Adequate sleep is a vital factor in your overall physical and mental health. In fact, some professionals even go as far as to say that it’s just as important as regular exercise or a balanced diet. This means that, if you’re one of the millions spending their nights staring at the ceiling, tossing and turning, or counting sheep in vain, then a change needs to be made. With that in mind, here are five reasons why you may be struggling to fall asleep at night.
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An Inconsistent Sleep Schedule
Our bodies run on cycles and therefore thrive on routine. This, unfortunately, means that, if you head to bed at different times each night, you’ll struggle to get the rest that you need. As tempting as it may be, you should avoid late nights and lie-ins at the weekends, as this can throw off your internal clock. Instead, try to keep a regular bedtime whether you’re working the next day or not.
Too Much Light Exposure
Whether it’s coming from your digital clock, television, or a street lamp outside, light exposure can negatively impact your quality and quantity of sleep. This is because our bodies understand that light means daytime and dark means night, and, as such, won’t get sleepy if a light is present. To remedy this, you should remove light sources from your bedroom and use blackout blinds.
Clutter In The Bedroom
Even if you view it as organised chaos, clutter in the bedroom can cause a lot of stress, which is known to disrupt sleep. Because of this, you should get rid of any unwanted belongings and clear out items that aren’t necessary in the bedroom. You should also invest in adequate storage, like the bedside tables at https://my-furniture.com.au/bedroom-furniture/bedside-tables/, to organise what you keep. Your bedroom needn’t be bare, but it can’t be used as a dumping ground either.
The Wrong Bedtime Snack
Heading to bed hungry is never a good idea, as the hunger pangs can keep you from falling asleep or wake you up again when you eventually do. That being said, you should be extra careful about what you eat before you go to sleep. Anything full of fat or sugar, like pizza or a bag of crisps, is a bad idea. A small piece of fruit or a hard-boiled egg are much better choices.
Sharing Your Sleep Space
Although the benefits of love and companionship extend throughout almost every part of life, the one place you’re usually better off alone is your bed. Whether you’re with a partner or a four-legged friend, sharing your sleep space can massively reduce your quality of sleep. This is especially true if your companion snores loudly. To ensure you still get some shut-eye even with a snorer by your side, check out https://home.bt.com/lifestyle/health/sleep/ for some advice.
Sleep deprivation is a serious issue that you can’t ignore. If you still struggle to get to sleep, even with the advice above, then make sure you speak to a professional. Do you have any tips worth sharing? Either comment below or tweet me @sophiessuitcse!
Other posts that may help you:
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THE ANXIETY FIX: 7 tips for falling asleep at night
THE ANXIETY FIX: How to handle a panic attack when your travelling
THE ANXIETY FIX: 5 Ways to Show Yourself More Love
Thank you for reading and as always happy adventuring!
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Sophie X