If you want to sleep well, you should look to peers for advice. On any given night, millions are grasping for a peaceful night of sleep. Fortunately, it’s possible to learn from their trials and errors. The tips that follow will help you find rest.
When your insomnia is getting the best of you, try a cup of warm milk. Although many people think this is just an old wives tale, there’s really some science behind it. Warm milk actually soothes your nervous system, making sleep come more easily. Just pop a mug in the microwave for a minute or so and sleep should soon follow.
If you can’t get to sleep because of insomnia, try counting backwards from a large number. The repetition should provide a calming effect, helping to completely relax you and prepare you for sleep. Keep your eyes closed and try not to think of anything but the numbers, and you should trail off in no time at all.
There are a number of methods you can try in order to help you sleep. You could try some muscle relaxation techniques, which there are CD’s for. Yoga can relax the mind as well as the body. Deep breathing exercises are another great way to help your body relax, and rid your mind of stress.
Stop taking naps. If you take a nap during the day, you are going to have a harder time going to sleep and staying asleep at night. When you cut out your nap, you will find that you have a better time remaining asleep when you go to sleep for the night.
If you don’t have a firm mattress, consider changing it. With a good, firm mattress you body will be better supported and you will be able to relax. Additionally, your body is going to feel better upon waking. Mattresses may not be cheap, but the investment will be quite worth it.
Avoid sleeping on your side. To get a good night’s sleep, rest on your back instead. If you simply can’t fall asleep that way, try going to bed on your right side. The left side should be avoided as it causes your liver and lungs to push up on your heart.
If you consume significant amounts of alcohol, caffeine or nicotine, it can affect your sleep patterns. Caffeine doesn’t necessarily cause the insomnia, but it forces you to wake up several times during the night. Some medications may also cause insomnia. Whenever you can, eliminate these stimulants in order to get the proper sleep you need.
Your body needs to wake at a consistent time each day. Most people sleep in whenever they can to catch up on the missed sleep during the week. If you constantly suffer from insomnia, train your body to wake up at a certain time each day and stick to it!
Wake at the same time consistently every day. That might seem strange if you want to sleep in whenever you’re able to catch a bit of sleep, but if you can get yourself use a regular waking schedule, you’ll save up all that sleepiness and it will be easier to go to sleep during the night.
A tryptophan deficiency can keep you awake. Tryptophan is found in turkey, cottage cheese and tuna, so you might want to add those to your diet. A 5-HTP supplement can be very beneficial too. Serotonin is made of tryptophan, which helps you sleep better.
Cherry juice is something that can help insomniacs because it has melatonin in it which is naturally occurring in the body. Studies have shown that people out there that drink cherry juice a couple of times each day can get to sleep quicker than people who don’t drink it. Choose a tart juice.
Control the temperature of your sleeping environment. Studies have shown that rooms that are too warm can actually interrupt sleep. Set your thermostat to a cool 68 degrees and use a fan to circulate the air. You will be able to breathe better and should sleep for several more hours straight.
Your doctor may prescribe sleeping pills for you to use at night. After an extended period of time using them, they could be ineffective in helping you sleep. If this is the case, you may need to seek additional help with your insomnia. Altering medications might help extend the time they are effective, but other treatment could be more effective for the long term.
Avoid having a clock facing you when you are trying to fall asleep. Many people see clocks as the reason they’re too distracted to sleep. Keep it close enough to reach if you need the alarm, but face it away from you.
Looking for tricks and tips from people who have had insomnia is a great way to get some help. Hopefully, you can use this article to get the rest you need. Make the changes necessary so that you can sleep well tonight and every night thereafter.
