Engaging in physical and mental self-pleasure before going to bed is associated with falling asleep faster, enjoying better sleep quality, and experiencing more positive emotions upon waking.

[u/mvea]

https://www.psypost.org/self-pleasure-before-bed-is-linked-to-falling-asleep-faster/

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[u/Tall-Log-1955]

“Mental” self pleasure?

[u/FIREishott → u/Tall-Log-1955]

Since no one has a serious answer:

They refer to mental self pleasure as things that are not exclusively masterbation, such as visualization, audio and visual stimulation or relaxation, etc

[u/One-Effort4101 → u/FIREishott]

Also recollecting pleasant things or reading entries in a gratitude journal, I think.

[u/5litergasbubble → u/One-Effort4101]

Pretty much anything that makes your mind a bit calmer and happier I would imagine

[u/ABenderV2 → u/5litergasbubble]

I become an electric ball when I pleasure myself, how do I sleep?

[u/Ketheres → u/[deleted]]

If you can't fall asleep in my experience it's best to just stop trying to force it, and instead go through your before sleep routines again. For some that's their evening coffee/shot, for me it's a shower. Helps reset the going to sleep process. Though even if you can't actually fall asleep, just resting in your bed in the dark and letting your mind wander while awake is already much better than doing normal awake things like doomscrolling.

[u/holyfire001202 → u/5litergasbubble]

Like a big spoonful of peanut butter

[u/dallyan → u/One-Effort4101]

Wait, does reading true crime posts on Reddit not count?

[u/vkarlsson10 → u/dallyan]

Why would you read instruction manuals before bed?

[u/Gardener_of_Weeden → u/vkarlsson10]

Thanks for the laugh. I used to watch true crime with my husband - and I would "take notes" kept him on his toes - (married 40+ yrs)

[u/Elfhaterdude → u/Gardener_of_Weeden]

He does too! But mentally, its a race now!

[u/Whitepayn → u/dallyan]

If it gives you enjoyment, then it's probably fine

[u/KriptiKFate_Cosplay → u/One-Effort4101]

What about considering that one liner that I should have said but didn't in a meaningless conversation that happened a decade ago? Does that count?

[u/Jasonrj → u/One-Effort4101]

Dear journal: This evening I can’t stop thinking about the visuals from that incredible, full, hypnotic curve that completely captured my attention. There’s something so grounding about letting the day's stress unload. Spending that time completely locked in, letting the anticipation build, and busting into a good night of sleep. Ps, add softer socks to the shopping list.

[u/GregTheMad → u/FIREishott]

So like reading a book?

[u/OrwellTheInfinite → u/FIREishott]

Ive been doing it for as long as I can remember, as a young kid. Thinking up fantasy scenarios and then falling asleep.

[u/Kelinya → u/OrwellTheInfinite]

Me too, I would create entire narratives and imagine hypothetical scenarios involving all kinds of things. It really is pleasurable and helps me fall asleep. I always thought it was some kind of ADHD consequence.

[u/OsmerusMordax → u/OrwellTheInfinite]

I do this too. I make up characters, plot lines, and whole stories in my head. Some of these stories and plots have been going on for years, others only last for a few days until I get bored and try something else.

Sometimes it pierces into my ‘normal’ life but for like 99% of the time my imagination scenarios, as I call them, are usually confined to bedtime.

[u/rizorith → u/FIREishott]

So I guess me browsing reddit for 2 hours, being pissed at everything and hating everyone, and then sleeping for 3.5 hours makes sense.

[u/SoFetchBetch → u/FIREishott]

I was searching for more context and got this:

The study did not assign specific cognitive routines, but rather identified naturally occurring pre-sleep habits through survey methods. These routines included mental relaxation techniques, mindfulness focusing on internal bodily sensations, and the deliberate use of mental imagery to induce a calm, low-arousal state.

[u/wazzup-notemuch → u/Tall-Log-1955]

If you don't feel like using porn, you can use your ~*~IMAGINATION~*~

Assuming you don't have aphantasia, of course.

I highly recommend it.

[u/hananobira → u/wazzup-notemuch]

I have aphantasia and the mental aspect is still by far the best part of sex. Maybe especially because I have aphantasia - I can’t play a visual porno in my head on demand, so I have to learn to appreciate sensuality and storytelling and mood-building instead.

[u/wazzup-notemuch → u/hananobira]

I'm learning new things today! Very happy for you.

[u/MC_White_Thunder → u/hananobira]

Not to discourage you from using your noggin, but audio porn is great for folks with aphantasia.

[u/hananobira → u/MC_White_Thunder]

Sexy audiobooks are great, but I have kids. Maybe in 12+ years when they’re gone.

[u/goregoose → u/wazzup-notemuch]

Sometimes it is SOOOO much better. Very very grateful for my extremely vivid imagination.

[u/OverlappingChatter → u/wazzup-notemuch]

Aphantasia does not mean you don't have an imagination!!!!

