it as it were late Spring 1985...

I had gone through a week of finals, I had slept maybe 6 hours in 5 days... I could never study days in advance.. I have a somewhat photographic memory, so before an exam, I'd wait until late in the evening, then read the book/material.... I digress...

It was around 11:30 AM on a sunny hot Louisiana day, and I had taken the Religion 102 final (Loyola of New Orleans, what do you expect ). As I stumbled like a zombie towards my dorm, a buddy of mine saw me from the parking lot and shouted "hey, got case of Heineken, going to the levee!" and you could tell I was really out of it because I don't like Heineken, yet, I went to the levee... hey, free alcohol and coeds in bikinis is free alcohol and coeds in bikinis..

So, got to the levee, laid down my towel, put my head down, no sunscreen... I must've been out for 4-5 hours, and I mean dead-to-the-world down. I felt asleep holding an empty bottle of Heineken straight up against my chest. The blister was sensational... an hour or so later, right after I got out of the shower, I could feel my skin shrink and get tighter, and tighter... 7 days in bed with 1st degree burns... waking up to the itch of dry skin which had come off my body...

.. so, if you have problems going to sleep after exams, I'd suggest a case of Heineken with coeds in bikinis... just, for the love of God, stay indoors.

Go rest your head on some stairs.

I know you said no medication, but I highly recommend Melatonin. It's the only way I can sleep; it's not addictive and there's no side effects. You can buy it over the counter at any pharmacy. I take 10mg but you probably won't need that much.

Take some melatonin, bro!

Seriously, though, just try to clear your mind and relax your body. If you dwell on thoughts like "Oh I hope I'm ready" and stuff, you'll stay up longer because your brain is all active and stuff. Try repeating some meaningless word in your head to prevent you from thinking about other stuff.