Have you ever had those nights where no matter what you do, you just can’t sleep? You’ve tried changing positions, you tried getting some water, and maybe you even tried putting on some calming music but nothing helps.
You’re not alone and in this article we’ll go over some potential causes and solutions.
Reasons Why You’re Not Sleeping
Okay, now bare with me because this can get complicated. Each person has their own reason for not being able to sleep. In my case, I get distracted with electronics, but someone else might drink too much caffeine in the daytime.
There are many things that can prevent you from sleeping, but for now let’s go over some of the biggest ones.
— Electronics
Electronics, while fun, are some of the biggest distractions you’ll have. If you’re like me and you can’t help but check your messages one last time or go for a last scroll through social media, you may want to consider turning off all electronics an hour before bedtime. This gives your brain time to unwind and slide into sleep.
— Too Much Caffeine or Sugar
This is just as big of a culprit for keeping people awake as phones are. Do you drink soda a few hours before bed? Or maybe you had dessert and it was a delicious slice of cake. Whatever the case may be, consuming sugar or caffeine close to bedtime is a horrible idea if you notice those nights are the ones you have difficulty sleeping.
To solve this, perhaps you shouldn’t eat or drink sugary things a few hours before bed. I know, it’s horrible, but if it’s that or you are not sleeping you’ll have to make that decision for yourself.
Tea is a great substitute but do not drink black tea before bed. Black tea is pure caffeine and will definitely have you energized just like coffee would.
You might want to read: Health Benefits of Sleeping and How Far They Reach
— Health Issues
Last but not least, one of the most common things keeping someone awake is health issues. These could be insomnia or even an upset stomach.
This is by no means medical advice as I’m not a doctor, but if you have difficulty sleeping to the point it begins to impact your quality of life, I strongly advise you to make an appointment at your earliest convenience.
Lack of sleep affects everything in the body and can lead to accidents with disastrous consequences.
Tips to Help You Fall Asleep
There are plenty of things you can try to send you off to sleep, but for now let’s go over some of the biggest ones.
— Sleep Aids
These are commonly prescribed by a doctor and go hand in hand with my advice to go see one if your lack of sleep continues for too long. You should never try medication given to you by a friend or anyone other than a licensed professional as this is illegal in some cases and dangerous in others.
A licensed doctor will also be able to tell you if you have insomnia or a similar illness that requires specific handling that only they can give you. If you believe your lack of sleep has escalated to that point, make an appointment at the earliest convenience.
You might want be interested: Everything You Need to Know About Sound Machine White Noise
— Sound Machines
I hadn’t heard of these before but now mine is a life saver.
This does exactly what the name sounds like. The machine’s job is to make soft or calming noises in the background as silence can actually keep some people awake. Do you like the gentle tapping of rain on the roof? Or maybe you like the sound of waves.
The machine has you covered!
Definitely shop around and find the one that works for your needs, but if what you need is ambient noise in the background, this may be the solution for you.
— Yoga
I’m sure you’ve seen yoga commercials where a person is turning themselves into a pretzel and you said, not happening.
Well, believe it or not, yoga is one of the best things for sleep deprivation. It loosens your muscles and removes tension that hides away until bedtime. Obviously you don’t need to start in advanced poses, as we don’t want you pulling a muscle, but maybe you can start with some basic ones and see if they help.
If they do, move on from there.
— Meditation
This one goes hand in hand with yoga at times. Meditation is clearing the mind and learning to control your thoughts.
If what’s keeping you up at night is too many thoughts going at once then you should try this. There are dozens of apps and websites to teach you how, some are free and others you have to pay for. Some meditations come with noises or guided breathing while others are more tailored to you.
One thing remains the same, there are hundreds for you to choose from. Go out and explore until you find what works for you.
Insomnia VS Stress
Maybe you’ve been stressed out lately and you haven’t been sleeping well. You start to wonder, do I have insomnia?
Well, I can’t tell you the answer to that, but a licensed doctor can. We return to my advice to see one if it becomes necessary. If they say you do have insomnia then they’ll also offer you medication that you need to get it under control so you can have you life back.
Sometimes stress can induce insomnia, but again to be sure you have the right diagnosis, it’s important to speak to a licensed professional.
The Bottom Line
As you can see there are plenty of things for you to try, some of which may work while another may flop. The main thing to keep in mind is that your health is the main priority and if you can’t sleep, you need to fix it. Try some of the things in this article or even go find something else that would work better.
Never feel ashamed to reach out to a doctor either, there’s nothing wrong with ensuring that you’re healthy.
Like this article? Share or comment below! Feedback is always welcome. And be sure to check out our other helpful info, like our guide to the best sleep aids.
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