Insomnia is defined as the inability to fall asleep, remain asleep, or get the amount of sleep an individual needs to wake up feeling rested. Its symptoms include difficulty falling asleep, frequent wake-ups during the night, waking up too early in the morning, daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. Insomnia can be acute (lasting one to several nights) or chronic (lasting from a month to years). It’s also the most common sleep complaint among Americans (especially women) .
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| I cant sleep! |
Trouble sleeping is often a symptom of another disease or condition, such as depression, chronic pain, medications, or stress, which might explain why it’s so common . Most often, insomnia stems from a combination of factors, including medical and psychological issues, scheduling issues, relationships conflicts, and behavioral factors (poor bedtime routines, physical hyperactivity, watching TV right before bed, etc.) .
1. Keep track.
Record how much and when you sleep, fatigue levels throughout the day, and any other symptoms. This serves two purposes: It can identify activities that help or hurt the chances of a good night’s rest, and it’s a useful tool for a doctor or therapist, should you decide to see one.
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| Keep your record |
2. Sleeping therapy.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia is a pretty common technique. Also called CBT-I, the therapy typically involves self-monitoring, mental strategies (like developing positive thoughts about sleep), and creating an environment that promotes sleep—and it’s been shown to improve sleep quality . Learn these strategies with the help of a therapist or with online guidance or books—both are equally effective ways of implementing CBT-I .
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| Ayurveda way, another option |
3. Establish a regular bedtime routine.
Find activities that help you wind down before bed, and stick to the same sleep-wake schedule, even on weekends.
4. Use the bed appropriately.
Beds should be reserved for sleep and sex—and nothing else. Bringing work into the bedroom is a sure-fire way to discourage sleep quality.
5. Choose the right mattress.
Uncomfortable bedding has been linked to poorer sleep quality, while a comfortable mattress can up the chances of a satisfying snooze .
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| Choose the right mattress |
6. Quit Smoking.
Need another reason to quit? Smokers commonly exhibit symptoms of insomnia—possibly because their bodies go into nicotine withdrawal during the night .
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| Quit Smoking |
7. Exercise early in the day.
Studies find moderate aerobic activity can improve insomniacs’sleep quality. For best results, exercise at least three hours before bedtime so the body has sufficient time to wind down before hitting the sack.
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| Exercises |
8. Cut down caffeine.
It’s tempting to reach for coffee when we’re tired after a poor night’s sleep, but drinking caffeine can make it harder for us to fall asleep at night, creating a vicious cycle. Try limiting caffeine intake to earlier in the day so it’s out of your system by bedtime.
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| Cut the caffeine |
9. Don’t drink alcohol right before bed time.
Alcohols might seem like an obvious choice for calming down before bedtime, but it can actually disrupt sleep cycles later in the night. You don’t have to give up the good stuff completely; just drink it with dinner (around 6 o’clock) and skip the nightcap.
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| Alcohol before sleep disrupt sleep |
10. Minimize disturbing noises.
If external noises are beyond your control (a busy street outside the window, a neighbor’s barking dog), cover them up with the sound of a bedside fan, a white noise machine, or other musics that help us sleep.
11. Take your Nap correctly
Just 10 to 20 minutes of napping during the day can help us feel rested (and improve our creativity and memory, to boot!) . But try to avoid napping after 3:00 or 4:00 pm, as this can make it harder to fall asleep at bedtime .
12. Don’t over use your brain before bed time.
Don’t work, watch stimulating TV shows, read complex material, or think too hard—about anything—before bedtime; working out the brain keeps the body awake.
13. Try a hot bath or shower before bed time.
Stepping from warm water into that pre-cooled bedroom will cause body temperatures to drop slightly, which can trigger sleepy feelings by slowing down metabolic activity.
14. Get outside.
Increasing natural light exposure during the day promotes healthy melatonin balance, which can help us get to sleep later in the day.
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| Take a sunbath |
15. Try a hot bath or shower before bed time.
Stepping from warm water into that pre-cooled bedroom will cause body temperatures to drop slightly, which can trigger sleepy feelings by slowing down metabolic activity.
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| Take a hot shower |
16. Eat for sleep.
Eat foods high in magnesium, like halibut, almonds, cashews, and spinach, and foods high in vitamin B complex, like leafy green vegetables, nuts, and legumes. Some experts also recommend taking supplements of taurine, vitamin B6, and magnesium.
