[inFeZa]

Since i've been playing Starcraft 2 again, i've found it difficult to get to sleep - Not because i'm up all night playing, but i just can't fall asleep.

So i'm wondering - Does anyone else feel this way?

Do you Sleep better on your off days?
Do you find it hard to sleep after playing games of starcraft?
Do you Sleep better after you play starcraft?

If so - Why?

Edit: I've Found the CURE! (for me)

After a whole day of starcraft 1v1 and some team games - i knew i was in the state again where all i can think of are my actions, i.e build probes, check supply, etc etc... So i opened up a Beer and had a snack while watching tv. It was 11pm and usually i watch tv until 1am or so then try to sleep but after only 1 beer and 1 and a half episodes i found myself falling asleep!
Alcohol saves the day again!

[EscapisT]

Anyone having trouble sleeping at night should definitely check this out, monitors are obviously very bright and this program takes out the more piercing colours and makes it easier on the eyes. Monitors are designed to work well during daytime use, but during the night they are still using settings optimal for daytime usage. It automatically adjusts the screen relative to your time zone.

http://stereopsis.com/flux/

Pros
1.Download and use in under 30secs
2.No wasting time trying to figure out retarded settings, location and whatnot
3.So easy to use its almost funny

Cons
1.Takes awhile to get used to (a few days)

Quick Comments

	nirvAnA:	ty sir. now stop 3v3ing
	Doctor:	very nice apps man

[crAzerk]

Oh wow does this program really work? How dim does it get?

Yes I do have some sleep problems occasionally, but not all the time. But it seems very logical that you DO have difficulties sleeping after playing SC2, for the obvious reason that playing SC2 excites all the neurons in your brain and requires you to be in a state of extremely heightened arousal.

After you stop playing, your brain is already in this primed state, with all your neurons firing like crazy, so it's going to be a lot harder to fall asleep.

[ZergGirl]

Originally Posted by crAzerk

Oh wow does this program really work? How dim does it get?

Yes I do have some sleep problems occasionally, but not all the time. But it seems very logical that you DO have difficulties sleeping after playing SC2, for the obvious reason that playing SC2 excites all the neurons in your brain and requires you to be in a state of extremely heightened arousal.

After you stop playing, your brain is already in this primed state, with all your neurons firing like crazy, so it's going to be a lot harder to fall asleep.

lol.

Some neurons are just more easily excitable when playin' the vidya games.
I'm actually able to go to bed straight away now, no matter how intense the game was (etc).

Now if I was to watch TV? I wouldn't be able to sleep for at least an hour.

[EveLoire]

If i were to guess, I'd say your mind is probably thinking about starcraft even while you're lying on your bed, and you can't stop thinking about it, hence not being able to fall asleep.

That's what always happens to me anyways

[crAzerk]

Thinking about starcraft is fine, as long as your brain is in a relaxed state. But if you have just played some games, no way.

[TADivinity]

Yeah I completely agree with the above two comments. Whenever school / uni is on break my SC2 game-time increases a lot. It used to be WC3 for me in school. I would partially dream about WC and SC (Like, with a vision from the game. Not the world :P )

I think it relates a lot to what crAzerk said. I try to fix this by reading a book before I go to bed every night.
If you dont have a good book, start with A Game of Thrones by George Martin. Everybody loves that :P!

[EveLoire]

yeap crazerk i meant to say lying in bed after some games haha

[Nemo]

I have to stop playing at least half an hour before going to bed if I don't want to have problems to fall asleep.

[matthras]

The general advice for dealing with such is pretty much what Nemo does - give yourself a time block right before bedtime to hop off the computer and do something to wind down, whether it be reading a book or meditating (with a focus on emptying your mind).
It doesn't have to mean getting off the computer (although there are computer-related factors that can prevent your sleeping which is why the general advice above is as it suggests) - you could just do something that's not mentally challenging/requires a lot of attention.

I can definitely recommend the flux program. It's made my going to bed much easier and puts less strain on my eyes during the evening. It's pretty simple to download and run so there's not much of an excuse for not giving it a spin.

[Apth]

Originally Posted by inFeZa

Since i've been playing Starcraft 2 again, i've found it difficult to get to sleep - Not because i'm up all night playing, but i just can't fall asleep.

Your body is building up adrenaline that it then has nothing to do with.

