When I go to bed, I often find it difficult to relax. I toss and turn; feeling tired but can’t drift off. If I can’t fall asleep in an hour or so, I tend to turn on the light and read for a while.

I usually have some kind of soothing history book beside my bed for this purpose. Because I have an aversion to taking prescription sleep medication, I have not consulted a doctor about this problem.

However, I do sometimes take natural sleep remedies, drink something soothing such as peppermint tea, or take a hot shower. These things tend to help. I think my insomnia is exacerbated by the work I do on the computer in the evening.

I tutor online because that is when students need help with their homework. I have to stay alert to help them and this mental activity translates into insomnia later. Other times, I have to tutor in the small hours of the morning and then it is difficult to get to sleep afterward.

Very occasionally, I wake up at dawn and have trouble getting back to sleep. I attribute this to the newspaper delivery. As I grow older, I am a lighter sleeper and noises tend to wake me up.

Despite the fact that he is delivering the paper at 4:20am, the newspaper man makes no effort to be quiet. When I talk with my friends, I find they have similar problems. The economy is on the minds of a lot of senior citizens and our worries are disturbing our sleep.