By Farah Khan
Are you amongst the vast majority of people who cannot sleep at night? Do you feel restless and toss and turn all night long in your bed? Well the bad news is that you might have insomnia, but the good news is that you are not alone and there are amazing home remedies for it! Here are some to help you with better sleep at night.
- Be early To Bed
This might not seem like an out of the blue thing, but believe me, being early to bed can play wonder. Make it a point to go to bed at least an hour before you normally would do. Rather than going to bed late and having difficulty sleeping, change your routine and start going to be early.
- Create a Sleep routine
Our bodies get used to things that we do, and there are triggers which prepares them for what is to come. So by creating a sleep time routine, your mind and body will anticipate and understand that it is the time to sleep and relax. It can be anything that relaxes you. Take a warm bath, do some bedtime reading, or listen to some relaxing music. It can even be a mix of all these. So no matter what you are interested in doing, make a routine of it and stick to it.
- Put away Electronics
This is something that we read and hear a lot, but still do not do it. I am guilty for this as well. I would be using my phone way past my bedtime, even with all the lights out. It is not the least bit of smart thing to do. It is the blue light that these devices give off that are disruptive for the brain, as they throw off the circadian rhythm. This prevents the brain from releasing melatonin, which helps in inducing sleep. Therefore try to put away these devices at least an hour before bed time.
- Dark is better
To make sure that your brain understands that it is night time, it is best to keep your room as dark as possible. Eliminate any sort of light in your room, starting off with the devices at least an hour before you go to bed. The darkness would help your brain with releasing melatonin. Thus, make sure that your room is dark and cosy for better sleep.
- Watch for Caffeine
If you are like me, you cannot start the day without your cup of Joe. It is just not the way things are supposed to be. But at the same time, you need to administer the amount of caffeine you consume, so that it does not hamper your sleeping routine. The impacts of coffee can last from 2 to 6 hours, if not more. So make sure that you do not have coffee anywhere after 5, if you want to sleep at 11 pm.
Insomnia is not something incurable. It can be managed, all it requires is some planning and input. There are a number of other things that can help you too, such as having herbal teas or getting a massage. Find what works best for you and make it part of your routine.
