It would be best if you gave more details about your sleeping habits, other than 'it's terrible'. Tips: Don't drink much caffeine during the day. Don't eat or drink (too much) two hours before you want to go to sleep.10 minutes before you want to go to bed, turn off the lights.
When you get into bed, turn on a low volume fan, to create background noise and to focus on something. What I do when I have a hard time falling asleep is to take deep breaths.99% of the time, I am tired within two or so breaths, and fall asleep or at the very least, yawn shortly after. I do this instead of counting sheep, because you have to keep track of how many sheep you count and how they look like, and how they are jumping, and what they are jumping over, and where they are jumping.
:) In this way I focus only on something very basic. The idea is to not think, about anything. :o) And to shut down your brain.
After many nights of doing this your body will expect it. It will get tired at a certain time, and you will find sleep a little bit easier.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.