A lot of people have trouble sleeping at night. This could be due to too much stress, alcohol consumption, fear and lots of other things. Sleep is very important to all humans, because it will enable us to relax our mind, brains and the body after the day. Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep. Insomnia is experienced by both young and old. It is a common problem that takes a toll on our energy, mood, health and ability to function well every day. If you are suffering from insomnia or know someone who is, check out these tips to overcome your sleep problem.
Reduce Your Caffeine Intake: Many people cannot do without taking a cup of caffeine or even more in a day. You need to evaluate the amount of caffeine that you are taking on a daily basis. Taking too much can cause restlessness which can amount to insomnia. You might think a cup or two cup of coffee is okay in a day, but you might not know the grievous harm you are doing to yourself.
Reduce Stress: It’s much easier said than done, but reducing stress or at least controlling stress in a positive manner will help your insomnia. Stress causes our minds to wonder as we lie awake with countless things going on through our heads. You will start to think of the things you were not able to finish during the day, what you were supposed to buy but you forgot or even the person who borrowed money from you and is yet to pay. It is better to get these things out of your mind if you want to get a good night sleep. Obviously, there is no way to cut out stress completely, so seek out ways to control your stress level. Accept help when it’s offered, designate chores to others and/or research various stress management books that are available.
Medications: People take some medications so as to be able to sleep at night, but some of these medications can actually cause insomnia. If you are taking any medications read the side effects that are disclosed. If you have any questions about the medication you can consult your pharmacist or doctor. Some medications contain caffeine such as antidepressants; cold and flu medications that can cause you to keep staring at your ceiling all night long. Do away with such medications when you notice that you can’t sleep at night anymore.
Your Sleep Environment: Take a look at your sleep environment and evaluate your surroundings. How is the lighting? Does your bedroom have a foul smell? Is the bed too hard? Is there a draft or is the area overheated easily? Do you work from your laptop/tablet in your bed? Ask yourself these important questions and work on resolving issues that can cause insomnia. Adjust the lighting, purchase a more accommodating pillow, adjust the thermostat, don’t bring your work into your sleep area or remove the television from your bedroom.  Make your sleep environment work for you and filter out what’s keeping you up at night.
Exercise: Yes, exercising is good for the body, but too much of it especially at night before bed time can cause stress which will lead to insomnia. Even if you want to do a little exercise before bedtime, it is advisable that you take a walk or do press up.
Watch your late night eating habit: Eat light meals in the evening. Eating heavily in the evening or eating just prior to going to bed can disrupt your sleep. Avoid sweet food also because they are bad. Health, as it is always said, is wealth.
By: Pupwaya Timothy Dibal
