If you’ve been having trouble sleeping lately, you may be experiencing insomnia. However, there are several things you can do to treat insomnia, and a few simple changes in your lifestyle can make a big difference in how you sleep and night, and how much sleep you get every night.
One of the best things you can do to treat your insomnia is to create a ritual or routine for yourself. Try to go to bed around the same time every night, and develop a habit before sleeping, such as a reading a chapter of a novel or watching your favorite show on television. This will give your body the indication that it is time to wind down, and you will be able to relax sooner. Chances are insomnia won’t set in this way, since your body will be ready for sleep.
You should also try to make sure that your bedroom is inviting and encourages sleep if you want to treat insomnia. Try to make the room comfortable by cooling down the temperature in the room, so that you will be more likely to cover up in the blankets and sheets for warmth. You should also make sure that the lights in the room are dim, so that you will be more prone to sleep in your room, and not do other chores, like pay bills or straighten up when it’s time for bed.
One foolproof way that never goes awry is to read books of the topics that you find most boring as would happen whenever you had to read your schoolbooks in childhood and would fall asleep immediately but it might work for a few days following which the insomnia would resurge so it is better to consult a doctor.
Doctors also suggest that you don’t eat anything really close to your bedtime, in order to give your body time to digest the food, which makes for better sleep. Eating heavy meals before bedtime is definitely not a good idea, since even it you do fall asleep, you may wake up to discomfort due to indigestion and this can make your insomnia worse. Making sure that you don’t drink any alcohol or caffeine a few hours before you have to go to bed will also help you get to sleep faster and stay asleep longer.
In addition to these things, you’ll want to try to have a stress-free day if at all possible, so that you won’t be uptight or worried when it’s time to go to bed. Make sure that you practice stress management throughout the day so that your blood pressure is down by bedtime, and your mind isn’t on the stresses of work or school. You should also try to exercise earlier in the day, so that your adrenaline will be up while you have to move around and run errands throughout the day, and your body will be ready to rest when you are, and you wont’ have to worry about the threat of insomnia.
If you try these suggestions and don’t see any improvement for about a week or so, be sure to make an appointment with your doctor to discuss more options for treating your insomnia. You may be experiencing insomnia due to a chemical imbalance in the body, or other health issues that your physician will be able to diagnose.
