Are you having problems sleeping, but you’re not sure how to fix it? It can be difficult to find out what you’re doing wrong. Read through the following list to see if these common sleep problems apply to you and and learn how to improve your sleep.
You Have Bad Sleep Habits
How you prepare for bed is just as important as how you actually sleep at night. Before going to sleep, here are two things you should do:
- Clean your room – A clean room before bed will calm your mind down and lead to less stress before bed. Stress is one of the major factors for poor sleep quality.
- Create a sleep routine – Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. By having a consistent sleep schedule, you will regulate your sleep, adjust your brain, and experience longer, deeper sleep.
You Don’t Sleep On Your Side
The way you sleep is also incredibly important. Sleeping on your back, side, or front can all have a significant effect on how well you sleep.
Stomach sleepers are more likely to toss and turn. This sleeping position can also cause neck and lower back pain. If you sleep on your back, you may experience increased snoring and cause sleep apnea to worsen if you have it. Most doctors recommend sleeping on your side. If you have back or hip pain, they recommend placing a pillow between your legs to help with alignment.
If side sleeping isn’t the right position for you due to weight, consider sleeping on your back, and prop up your head and upper back on a pillow. If you find yourself breathing poorly because you have to sleep on your back, you may want to get a mouthpiece for snoring.
You Drink Before Bed
What and how you drink before bed can have a massive effect on the quality of sleep you get. If you tend to burn the midnight oil, you may find yourself drinking coffee or tea at night, but this can cause problems with your sleep schedule. Doctors recommend limiting caffeine before bed up to 4 hours beforehand. Any closer than that and you can find yourself tossing and turning all night, limiting the quantity and quality of your sleep.
On the other hand, while alcohol is a depressant and may make you feel like it puts you to sleep when you drink it, the chemical process it has on your brain actually diminishes your quality of sleep. Depending on how much you’ve drank, it can leave you just as sleep deprived as if you hadn’t slept at all.
You Need To Put Away Your Electronics
The light emitted by electronics at night is a huge sleep disruptor. They produce blue light, which can mimic the light of the sun. Unfortunately, exposure to blue light can throw off your circadian rhythms and cause insomnia. It’s best to keep electronics away at bedtime.
You Need Help
Have you tried some or all of these tips and your quality of sleep still hasn’t gone up? It may be time to see your doctor. You may have a medical condition like sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or insomnia. Let your doctor know of any problems you might be having and what you’ve done to remedy the situation. They might know of some other ways to fix the issue you are having or prescribe medication. Don’t be afraid; over 70 million Americans have sleep issues. Your problems are not unique.
Hopefully, this list has helped you to find and diagnose any poor sleep habits you have and will allow you to correct them.
*collaborative post