Are You Struggling to Sleep at Night?

There’s nothing better than crawling into bed after a long day. It’s incredible how rejuvenating a good night’s sleep can be, but for many of us, a restful night isn’t always a guarantee.

Many adults will experience short-term insomnia – usually lasting a few days or weeks – at some point in their lives. According to the Mayo Clinic, “insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or cause you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep.”

Short-term, or acute, insomnia is usually caused by stress, a specific traumatic event, or changes in schedule due to work or travel. On the other hand, long-term (chronic) insomnia lasting a month or more is often associated with mental health disorders, medical conditions, or medications.

Signs of insomnia include difficulty falling asleep, waking up during the night, waking up too early, feeling tired in the morning and throughout the day, irritability, depression, anxiety, difficulty paying attention or focusing, or constant worry about sleep.

Insomnia can negatively impact your mood, health, and overall quality of life as your body performs many important functions while you sleep. For example, your body is able to rest and repair, which supports immunity, muscle growth, and protein synthesis. So yes, you really do need your beauty sleep, inside and out!

Here are some great ways to help cure your insomnia:

Practice good sleep hygiene – The best way to prevent insomnia is to develop good sleep habits! This includes being consistent about your sleep patterns and creating a space that’s optimal for rest. As far as consistency, it’s important to train yourself and your sleep cycle with healthy habits. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, even on the weekends. Your room should be dark and cool to support your sleep cycle. The sleep cycle is controlled by a circadian rhythm that tells your body when it’s time to be awake (when it’s light out) and when it’s time for bed (when it’s dark out). Light can throw off your circadian rhythm, so do your best to limit any light sources in your bedroom. Additionally, studies suggest  setting your thermostat between 60°F and 67°F as cool temperatures can initiate the cool-down process needed for sleep.

Say no to screen time – Ditch all electronics before you go to bed. While many of us decompress after a long day by scrolling through our social media feeds or catching up on our favorite TV shows, the blue light emitted from our phones, televisions, computers, and other devices disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm, negatively impacting sleep. In fact, according to Harvard University neuroscientist Anne-Marie Chang, light is the most powerful trigger for altering the phase or time of our circadian clock and can suppress melatonin, which can throw off when you feel sleepy. A Harvard Medical School study showed that people who use blue light–emitting e-readers before bed took longer to fall asleep, experienced less REM sleep, took longer to wake up, and were sleepier upon waking.

Maintain a regular workout schedule – Your sleep is greatly impacted by what you do during the day, and establishing a consistent workout schedule can lead to a better night’s sleep. In general, exercise normalizes your circadian rhythm and can also physically exhaust you. It’s important to figure out what works best for you. Just like with food, bio-individuality applies to exercise, and what works for one person doesn’t always work for another. Experiment with morning and evening workouts to see which fits your lifestyle and sleep habits best, but make sure not to exert too much energy close to bedtime.

Practice self-care – Create a nighttime routine  that allows you to care for yourself and wind down at the end of each day. An evening routine can lead to a better night’s sleep, an easier wake up, and a more productive tomorrow! Try taking a hot bath, setting aside ten minutes to journal, enjoying a cup of (caffeine-free) tea, reading a book, or practicing meditation or yoga. These activities allow you to clear your mind, release stress, and manage anxiety.

If your insomnia persists and makes it difficult for you to function during the day, it’s important to seek professional help.