You may think you have insomnia, but perhaps is your bedroom just too busy. You may be preventing yourself from getting a restful night because there is so much going on in your bedroom.
Take a look at what's in your bedroom. Does it serve a dual purpose? It is a bedroom/home office or bedroom/TV room?
A few adjustments may help you sleep better. How often have you fallen asleep while the television is still on? Take your TV out of your bedroom; especially if you know that you are often tempted to watch just more program. If you watch the late night news, watch it somewhere else in your home. You can always tape that late night show that you love.
Try these ideas:
- Move your home office out of your bedroom. If this is your only free space for an office, place a screen in front of the area at night.
- Do not have that last cup of coffee while you watch the nightly news. This is not a time when you want caffeine in your system. Instead, have a cup of herbal tea, glass of warm milk or have a banana. A good 'just before bed' snack is oatmeal or other hot cereal with warm milk. Wheatena is especially delicious and soothing.
- After your shower or bath, while you are still warm and supple stretch your body with arms high over your head pulling up towards the ceiling. Stretch your right arm over your left side and vice-versa. Manipulate your spine a bit by stretching to touch your toes. Save your strenuous exercising for the early morning.
- If you call friends or family from your bedroom telephone to say goodnight, do just that. Don't stay on the phone chatting.
- Use a nightlight in your bedroom, the automatic kind is best. When you turn your lamps off, this small nightlight will give just enough light for you to find the bathroom, or walk out to check on the baby. Return to bed immediately and try to return to sleep.
Do not resort to over-the-counter sleep aids before seeing your physician. The two links Related Links are informative and may give you some insight and guidance regarding sleep and sleeplessness.
Think about seeing your doctor and getting a physical if you have done everything possible and still suffer from sleeplessness. The reason could be medical. If your mates snoring or your own snoring wakes you up at night, your mate or you may have sleep apnea. Read what the Sleep Foundation has to say this condition in Related Links.
