Dear AMS,
    I have trouble sleeping at night when I drink more than 8 or 10 cups of coffee just before going to bed. I never used to have this problem, but now I find that I lie in bed staring at the moths flying around the naked bulb I have hanging there. And when I do doze off, it's just for a moment because well, you know, nature calls.  I love coffee too much to give it up. Do you have a solution to this problem? I sure hope so because I love coffee, but boy do I need sleep.

Thank you, Sincerely,

Waldrop E. Sprout
East Tubercle, PA
 

Dear Mr. Sprout,
     First of all, I suggest turning off the light bulb. That should solve the moth problem. And you'll find darkness more conducive to sleeping. Now it’s obvious that you're a coffee lover, like me. As far as I'm concerned, I see no need to give it up or even switch to decaf like the other "experts" may suggest. My philosophy is "if it isn't going to feel like coffee when you drink it why bother?"  Instead try this. Have you ever been just so bored you can barely keep awake? Think back. Perhaps it was during geometry class in school, or sitting in a hot church listening to a sermon, or watching a documentary on 5th century Mayan pottery making. You get my drift. Whatever you can recall that made you drowsy you must key in on. Then, as you lie in bed, (in the dark), imagine yourself in this situation again.  Force yourself to relive second by second that painfully boring situation attempting at the same time to stay fully awake. Within minutes you'll be fighting the urge to sleep, at which point you'll soon drift off into lala land. Its that easy. And then to cap off the problem, literally, you’ll need to add some of the extra, super-absorbent Depends to your shopping list. Now go pour yourself a large cup of coffee…(and add a little sugar to sweeten those dreams!)
 

Next

Back to Dear AMS