Increase Sunlight Exposure. Getting more sunlight or exposure to bright light during the day can also help you fall asleep faster at night. Research shows that bright light can help regulate your circadian rhythm, which is how your body decides it's time to fall asleep and wake up.
Anxiety, stress, and depression are some of the most common causes of chronic insomnia. Having difficulty sleeping can also make anxiety, stress, and depression symptoms worse. Other common emotional and psychological causes include anger, worry, grief, bipolar disorder, and trauma.
Specifically, sleeping on the side or back is considered more beneficial than sleeping on the stomach. In either of these sleep positions, it's easier to keep your spine supported and balanced, which relieves pressure on the spinal tissues and enables your muscles to relax and recover.
Research suggests the ideal time to go to sleep is 10 p.m. But you should focus more on having a consistent schedule and routine when it comes to hitting the hay.
Common causes of chronic insomnia include: Stress. Concerns about work, school, health, finances or family can keep your mind active at night, making it difficult to sleep. Stressful life events or trauma — such as the death or illness of a loved one, divorce, or a job loss — also may lead to insomnia.
Relaxation is key to falling asleep fast. Becoming relaxed prepares your body and mind to drift off to sleep. Several activities in particular can help promote sleep, including meditation, breathing exercises, and guided imagery.
Milk (and other dairy products) are a really good source of tryptophan. It's an amino acid that can help promote sleep, so it can come in particularly handy especially if you're used to tossing and turning before finally getting off to sleep.
Abandoning your pillow and aligned sleep posture can cause or worsen neck pain. Especially if you're a back or side sleeper, the lack of a pillow can cause your neck to overextend or crane. This can cause anything from aches to tension headaches.
Sleeping without a pillow can help some people who sleep on their stomach, but it is not a good idea for everyone. People who sleep on their side or back will usually find that sleeping without a pillow puts pressure on their neck. By doing this, it can ruin a person's quality of sleep and lead to neck and back pain.
Pull your knees up slightly toward your chest. The pillow for your head should keep your spine straight. A rolled towel or small pillow under your waist may also help support your spine. Insert pillows into gaps between your body and the mattress.
Drinking water before bed is fine as long as you don't overdo it. Try to get your eight glasses of water a day in well before bedtime. And if you must drink water before bed, try to limit the amount to as little as possible to avoid dry mouth and thirst that interrupts your sleep.
While some worry that drinking too much water can negatively impact our sleep, studies show that staying hydrated can not only help you sleep better, it can also improve your health.
Studies suggest that consuming tart cherry juice leads to better and longer sleep. Tart cherry juice's positive effect on sleep is likely due to tryptophan and melatonin. Melatonin is a sleep hormone secreted at certain times of day to help the body transition to sleep.