During your younger days, sleep is never a problem. All you do is lie down and simply close your eyes. As you age, it somehow becomes more elusive. If you find yourself unable to doze off or having a restful slumber, here are some steps worth taking.
Check what you eat or drink
Are you still drinking coffee late in the day or during the early part of the evening? If you are, then this habit has to stop. The digestive cycle keeps us energized long after the intake of food and drinks. Since coffee has caffeine and the body processes this component, you can expect to stay awake longer than expected.
The same is true with chocolates or candies. Sweets can produce a sugar rush and this can keep you wired and active. Removing this habit entirely from your late night meal regimen ensures that you get a better chance of sleeping earlier.
Stop some habits
Many of us fight off the urge to sleep. This happens when we want to watch a late night show or when hanging out with friends. Doing this on occasion is okay, but doing this often might be unhealthy.
Putting off sleep causes your body clock to change. As we get older, our bodies begin to adapt to this change naturally. For example, if you put off sleep until midnight on weekdays, don't expect to snooze peacefully at 8 P.M. on weekends.
As you check your slumber schedules, examine your workout habits too. Exercise releases hormones into the body that can you feel happy. For some people, this can be a natural sleep aid to getting ready for bed. For others, it makes them feel more energized and allows them to do different activities.
Stop late night work altogether or reschedule it for the following morning. Feeling rejuvenated and ready to do more is a big no-no at night. This can lead to restlessness and constant tossing and turning in your bed.
Get rid of possible distractions
Are you the sort that has a TV or a laptop in your room? It might be a better idea to remove all these as it only keeps you from getting some shuteye. Yes, some people use gadgets as their natural sleep aidbut if it's standing between you and a blissful night's rest, it might cause major problems later on.
Bedrooms are really for rest only. You should not use it as a bedroom / office or bedroom / entertainment hall. Televisions, video game equipment and computers defeat the entire purpose of getting some z's because these devices keep you awake.
For those who have to keep gadgets in their rooms, consider emptying out some space in your closet and placing all video game equipment there. Lock this part of the closet and place the key in another locked closet. Doing this can discourage you from playing a game at night or work on your files.
Sleep should come naturally, but if you still find it hard to do so, consider having a checkup or a chat with a professional therapist. A physician or psychologist might give crucial insights on what might be keeping you awake late at night.
Lucy Hammond is a medical author of various written studies on sleep as well as natural sleep aids.
No comments:
Post a Comment