[u/wazzup-notemuch → u/OverlappingChatter]

I am learning a lot today. Apparently my idea of what it is was DEEPLY oversimplified.

[u/WorriedPlatform9740 → u/wazzup-notemuch]

Smut books, adult webcomics, and adult video games can also be fun and ethical too :)

[u/UncleVoodooo → u/Tall-Log-1955]

I tell myself I'm proud of me

[u/PedaniusDioscorides → u/UncleVoodooo]

This may actually be a solid answer

[u/Bipogram → u/Tall-Log-1955]

Long division.

[u/CorHydrae8 → u/[deleted]]

What about the lamentations of their men? Are none of your enemies straight women or gay guys? That's pretty uninclusive of you. You should strive to make anybody your enemy, regardless of their gender or sexuality!

[u/Syscrush → u/Tall-Log-1955]

People forget that the brain is the biggest erogenous zone.

On you, maybe

[u/CompetitiveSport1 → u/Tall-Log-1955]

It's a thing. You can even come hands free. Look up "HFO". It's basically meditating yourself into climax

[u/mvea]

Self-pleasure before bed is linked to falling asleep faster and sleeping better

Engaging in physical and mental self-pleasure before going to bed is associated with falling asleep faster, enjoying better sleep quality, and experiencing more positive emotions upon waking. People who regularly engage in the practice immediately before sleep are also slightly more likely to report having erotic dreams. These findings were published recently in the journal Sexuality & Culture.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12119-026-10578-7

[u/blanketswithsmallpox → u/mvea]

Since neither snippet nor headline outright says it... I believe what this study is referring to, is masturbation ladies and gentlemen.

You know, flicking the bean, flogging the dolphin...

[u/Timetravelingnoodles → u/blanketswithsmallpox]

Flogging the… what the heck, when did that enter the lexicon? I need to brush up on my technical terms

[u/GarminTamzarian → u/[deleted]]

"It's an Albany expression."

[u/ionthrown → u/GarminTamzarian]

For ‘steaming the ham’?

[u/Hotshot2k4 → u/GarminTamzarian]

"May I see it?"

[u/truthlesshunter → u/[deleted]]

It's from the latin flaggilus dauphinus

[u/AzIsHotYo → u/Timetravelingnoodles]

Hassling my hoff

[u/PlagueofSquirrels → u/AzIsHotYo]

Shootin' my gluten

[u/Routine_Village_4092 → u/Timetravelingnoodles]

Bashing the one eyed trouser snake

[u/EJAY47 → u/Routine_Village_4092]

Bashing? I think you might be doing it wrong.

[u/Doopapotamus → u/EJAY47]

Disenfranchising the cyclopean underbungus

[u/seattt → u/EJAY47]

Not if his penis is masochistic.

[u/memento22mori → u/Routine_Village_4092]

Smackin Isaiah.

[u/ACE_C0ND0R → u/Timetravelingnoodles]

At least the 1980's. That's when I first heard it.

[u/APeacefulWarrior → u/ACE_C0ND0R]

IIRC I believe both Flogging the Dolphin and One Eyed Trouser Snake come from an old 70s Aussie comedy called "The Adventures of Barry Mckenzie."

[u/Cosmo_Kessler_ → u/Timetravelingnoodles]

It's an Albany expression

[u/Fluff42 → u/Timetravelingnoodles]

Battling the purple helmeted samurai of love.

[u/badken → u/blanketswithsmallpox]

Cute, but RTFA:

Masturbation refers specifically to the physical stimulation of the genitals with the goal of reaching an orgasm. It is a behavioral term that has historically carried heavy social and cultural baggage. For centuries, various institutions have attempted to frame the act as a moral failing or a health hazard, leading to widespread feelings of shame and secrecy.

Self-pleasure represents a broader concept. It includes physical stimulation but also emphasizes emotional intimacy, subjective sensations, and a mindful connection with one’s own body. A person might engage in self-pleasure through mental imagery, sensory experiences, or touching non-genital areas of the body to cultivate a sense of relaxation and body positivity.

[u/druman22 → u/badken]

Yeah no. I honestly thought this was originally talking about stuff like reading a book, or playing games or something, not masturbation.

[u/yoweigh → u/badken]

Self-pleasure represents a broader concept. It includes physical stimulation but also emphasizes...

So masturbation, yes?

[u/TouchMeAndIceCream → u/yoweigh]

Inclusive but not exclusively I think is their point. You could just lay there imagining sensual things to fall asleep and that still counts per the study. No contact needed

[u/Phyraxus56 → u/TouchMeAndIceCream]

So tantric edging

[u/InsertWittyQuoteHere → u/yoweigh]

Square/rectangle situation. All masturbation is self pleasure but not all self pleasure is masterbation specifically.

[u/Whhatsmyageagain → u/blanketswithsmallpox]

Feeding the ducks. Distributing some free literature. Mixing a batch.

[u/CorHydrae8 → u/Whhatsmyageagain]

...at this point, any combination of "[verb] the [noun]" is a euphemism for masturbation, isn't it?

