I find it difficult to sleep

Published by

7 years ago

I am a 55-year-old business man. I have been enjoying a good sleep up till a few weeks ago when I now found it very difficult to go to sleep. Your kind assistance will be appreciated.

Deolu (by SMS)

Just like diet and exercise, a good night’s sleep is essential for your good health, for keeping you alert and energetic, and for building your body’s defences against infection, chronic illness, and even heart disease. When sleep is lacking, various problems may occur. These are some of the tips for getting a good night’s sleep; Wake up at the same time each day.

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If you suffer from insomnia you should get up at the same time every day in order to train your body to wake at a consistent time. Eliminate alcohol and stimulants like nicotine and caffeine because their effects on the body can last for several hours, perhaps up to 24 hours. It is equally important to limit naps. While napping seems like a proper way to catch up on missed sleep, it is not always so because, Napping can affect the quality of night time sleep. Regular exercise can improve sleep quality and duration.

However, exercising immediately before bedtime can have a stimulant effect on the body and should be avoided. Try to finish exercising at least three hours before you plan to retire for the night. You need to limit your activities in bed. The bed is for sleeping and having sex and that’s it.

If you suffer from insomnia, do not balance the chequebook, study, or make phone calls, for example, while in bed or even in the bedroom, and avoid watching television or listening to the radio. All these activities can increase alertness and make it difficult to fall asleep. Eating a late dinner or snacking before going to bed can activate the digestive system and keep you up. In addition, drinking a lot of fluids prior to bed can overwhelm the bladder, requiring frequent visits to the bathroom that disturb your sleep.

It is equally important to make your sleeping environment comfortable. Temperature, lighting, and noise should be controlled to make the bedroom conducive to falling (and staying) asleep. Your bed should feel comfortable. Get all your worrying over with before you go to bed as well as reducing stress before going to bed.