Are you having trouble getting a good night’s sleep? If so, you’re not alone.
In fact, millions of people deal with sleep disorders each year. This can make life rather unpleasant. After all, there’s nothing worse than feeling tired and draggy all day.
There are plenty of reasons you might experience disturbed sleep. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place for help. This article takes a look at some of the most common reasons people have troubling sleep and what to do about it. Keep reading to get the inside scoop and getting better sleep at night so that you can live your best life.
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Too Much Caffeine
Everyone loves caffeine, right? Or at least most people. In fact, it’s hard to imagine not starting the day with at least one cup of coffee. This is how millions of people across the country make through the morning, and many even need coffee in the afternoon in order to get through the end of the day.
But this can also cause problems when it comes to trying to get quality sleep at night. After all, caffeine has a reputation for making it difficult for the mind and body to relax when you’re ready for shut-eye.
The key to minimizing the effects of your coffee consumption is to reduce stop drinking it past noon. This will give your body a chance to metabolize the caffeine so that you can get as much sleep as possible.
It’s also wise to reduce your coffee drinking to one cup per day. This might be a hard habit to get into, but you’ll thank yourself in the morning when you’re feeling rested and ready to attack the day.
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Too Much Alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol can also cause sleep issues. It’s not uncommon for the average person to enjoy a drink at the end of the workday. After all, you’re exhausted, your brain is fried, and you just want something to take the edge off so you can relax.
The problem is, alcohol is a sedative. This means that while it’s helping you relax after a long day at the office, it’s also making you feel lethargic and drowsy, robbing you of energy.
And if you’re the type of person who drinks at night because you think it’s helping you sleep, you might want to reconsider this attitude. That’s because drinking alcohol at night causes an increase of a stress hormone called epinephrine in your body. This results in an increased heart rate, thus your sleep will most likely be interrupted during the night.
The key is to keep your drinking to a minimum throughout the week, try to drink as early in the evening as possible, and drink plenty of water.
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Stress
Stress is another major factor in getting quality sleep at night. After all, high levels of stress make it difficult for your mind to relax at the end of the day.
Unfortunately, it’s challenging for most people to avoid stress in their daily lives. The key is to learn ways of managing your stress so that you’ll be able to sleep.
That’s why you need to have a pre-bedtime routine. It should begin at least an hour prior to attempting to fall asleep. Prepping for sleep should include avoiding anything to eat or drink, any form of exercise, or any type of entertainment that might stimulate your mind.
It’s best to avoid any type of drink, and yet many people find having a bit of tea prior to bed helps them relax. A warm shower can help as well.
Another way to help your mind and body relax for sleep is to meditate. If you haven’t discovered meditation, it can literally change your life. Best of all, it’s totally free and only takes a few minutes.
Meditation is the simple practice of finding a comfortable place to sit, close your eyes, and allow your busy mind to detach from the constant thought patterns. You might find it challenging to sit still for more than a few minutes at first, but you’ll soon discover that meditating is like taking a 20-minute vacation from the stresses of life.
Once you’ve completed your short meditation, you should find yourself much more ready to close your eyes and go to sleep.
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Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is another factor that can cause sleep disturbances. After all, physical pain can make it difficult to get comfortable in bed.
This can be a significant problem if you have a job that’s physically demanding, experience frequent joint or muscle pain, or experience severe back problems.
Trying to get restful sleep while suffering from chronic pain isn’t easy. In fact, even if you do manage to achieve a certain amount of sleep, it’s unlikely that you’ll wake up feeling rested. You’re more likely to sleep in fits and starts, which can leave you feeling exhausted during the day.
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Lack of Exercise
Do you get enough exercise during a typical week? If not, this can result in a disturbed sleep pattern. This is especially true if you have an overall sedentary lifestyle.
It’s important to exercise. Your body needs to move and sweat. In fact, getting an adequate amount of cardiovascular exercise can make a huge difference in your quality of sleep.
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Poor Diet and Lack of Vitamins
Believe it or not, eating the wrong foods of getting a lack of vitamins can also be detrimental to sleep. Along with exercise, cultivating a quality diet rich in the right vitamins and minerals can go a long way toward promoting good sleep at night.
Check out these great sleep vitamins.
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Bladder Issues
There’s nothing worse than having to get out of bed to use the restroom at night. This is especially true if you have serious bladder issues. The key is to cut out liquids at least an hour before bed and consult with your doctor about the possibility of medications for a sensitive bladder.
A Guide to the Most Common Reasons for Disturbed Sleep
Getting plenty of rest is important for staying healthy and productive. Fortunately, these tips for disturbed sleep will help you feel your very best each and every day.
Keep scrolling to discover more useful lifestyle information on our blog.