The fate of an insomniac is not a pretty one. In fact, the side effects which come with insomnia can be as serious as death. To ensure you don’t face these awful repercussions, you must work hard to get the right amount of sleep, and the helpful hints below will help.
If insomnia is creeping up on you every night, consider getting earplugs. Many people are sensitive to sound, and don’t even know it. Even quiet sounds will instigate insomnia, preventing needed rest. The earplugs will block out all sounds, and should help you get to sleep faster and stay asleep too.
Give yourself a good 30 minutes of trying to fall asleep, before automatically concluding that you’re in for a night of insomnia. It may take a full half an hour before your body is ready for snoozing, and if you so much as think the word “insomnia” you could set yourself up for it!
Many people that try to sleep have racing thoughts. This causes distraction and makes sleep elusive. A distracted mind will keep you up at night. Putting on some white noise like the soft sound of a fan or rain can help keep your mind off of other things that may be keeping you awake.
If you want to sedate yourself without taking sleeping pills and feeling like a zombie in the morning, try a cookie. Sugar eaten 30 minutes before bed time can actually cause you to become tired. You can also try honey in hot water or on a piece of toast for the same effect.
A glass of warm milk could be just the thing for a natural way to eliminate insomnia. Milk will release melatonin which makes it easier to sleep. It also is comforting and relaxing.
Try keeping a sleep journal to track your insomnia. Write down each thing you have tried, and whether it worked or not. Keep a list of nights when you were particularly stressed out, and if you had insomnia at night. Keep track of activities, such as exercise that may affect your sleep. Soon, you may see patterns, or habits you can change to get your sleep routine back on track.
TV is usually action filled and it can somehow leave your mind thinking about the scenes you’ve just witnessed. Watching TV before your bedtime can actually hinder your ability to sleep. Consider turning off your TV an hour before your bedtime and giving your brain some time to wind down and relax.
If you find you are tired during the day, consider taking a ten minute nap in the afternoon. This can rejuvenate you just enough to give you energy, but it won’t cause you to not be able to fall asleep at night. If you stick to a routine, that will help even more.
Turn off your nightlight and remove the alarm clock from your nightstand. Studies have shown that a bright light in your bedroom can negatively impact your sleep patterns. If you have to have an alarm clock in your bedroom, place a book or a small towel to cover the digits and minimize the light.
Aromatherapy can work wonders when it comes to relaxation. Lavender is famous for its calming properties, and how it can help you feel drowsy. Just place a sachet of lavender under your pillow, enjoy the scent and drift off to sleep.
In a recent study, it has been concluded that those who change their sheets on a weekly basis get a better night’s sleep than those who don’t. Your sheets should be made from a comfortable material like cotton and use detergent with a favorite scent. Ensure the scent you like is really able to help you sleep.
When you can’t sleep, get up. If you stay in bed, tossing and turning, your body will believe that it can do this night after night without any repercussions. Instead, give yourself 30 minutes to fall asleep and, if it doesn’t work, then get up. Go back to bed in an hour and try again.
Don’t rely on alcohol to get to sleep at night. A strong drink or two will relax your body and mind, and even ease you into sleep. However, while initially a depressant, alcohol does turn into a stimulant a few hours later, giving you bad sleep. Over time, your increased tolerance to alcohol will negate the effectiveness of booze for sleep, leaving you again with no sleep and a bad habit to boot.
The help you need for any condition can be found by doing your research. Talking to experts, scouring the internet and asking loved ones for advice can all help. Start with the information you have read here and seek out more from anyone you trust on the topic to learn all you can.