My nights usually go SC2 > Pushups > Shower > Bed.

The exercise burns off the adrenaline, and the shower relaxes me and calms me down.

[inFeZa]

Great replies guys.. I already use flux. Its pretty good.. As for the excersize thing I already go to the gym during the day. But I'll try a short run or something instead

[Highlander]

I've never had that problem.

My advice: Have a kid.

You can pretty much fall down anywhere and get a great deep sleep instantaneously.

[Asrathiel]

Originally Posted by Highlander

I've never had that problem.

My advice: Have a kid.

You can pretty much fall down anywhere and get a great deep sleep instantaneously.

lol, I have two, and it always takes me forever to get to sleep... even if it's midnight and I've been reading in bed for an hour, I still lie there forever before I cna actually fall asleep. I think that's just me though... nothing to do with playing or not playing.

[NvPinder]

Don't play before you go to bed, like, give yourself atleast an hour where you're not playing before you go to sleep.

1) you play like shit at that time anyway
2) your mind stays active and when you go to bed is still in active mode or w/e for a long time.

Quick Comments

	Bugalugs McScruffin:	You're right on the Money with point 1. :D
	TAriiChard:	+1

[Frogmite]

You can still watch the rugby semi-final France vs Wales if you have problems to get asleep. It worked for a whole stadium.

Quick Comments

Nemo:

Don't remind it to me ><

[crAzerk]

@zerggirl that's odd really, it's been said that watching tv is akin to leaving your brain on idle, or in a passive state (and hence result in a cognitive surplus) so it shouldn't be that bad. (unless it's a really exciting/scary show ofc)
Whereas when you play sc2 your brain is in an active state going at like 5 thoughts a second (I gotta inject. Ok it's almost popping. Gotta fix that rally. Oh I'm almost supp blocked. Overlord overlord. What's my opponent doing? How's my creep spread? ... Etc)

As mentioned by many, a winding down activity is very helpful in helping u fall asleep. Have a 'bedtime routine', so to speak.

If this doesn't work, there could be other underlying issues to your insomnia which I can share next time

[ZergGirl]

Originally Posted by crAzerk

@zerggirl that's odd really, it's been said that watching tv is akin to leaving your brain on idle, or in a passive state (and hence result in a cognitive surplus) so it shouldn't be that bad. (unless it's a really exciting/scary show ofc)
Whereas when you play sc2 your brain is in an active state going at like 5 thoughts a second (I gotta inject. Ok it's almost popping. Gotta fix that rally. Oh I'm almost supp blocked. Overlord overlord. What's my opponent doing? How's my creep spread? ... Etc)

As mentioned by many, a winding down activity is very helpful in helping u fall asleep. Have a 'bedtime routine', so to speak.

If this doesn't work, there could be other underlying issues to your insomnia which I can share next time

Hrm. When I first started playing I couldn't get to sleep after a game, now I can rather easily.
When I go to bed I just put the kids channel on... one episode of Spongebob (don't you judge me!) keeps me up for a good hour.

I don't think it's odd.. SC2 just doesn't excite my 'brain' in that regard. (I don't actually think all that much when I play starcraft now.. it just happens!)

The noise of a fan blowing in my face is soothing and puts me to sleep quickly.
Reading a book doesn't help, I just keep reading.. :|

Still interesting though.

Quick Comments

TABottles:

Spongebob at 1am? yes please!

[Bugalugs McScruffin]

I have heard, though I'm not sure entirely why this would be the case, that watching screens of any kind (SC2 or TV) set the brain in such a state that it is hard to get to sleep. If you go straight from screen to bed, you can have troubles getting to sleep. If you put a buffer in there, half an hour reading a book, for example, it helps you to get to sleep a lot quicker once you're in bed. Funnily enough this has been my general experience.

As for the flux program, just play with the light on.

[crAzerk]

@zerggirl WHOOO WHO LIVES IN A PINEAPPLE UNDER THE SEA

Hmm just to clarify I'm not really talking about the 'high' or 'excitement' that some ppl get from gaming. That is an entirely diff discussion abt your dopamine receptors, etc
I was talking abt the very nature of playing a game like SC2, which requires you to be thinking fast and your brain to work harder to coordinate the many things going on in the game.
This leaves your brain in an excitatory state, and thus takes time to return to a rest stage

It could be perhaps that you just recover really quickly? Haha