Are you struggling to get a good night of sleep? Not getting enough sleep can play havoc with your health, resulting in both physical and mental issues. It’s difficult to over emphasis how important a good night of rest can be. It could be the difference between a great board meeting and an absolute trainwreck. Or, it might alter how you feel about yourself. Did you know there are actually positive correlations between levels of sleep and self-confidence? This is absolutely true. Healthyplace.com has more info on this. Of course, the issue with a correlation is that the direction of the link cannot be concluded. As such, confidence could cause people to sleep easier at night. However, there is definitely a link between these two variables.
If you struggle to get a good night of rest, you might be asking yourself time and time again what’s going wrong. You might have looked at both physical and mental issues that could be causing you a lack of sleep but let’s explore all the options to make sure we don’t miss an issue that could be affecting you.
Occam’s Razor
Occam’s Razor is a philosophical theory that postulates there is two explanations for one particular occurrence. In most cases, according to the theory, it’s the simplest one that’s the actual cause. So, let’s look at some simple reasons why you might not be getting enough sleep. We’ll then explore some of the more complex issues.
Arguably the simplest explanation is that you’re simply not comfortable enough in your own bed. There are lots of reasons for this, but in most cases, it’s because the mattress isn’t providing the level of support that you need. You might think that if your mattress is soft and fluffy and you can sink right into it, it’s providing the best level of comfort. However, don’t be so sure because some people actually sleep better on firmer mattresses. It’s particularly useful for people with back problems. You can visit Mattress-Guides.net for info on particular mattresses available to buy. Or, alternatively, you may want to think about testing out different mattresses in a shop and discover which one is most suitable for you.
The other issue that can cause a lack of sleep is lighting. Maybe your bedroom is just far too light or vibrant even at night. If that’s the case, you should try getting new blinds or curtains for your bedroom that are thicker and block out the light. Alternatively, you might want to consider an eye mask. Some people find that blocking out the room completely is the best way to get a good night of sleep.
There might be one other simple explanation behind your lack of sleep. That’s your sleeping pattern. Are you going to bed at the same time for the same period each night? Or, do you regularly mix things up, perhaps even getting naps in the mid-afternoon. If that’s the case, you will find it difficult to sleep regularly and correct the poor sleeping pattern that you have started.
Put It Down
Of course, maybe the problem is that while you’re going to bed, you’re not really trying to go to sleep at all. Instead, you remain glued to your phone for at least one hour before you finally try and shut your eyes. By that point, of course, the tech has already affected your ability to sleep, and there is even research to suggest that phone updates are actually addictive. That can make it difficult to let go and go to sleep.
On top of this, there’s the issue with electromagnetic energy. Studies show that electromagnetic energy does disturb and alters sleeping patterns to the point where people never reach the state of a deep sleep. Due to this, they can be woken up by the smallest occurrence such as the creak of a floorboard.
As such, if you want to improve your sleeping pattern, you might want to think about getting rid of the tech in your room. This could definitely improve your level of sleep and the ease at which you can drift off.
Five A Day
Do you have the right food in your diet? It’s no secret that sugar gives us energy bursts and if you consume a lot of sugar before bed, you’re going to struggle to fall asleep. That’s just a fact. So, if you’re eating a lot of sugar through the day, you’re going to find it more difficult to drift off. You may also struggle to sleep if you consume a lot of coffee. Coffee actually inhibits the natural hormone in your brain that wakes you up in the morning. It can also keep you buzzed even when you’re trying to get a snooze. Learn more about the problems with drinking coffee on caffeineinformer.com
On the other hand, there are also certain foods that can help you fall asleep. Are you a restless sleeper? If so, then you might want to consider adding bananas to your diet. Bananas regulate the body because they contain vast amounts of potassium, essentially steadying the muscles. So, if you constantly find yourself writhing around on the bed, try adding a banana to your daily diet.
Insomnia
You might think that you have insomnia. Insomnias, contrary to belief, do not go for days without sleep. They just sleep for such short periods of time. If you go for more than eleven days without sleep, your body will start to shut down. You can read more about this on scientificamerican.com/article/. Sleep deprivation can be incredibly dangerous, so insomniacs do tend to get about five minutes each night. That’s enough to allow them to function fairly normally. Insomnia is usually caused by stress or a traumatic experience. It’s something that keeps the brain firing on all cylinders as you try and count those sheep.
One of the ways psychiatrists help sufferers with insomnia is by encouraging them to write down their issues before they sleep. By writing about what they are worried about they are, on some level, dealing with their stress.
As you can see then, there are many reasons for lack of sleep. But now you know the issues and the causes, you should be able to deal with them all and get that good night of rest you desperately need.
