Food. I reach immediately for a snack. Usually, now, Alpen. Depends on what is the reason for the awakening. If it's a specific event - then food usually helps me and then I can return to bed and will either sleep for a while or decide to get up and start my day.
If I am generally restless and can't maintain sleep then I will change location. Go sit in the lounge. Try and read. Or listen to music or something. Or even sometimes visiting the loo will be enough
Now, though, I have found that perhaps because I am not sleeping during the day, just resting on the sofa in the afternoons and drifting with a film or book, then preparing dinner, eating etc; I don't have trouble getting to sleep. Bed is for nighttime sleeping unless I am feeling particularly crap during the day.
My no-sleep during the day attempts have not unfortunately meant no sleep disturbances at night; but I do find I can sleep for longer. Still waking roughly 2 hours after falling asleep. And then usually once more. But I'm able to get about 5-6 hours I suppose on average now.
I will get runs of bad nights but I no longer stress about them. I have made some big adjustments to my life so getting a decent nights sleep is not such a major concern for me as it was; but I would like some answers and hope the sleep study might help.
No prescribed drugs purposefully for sleep but I do take half a
Sominex about an hour before retiring to my bed. It seems to help with the initial drowsiness but can't say more than that.