Are you totally exhausted but often struggle with falling asleep? Have you been waking up during the middle of the night and lie awake for hours just staring hopelessly at your alarm clock? Occasional insomnia robs you of needed rest and can negatively affect your energy level, health and mood. If you are experiencing chronic insomnia, it can lead to serious health issues. Continue reading this article to learn about changes you can make in your daily habits and lifestyle to make sleepless nights a thing of the past.
Stay away from tobacco, alcohol, and even caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant, so you’re doing the exact opposite as calming your nerves when you use it. Alcohol and tobacco have been proven to actually worsen your sleeping, so neither is good to use when you’re suffering from bad insomnia.
Regular exercise can help to curb insomnia. A good workout can tire you out, and get you ready for sleep. However, exercising too close to bedtime can be a stimulant, making your insomnia worse. Be sure to stop exercising at least three hours before bedtime to avoid aggravating insomnia.
Keep anything that illuminates a room out of your bedroom. This means glowing clocks, night lights, or televisions. This light can stimulate your brain, stress your body, and make your insomnia even worse. Make your room as dark as it can be so that your body takes the hint the rest is needed.
Warm milk may help you go to sleep, but not everyone can drink dairy. A soothing cup of tea steeped with herbs makes a good alternative. Herbal tea has natural ingredients that calm the body. Look through your local health food store to find a special sleep blend.
For some, eating a small snack before bed can help them rest. Choose a food with both protein and carbohydrates. For example, both cookies and juice are options that would work. Consume the snack at least 45 minutes prior to laying down to bed and see if you are able to drift off sooner or easier than before.
Cut down on fluid intake before you go to sleep. If you have to wake up in the middle of your sleep to go to the bathroom, you have to make sure that you cut the fluids you have in the evening so you can have uninterrupted sleep instead of getting up over and over.
One thing that that you need to cut out of your life if you have trouble falling asleep is caffeine. The half-life of a dose of caffeine is about 7 hours. So if you drink a cup of coffee at 4pm, you will still have half of the caffeine racing through your body at 11pm. For restful and sound sleep, cut the caffeine out of your life.
Sleep apnea is one culprit that could be causing your insomnia. Sleep apnea is characterized by brief periods of breath holding during sleep. When the body realizes this, it takes in a deep breath, often waking the person. Most people do not even realize they have sleep apnea. If you snore a lot, sign up for a sleep study to find out for sure.
Do you suffer from the effects of insomnia? Are you in the habit of napping in the daytime? If so, try to avoid these nap times. If you nap in the daytime, it can be harder to sleep at night. Try not to take naps at all and see how much better your night’s sleep becomes.
Prepare for the next day ahead by getting your clothes ready for work, packing your purse or briefcase, and charging your smartphone’s battery. Thinking about whether or not you are prepared for the following day can force you to stay awake at night. This is especially true when you are getting ready to leave on vacation.
Your bed can become your friend when it comes to sleep if you make it exclusive to your sleeping time. Watching television throughout the day, getting on the laptop, napping and other activities should be kept out of your bed. Your bed needs to only be used for sleeping only!
Some people experience difficulty when trying to go to sleep. Rub your stomach to help you fall asleep. This soothes the digestive system so that you can relax. If your digestive system is active, you may even start to lose weight.
Try reducing the carbs in your lunch and balance the ones you do eat with protein. If you do, you’ll be tired by mid-afternoon, leaving you energized at bedtime.
Although insomnia is a common problem that has a negative impact on your life, most cases can be cured through changes that you can make in your daily habits and lifestyle. When these changes do not cure your insomnia, do not hesitate to seek professional help. By following the advice in this article, sleepless nights will no longer plague your life.