17. Sip some hot milk.
Science doesn't necessarily back the idea that milk facilitates snoozing, but conventional wisdom might be strong enough that our minds still believe moo milk lulls us to sleep.
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| Milk improves sleeping quality |
18. Brew some chamomile tea.
Studies find the humble herb can reduce anxieties, getting us into a better head space for sleep.
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| Herbs reduce anxieties |
19. Turn off the screens.
The artificial (or “blue”) light emitted by screens can disrupt our bodies’ preparations for sleep by stimulating daytime hormones . Reduce exposure by turning off TVs, phones, and computers at least one hour before bedtime. Can’t MISS the Daily Show? At least dim a screen’s brightness, either manually or with the help of automated programs.
20. Avoid large meals late in the evening.
Jumbo meals before bedtime have been linked to trouble falling asleep. It cause acid re-flux and heartburn.
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| Supper are not recommended |
21. Dim the lights two hours before bed.
According to one study, exposure to electrical lights during bedtime might negatively affect our chances at quality sleep. Assuming you don’t want to sit in the dark for hours, find the happy medium by dimming the lights as bedtime draws near. Also consider changing all light bulbs to “soft/warm” varieties with a color temperature less than 3,000 kelvins, all of which can reduce lights’ effects on our nervous systems.
22. Keep it dark and cool.
A dark, cool bedroom environment helps promote restful sleep. Use heavy curtains, blackout shades, or an eye mask to block lights for your sleeping. Also be sure to charge phones and laptops outside the bedroom—even this tiny bit of light can disrupt sleep. If you live in a studio or can’t get away from blue lights for any reason, consider making a (very small) investment in blue light blocking glasses.
23. Don’t try to sleep unless you’re sleepy.
Yes, it sucks when it’s 2 a.m. and you still don’t feel tired, despite knowing you need rest. But climbing into bed when you don’t feel ready for sleep is setting yourself up for failure. Instead, engage in relaxing activities (like gentle yoga and meditation or listening to soothing music) until you get the strong urge to snooze. If sleep hasn't come within 20 minutes, get back out of bed and try relaxing activities again until you’re sleepy enough to give it another go.
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| Forcing to sleep generating stress |
24. Try relaxation techniques.
In one study, people who practiced meditation saw improvements in total sleep time and sleep quality. Other relaxation strategies—like yoga, deep breathing, and progressive relaxation—are also effective tools for promoting good sleep.
25. Do some leg exercises.
We know; we told you not to exercise before bed. But apparently some easy leg lifts, squats, or your leg exercise of choice can help divert blood flow to the legs and away from the brain. This can help quiet the mind, making it easier to slip into dreamland.
26. Have sex or masturbate before bed.
Hey, anything for a good night’s rest. It actually relaxes our nerves and help us fall asleep.
27. Seriously: Count some sheep.
It might not work for everybody, but focusing on one thing can help the brain settle down, making sleep more possible. Not a fan of our woolly friends? Focusing on your breath (in, out, in, out) is also an effective way to chill out. Or bust out some of those relaxation techniques you practiced earlier in the evening—they're just as good of a resource in the wee hours.
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| Count the sheep or dog or cat or what so ever |
28. Visualize yourself asleep.
Imagine yourself drifting in a blissful slumber while practicing deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation . Starting at one end of the body and working up or down, clench and then release each section of muscles for instant all-over relaxation.
29. See a doctor.
If you've tried everything and nothing’s worked, it might be time to consult a professional. A doctor can help rule out any sleep disorders and identify lifestyle factors or medications that might be getting in the way of a good night’s rest.
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| Consult your doctor |
30. Accept insomnia for what it is.
Judgments (“I should be asleep”), comparisons (“my BF/GF/roommate is sleeping; why can’t I?”), and catastrophic thinking (“If I don’t get eight hours’ sleep tonight, I’ll mess up that presentation tomorrow, lose my job, and die tired and alone”) don’t do us any good. Make the night easier by accepting it for what it is, letting go of judgments, and being gentle with yourself. The silver lining? You just might get to see a glorious sunrise.
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| Wish you have a good night Sleep |
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