Millions of people all around the world suffer from insomnia, both mild and chronic. The current lifestyle of too much work-related stress and being constantly hooked on to cell phones and laptops has made the problem a lot more common. Sleeplessness in the night and being fatigued in the day is a wearisome way to be for insomniacs. Tired of tossing and turning the whole night and living in the constant fear of oversleeping the next morning? Follow these tips to have a restful night’s sleep and wake up refreshed in the morning.
STICK TO A REGULAR SLEEP SCHEDULE
A predetermined sleeping pattern followed regularly is a step towards curing insomnia. Try to wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day, so that your sleeping hours are hardwired into the brain. Also, avoid taking naps, at least after 3 pm, because midday or afternoon naps just cut the sleep time from the night, again contributing to insomnia.
HAVE A GOOD SLEEPING ENVIRONMENT
To promote a healthy sleep, the bedroom should only be reserved for sleeping. To that effect, keep the television and computer out of the bedroom. Use dark curtains to keep the light out of your room. If it’s near the road, use heavy drapery to keep out the noise, as a sudden loud noise can interrupt your REM cycle, hence waking you up. Keep the bedroom cool, as warmth acts as a deterrent for sleep
RELAX YOURSELF BEFORE BEDTIME
Being completely rested is a good way to fall in a deep sleep when you go to bed. You can follow whatever suits you best, but here are a few tips- drink warm milk or herb tea (chamomile, catnip or fennel), taking a warm but short bath with bath salts, getting a massage. Also, what is absolutely necessary is to put away your phone and laptop at least thirty minutes before your designated bedtime.
AVOID HABITUAL USE OF SLEEPING PILLS
Pills might seem like the most effective remedy, but it is an extremely short- lived one. For starters, it does not tackle the root cause of insomnia. Also, once the body becomes habituated to the pills, it will stop responding to them and hence they won’t make you sleep.
If you continue having trouble with sleep for a prolonged period of time even after trying remedies, make sure you visit a doctor to ensure that there is no medical problem afflicting you which isn’t letting you sleep, because insomnia is often a symptom for another disorder. Most of all, try to tackle the stress that is most often the root cause of insomnia.