+1 on determining (and understanding) sleep cycles. And +1 on naps. I consider myself really good at napping. Somewhere I read NASA determined 26 minutes being the best nap amount, so I have a 28 minute timer because I can usually fall asleep within 5 minutes.

Routines before sleeping can help your brain fall asleep faster. I beleive that’s a key to my nap ability because it usually works even if I don’t think I’m sleepy. I have 1 hour for lunch at work, so if I bring food, I can nap in my car. I used to park facing uphill and east at one job to get extra recline and keep the afternoon sun off me, but my current lot is flat and I got a sleep mask. I play a specific artist (Deadmau5) on a low volume. I have used construction ear muffs as extra sound dampening.

I learned of a mental game that does an amazing job of getting my thoughts to calm down. Pick a category, then run through the alphabet to name something for each letter. Apple, banana, cranberry, etc. If you can’t think of something, skip the letter and come back. I basically never make it to the end unless I’m really upset about something. And, not gonna lie, the most effective category for me is sex/porn categories. Nothing is more focused than a horny brain.