We have all had those nights where we just can’t fall sleep. You toss and turn. You get a drink of water and pace the house. No matter what you try, you are not getting to sleep anytime soon. It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what is keeping you from those needed ZZZs. Luckily, we compiled the five most common things that can keep you up at night and what you can do to make them disappear.
Stimulants
If you are drinking a lot of coffee, tea or soda throughout the day, you might find yourself unable to sleep at night. Fairly obvious, right? Well, did you know that these are not the only stimulants in your diet that may affect your sleep patterns? Chocolate and sugar can have the same effect. If you find yourself unable to sleep at night, try keeping a food journal to see if certain foods could be contributing to your poor sleep. A good night’s sleep might be as easy as making a few minor changes to your diet.
Stress
Everyone has stress. Whether you are concerned about your financial responsibilities, problems at work or even stressing about the fact that you can’t sleep, stress can keep your mind awake even when your body is begging for rest. While the causes of your stress may be difficult to remedy, you can try to turn your mind off faster at night by turning off the TV an hour before going to bed. Television can keep your mind engaged, making it harder to switch to a “sleep mode.”
Another tactic you can try is reading a book shortly before bedtime. But, it is recommended that you read outside of your bedroom to train your body that “bed” means “sleep.” Meditation can also help ease your mind and put those racing thoughts to bed.
Back Pain
Whether it’s acute—from overexertion or a muscle pull—or chronic, back pain can keep you from getting comfortable and falling asleep. You might be able to fall asleep, but find yourself waking up during the night with your back stiff and sore. According to Northamericanspine.com, as many as one third of adults experience back pain each month. A heating pad or an over-the-counter pain reliever may help. Sometimes the answer is as simple as changing your pillow. If the pain persists, there may be underlying causes that require more examination by a doctor.
Time to Yourself
If you are a busy adult spending time working, running errands or taking care of the kids, you might not get very much time to yourself. This lack of down time could be contributing to your poor sleep. When you lie down at night, your mind senses that it’s time to sort through any issues you may have been putting off during your busy day. Try scheduling a night of fun or perhaps a trip to the spa to give yourself that much needed “you” time.
Marital Problems
It’s no secret that fighting with your spouse can keep you up at night. The pressure of always arguing, or the desire to not speak your mind, can cause you to stay awake at night internalizing instead of resting. Consider speaking to a counselor, or being more open with your spouse about how the relationship is affecting you. Don’t let minor arguments interrupt the amount of sleep you need to function at 100% each day.
From prolonging sicknesses to promoting weight gain, lack of sleep can affect your life in a multitude of ways. Getting the proper amount of sleep each night is crucial to your overall health. Take the time to identify what might be causing you to remain awake and take the steps needed to resolve those reasons. Your body will thank you.
Author Bio:
Savannah Coulsen is a freelance writer. She lives in Raleigh. Savannah loves to read and write and she hopes to write a novel someday. Savannah also loves learning and is a self-proclaimed health guru.
Co author Doug Johnson helped create North American Spine and manages all medical staff, in addition to training physicians in proper AccuraScope procedure techniques.
*Our content is not intended to provide medical advice or diagnosis of individual problems or circumstances, nor should it be implied that we are a substitute for professional medical advice. Users / readers are always advised to consult their Healthcare Professional prior to starting any new remedy, therapy or treatment. Your Wellness Group accepts no liability in the event you, a user of n-gage and a reader of this article, suffers a loss as a result of reliance upon or inappropriate application of the information.
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