Insomnia is a sleep disorder that usually results in the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night. It also tends to consist of sleeping fewer hours than one needs, feeling tired upon waking up, and having trouble concentrating on things during the day.
Dealing with insomnia can be difficult to manage as you constantly feel tired but can’t fall asleep. There is hope, though. In this post, we’ll cover six ways you can healthily address insomnia.
Make a Plan
One of the simplest things you can do to overcome insomnia is to plan how you want your sleep schedule to go every night before going to bed.
You should determine when you need to wake up, when you’d like to sleep, and how many hours of sleep you want. The next night, if you find yourself having a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep, follow your plan, so it becomes more familiar and easier for your body to get used to overtime.
Set an Alarm Clock
If you frequently wake up too early and have trouble returning to sleep, you should use an alarm clock.
By setting it to wake you up at a certain time every morning, your body will learn that this is the time that you need to be awake – thus allowing you to fall asleep more easily at night. As an added bonus, your body might realize it’s easier for you to sleep for longer periods of time (e.g., eight hours instead of six hours).
Use Helpful Sleep Aids
There are several different types of sleep aids that can help people overcome insomnia, including pills, supplements, and essential oils.
Sleeping pills might be able to help you get a good night’s sleep in the short term but shouldn’t be heavily relied on. Additionally, sleeping pills can become addictive, which could make your insomnia worse.
Supplements such as 5-HTP or Valerian Root have been found to improve your quality of sleep over time because they increase the amount of serotonin in your system while also decreasing stress levels, so you don’t feel anxious about falling asleep.
Essential oils, on the other hand, are fragrant plant extracts that have been used for relaxation purposes because of their calming properties. Examples include lavender oil, which has sedative-like effects that help you relax and fall asleep more easily at night.
Get the Right Distractions
As reported by researchers at Harvard Medical School, people have a hard time falling asleep when they’re stressed out about things that happened earlier in the day – something referred to as “rumination.”
It’s important to try and get your mind off of these things through useful distractions such as reading a book or relaxing on your own. Just make sure you keep the light turned on low, so it doesn’t affect your melatonin levels (the brain hormone that controls sleepiness).
Get the Right Bedding
Another important aspect in overcoming insomnia is to use the right bedding.
For example, research has shown that memory foam mattresses are better for sleep than innerspring mattresses because they reduce stress on your back and joints while supporting your whole body more evenly. That means less tossing and turning during the night – leading to deeper sleep.
Get the Right Health Enhancements
Decreasing your risk of developing insomnia can be done by making some simple changes to your lifestyle.
For example, one of the best ways to improve your overall health is through regular exercise because it reduces stress levels in your body. Also, getting enough sleep is necessary for good health, which means you should start getting at least six hours of shut-eye each night.
By following these six suggestions for overcoming insomnia, you’ll be able to fall asleep and stay asleep more easily at night. This will help you wake up with more energy and feel better each day – helping you live a healthier lifestyle overall.
It might take some for you to get into a routine that works, but it’s worth trying. Getting a good night’s sleep is valuable for a healthy life.