Getting the right amount of sleep is vital to both our physical and mental well-being. Poor sleep can lead to ill health, low mood, or depression. Over a prolonged period of time, sleep deprivation can actually kill. Most of us suffer the occasional bout of insomnia at some point in our lives but usually only for a night or two at most. If you do find you can’t sleep at night there are a few insomnia cures you can try before you head down to the doctor’s surgery.
Insomnia Cures: Exercise
Getting some exercise during the day is one of the best things you can do to promote a good night’s sleep. No matter how tired you are, make an effort to go for a walk or jog, get down to the local swimming pool or head out for a bike ride. Just twenty minutes should be enough to get your heart rate up and help you sleep better at night. Be sure to get your exercise in the morning or early afternoon.
Insomnia Cures: Eat well
Poor diet is often a contributing factor to insomnia, as is dehydration. Drink six to eight glasses of water a day and eat a balanced diet. Avoid stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine and alcohol altogether if possible; if not then at least for the four hours before bedtime. The healthier you are the better your body will respond to its own needs and the more likely you are to drop off easily at night.
Insomnia Cures: Limit bedroom activities
The bedroom should really only be used for sleeping, getting dressed, and sex. If you associate your bedroom with television or work, then it will be harder for you to sleep. Try to build up a strong association in your mind between your bedroom and sleep, nothing more.
Insomnia Cures: Relax before bed
It may sound obvious, but many insomnia sufferers begin to work themselves up into a state long before they even go to bed as they worry they will not sleep. Try to avoid stimulating activities such as playing games or watching television. Instead, take a hot bubble bath or read a book and try to let your mind empty of worry. Meditation may help – there are many simple meditation exercises you can learn on the internet to make it so you’re not always tired.
Insomnia Cures: Buy a new bed
Sleeping on folding beds, futons or mattresses that are over ten years old can result in a poor night’s sleep. Treat yourself to a brand new comfortable bed and you may be surprised at how well you sleep.
Insomnia Cures: Just stay up
Obviously not as serious as the other “cures!” There’s always events going on in whatever city you live in, even late at night. So if you can’t sleep go out an have some fun. Perhaps you can go to a party, go over to your friends house and play cards, or even attend a late night mixology class. The fact is, you don’t need to feel pressure to fall asleep, that could just make things worse.
It takes the average person around seven to ten minutes to get to sleep at night. If you find you have been lying awake for half an hour then stop trying. Get up and go do something else for a while, like get a light snack or listen to some soothing music. Go back to bed after a period of time and try again.
This post was provided on behalf of Hotelcontractbeds.co.uk, suppliers of folding beds, hotel mattresses and bed frames.
