Is there a single answer to solving insomnia? Is there a pill I can take which will make me have a great sleep night after night? Sadly, there is no such prescription or piece of advice which works for everyone, but the techniques listed below can be used together to create a successful strategy.
Something you have to think about when you attempt to move past insomnia is not forcing yourself. Don't go at a certain time. Try focusing on sleeping when you are tired. It seems contradictory, but a lot of people try to force themselves to sleep, when simply waiting a bit can help.
Use a sleep diary for determining issues with sleep. Jot down what you have eaten before bed, your exercise habits as well as your moods each day. Then, read in the context with how much sleep you got. If you're going to make successful changes to your sleeping habits, it's important to know what behaviors are having an impact on the way you sleep.
There are many medications that can cause insomnia. Some of these include: antidepressants, diet pills, medications that contain caffeine, such as Midol, diuretics, thyroid and medications for hypertension. If you are suffering from insomnia, and take any medications, ask your doctor, or pharmacist, if any of ther may be causing your insomnia.
Analyze your caffeine intake before you go to bed every night. Try to not drink anything containing caffeine, even a little bit, before going to bed. If you're very addicted to caffeine then you may want to start tapering down on it and eventually giving it up so that your body is able to rest easier.
Even if you are very tired, resist the urge to sleep in on the weekends. If you let yourself rest for an extra hour or two, you could mess up your sleeping schedule for the week. Once you wake up, get out of bed. Do not allow yourself to fall back asleep or to stay in bed for a while.
Start regular exercise to combat insomnia. Many people face stress and tension throughout the day. Without a good release, these feelings can compound as bed time draws near. Set a regular schedule of walking, running or exercise for a short time each day, that can relieve these tensions and allow your mind and body to unwind properly.
Try keeping a sleep journal to track your insomnia. Write down each thing you have tried, and whether it worked or not. Keep a list of nights when you were particularly stressed out, and if you had insomnia at night. Keep track of activities, such as exercise that may affect your sleep. Soon, you may see patterns, or habits you can change to get your sleep routine back on track.
While insomnia can really mess with your sleep schedule, try your hardest to start waking up earlier in the morning. This of course helps you be more tired at the end of the day. As you get back into sleeping normally, you can then return to your normal wake-up time.
If you have a willing spouse, or sleep partner, try talking him or her into giving you a relaxing massage to help combat insomnia. If you cannot coerce them into a full-body massage, even a quick back massage with some soothing oil might be enough to relax your body, making sleep come easier.
Drink a warm glass of milk about 15 minutes before bedtime. Drinking warm milk is a great way to calm and soothe the nervous system. The calcium in the milk is what works in the nervous system to take the edge of and help you relax. When you are relaxed, you are more likely to fall asleep easier.
Have a sleep study done. If you are not able to sleep, or feel that you are having trouble staying asleep, you might have some form of sleep apnea that makes you unable to sleep properly. A sleep study is the best way for people to determine this and find out what is going on.
When counting sheep begins to run you into numbers beyond 100, you know there is a problem. From an obstructed airway to a caffeine addiction, the cause of insomnia can be varied, but the solutions often work for anyone affected. Those shared here are a great start, so try them out tonight.
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