[u/slayerofspire → u/CorHydrae8]

Punching the ballot. Extending the deadline. Allocating the rations

[u/bobsmith93 → u/CorHydrae8]

"Oh just a bit of verbing the noun, if you know what I mean"

Yup

[u/pizza_hut_taco_bell → u/blanketswithsmallpox]

Shaking hands with the milkman

[u/_Pepper_Phd → u/pizza_hut_taco_bell]

playing a little five-on-one

[u/memento22mori → u/[deleted]]

Rollin the dice

[u/LeanderthalTX → u/memento22mori]

boppin' the baloney

[u/n3qml → u/LeanderthalTX]

Handing over the project.

[u/Hypollite → u/n3qml]

Filibustering the flagada

[u/CompetitiveSport1 → u/blanketswithsmallpox]

Choking the chicken, spanking the monkey...

[u/Eric_the_Barbarian → u/blanketswithsmallpox]

I don't really know how seriously to take a discussion on masturbation from someone who can't use the word masturbation.

[u/Onphone_irl → u/mvea]

It's kind of odd to me because climax is associated (i believe) with higher heart rate. It's known as getting "worked up". I wonder if there's something about the regularly engage part of it, the pattern or ritual that's doing some of the work here. I didn't read the study

[u/KeepAnEyeOnYourB12 → u/Onphone_irl]

Orgasm, though, reduces heart rate. That's why the French call it the "little death."

[u/lil-rosa → u/KeepAnEyeOnYourB12]

It's the drop in blood pressure that can sometimes occur with a strong one, which can black out your vision and hearing/makes your ears ring when you come to.

[u/Sub-Dominance → u/Onphone_irl]

I do find that it takes longer to fall asleep if I masturbate right before bed

[u/Necessary_Film_5199 → u/Sub-Dominance]

For me, I actually fall asleep relatively quicker and get good sleep. I think the study is true.

[u/aka_jr91 → u/Necessary_Film_5199]

It's not gonna be the same for every person. For me, it helps me wake up in the morning, but can keep me awake at night. But I wouldn't be surprised if I'm in the minority, and people like you are in majority.

[u/bigfriendlycorvid]

It's interesting that reading romance novels (separate from erotica) and non-genital touching had a similar positive impact as orgasm. This isn't just about physical satisfaction, but comfort and an apparent sense of intimacy.

[u/Ifuckinghateaura → u/bigfriendlycorvid]

well reading books in general helps too so there's that

[u/Nodan_Turtle → u/Ifuckinghateaura]

Study confirms reading Dungeon Crawler Carl before falling asleep improves sleep quality. Got it!

[u/Lolseabass]

Hasn’t it been said that if you tense up your body and then relax that will also let you fall asleep faster? I know jorking it also throws in the happy chemicals.

[u/QuantumColoradonaut → u/Lolseabass]

This is also known as exercise and a shower

[u/rootbeerislifeman → u/QuantumColoradonaut]

Exercise is a strange one because it can be more physically arousing for some people, which can keep them awake longer. It’s often contraindicated in sleep hygiene protocols but I personally sleep better after exercising later in the day. Pairing with a shower to relax as a kind of bridge almost definitely would make a difference.

[u/Theron3206 → u/rootbeerislifeman]

AFAIK you need an hour or two between strenuous exercise and sleep for good results (statistically).

And obviously, workout supplements involving huge amounts of caffeine are contraindicated.

[u/empire161 → u/rootbeerislifeman]

Same here. The brief period of my life when I was able to hit the gym at 8pm, have dinner at 10pm, then shower was the only time in my life when I've ever truly had good sleep.

[u/MarsupialPanda → u/Lolseabass]

This is what I do if I'm struggling to fall asleep. I flex/stretch different muscles really hard for like ten seconds and then relax. I usually start with my feet and move up and do it with my face muscles very last, and if I make it through I'm tingly and very sleepy. I had a teacher walk us through doing it in class during our sleep unit and fell asleep on the floor in class . 

[u/dat_oracle → u/MarsupialPanda]

in case anyone wonders, it's called progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and is one of the basics of non medical treatments. very easy to learn and to perform. helps millions of people! go try it!

[u/Psyclist80]

Im doing my part! I knew I was onto something!

[u/Zealousideal-Lie7792]

> look inside
> participants self-reported

.-.

[u/Marpl]

Totally anecdotal, but "self pleasure" before bed just takes me from sleepy to fully awake. 

[u/mavajo → u/Marpl]

This was always my experience too.

[u/[deleted]]

Oh…. Is it more that 3-5 times before bed? I’ve been doing it more and more lately but the “positive emotions upon waking” part isn’t happening for me.

[u/seb21051]

Its not for the cheap thrill, its to prevent prostate cancer!

[u/whisky_woman23]

I can verify from personal experience.

[u/DantetheMarco]

I get anxious and paranoid after dingling my dangle.