I believe we're creatures of habit. When we break from our evening/sleeping routine it registers with our mind and our mind starts thinking about how we're not in our bed or it's too early etc. All of this serves to keep us fidgety and awake. Same thing happens when I travel on business; it can be hard to sleep well in the hotels.
So first off; I realized I was going to be way earlier while hiking than I would at home; that difference makes a difference subconsciously. So, try to stay up later.
Light and Dark; we produce a hormone when it gets dark that helps us sleep:
Melatonin is a natural hormone made by your body's pineal (pih-knee-uhl) gland. This is a pea-sized gland located just above the middle of the brain. During the day the pineal is inactive. When the sun goes down and darkness occurs, the pineal is "turned on" by the SCN and begins to actively produce melatonin, which is released into the blood. Usually, this occurs around 9 pm. As a result, melatonin levels in the blood rise sharply and you begin to feel less alert. Sleep becomes more inviting. Melatonin levels in the blood stay elevated for about 12 hours - all through the night - before the light of a new day when they fall back to low daytime levels by about 9 am. Daytime levels of melatonin are barely detectable.
You can actually buy melatonin and take some 20 minutes or so before you try to go to sleep; this might help and is probably better than regular sleeping pills. I've also found that I can take a low dose of Benadryl, Nyquil, etc. but I don't like doing that and sometimes, the medicines seem to have the opposite effect and can actually make it harder for me to sleep.
Different sleeping position; not much you can do there; a hammock feels a lot different than my bed but I'm not going to sleep in a hammock all the time. Not much I can do here other than to make sure I’m warm enough; getting the quilts positioned well so you don't have to fiddle with them all night and having enough insulation to keep you actually warm enough helps too.
Alcohol; many will suggest it; however, alcohol can actually make sound sleeping more difficult. On the flip side; avoid any caffeine after the morning hours
Clothing; I think this can make a BIG difference. I think many of us tend to wear a lot more clothing in a hammock than we do in bed at home. It's a big difference that can make a big difference in our sleep. I normally hang in my cloths and a fresh pair of socks, however, when I strip down to just my underwear and a t-shirt, I tend to sleep a lot better. Belts, tight socks, too many layers that are constricting, things in the pockets; all of it can make us less comfortable and make it harder to sleep. I think it's worth the hassle to strip down provided your set up is warm enough.
Music; I've found that an IPod shuffle, the really small one, is about the best way to take music into the woods. It ways next to nothing and you can load it up with eBooks, podcasts, and music. If you are having a hard time sleeping you can listen to an eBook or sometimes some soft relaxation music can help.
Food; surprisingly, too large of a meal before heading to the hammock can also make it harder to sleep. Better to eat a while before sleeping or eat lighter.
Exercise; it can actually be harder to sleep immediately following strenuous physical activity. Most experts don't recommend you work out too close to bedtime for this very reason. I've experienced this when I hiked for a long distance and rolled into camp late. I ate and headed to the hammock thinking I'd easily fall asleep but experienced just the opposite. Now I always try to give myself some time to relax in camp before heading to bed; it helps me.
Ear plugs; I've tried them but found not being able to hear more distracting than hearing the sounds of the woods. Again it's the differences between our normal sleep area and being in the woods in a hammock that makes it hard to sleep. My wife always has a fan on so when I hit the woods I miss that sound. I once slept in a very secluded valley and it was the quietest night I've ever experienced in the woods. No insects, wind, nothing. I didn't sleep well at all until I put in ear buds and listened to some music.
TV/Videos' some folks take smart phones and watch a movie or downloaded video. That kind of mental stimulation can actually make it harder to fall asleep unlike a book; weird but true. So you can read a book on a smart phone but then you have to wonder if the "light" from the electronic device messes with the production of melatonin. Some say it doesn't have the same effect as daylight does.
So....I try to stay up later, not go to bed stuffed or over medicated. I have music to listen to if I want to and I try to strip down to a comfortable layer of unrestrictive clothes. I make sure I have more than adequate quilts so I don't have to deal with chills and cold spots; another reason why I quickly gave up on messing with pads. I'm convinced anyone will sleep better with quality quilts versus any pad set up.
Expectations: I no longer expect to get a perfect night’s sleep when I head out to the woods; especially on the first night. I realize it's just way different but I've found that with a few changes in behavior I can consistently get good night’s sleep.
Hope this helps
Gideon
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Originally Posted by camoxjeep
Just kidding of course, I guess all in all its the dark. I do sleep with a fan at night at home for the fresh air feeling and white noise. 
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