Lifestyle Changes: Curing Insomnia

Sleep deprivation is a serious threat to your physical and mental health. If you have trouble sleeping at night, you can benefit from learning more about sleep deprivation. Curing your insomnia can help you get rid of rosacea.

The inability to sleep properly at night is a direct result of lifestyle factors. Physical exertion, caffeine or alcohol within an hour of going to bed are some common culprits. People with jobs that require them to work late into the evening and night will also suffer as they do not get enough time to 'unwind' from work before bedtime. Medication can also throw off your body's 'rhythm' and upset the natural balance that is so difficult to maintain in a stressful environment.

Another factor that can cause insomnia that you may not have considered is the internet. On the internet the chat rooms are always occupied, the stores are always open, and the games are never over. Set a cutoff time at least an hour before you go to bed to avoid staying up all night chatting, shopping, or gaming. Try to avoid 'killing time' with web browsing or other internet activities. Be mindful of how much time you spend online.

To discover what is causing your insomnia, try keeping a sleep diary. Before going to bed, record what you did that day, especially anything out of the ordinary. Keep track of things like exercise, diet, mood, and how much 'quiet time' you had without stress during the day. In the morning, record how well you slept. You may notice patterns after a week or two and start to identify what causes you to sleep better or worse.

Jet lag is a big problem for those who frequently travel internationally. Making such a sudden and drastic change in your sleeping and waking hours is hard on the body, as you may have noticed it takes several days to fully adjust each way. To make the transition easier, try the following:

• Bring earplugs, a mask, and a small pillow with you in the cabin to sleep as well as you can during the flight.
• Set your watch to the current time at your destination before you depart to get your mind on the change. Use this time as a reference during the flight to schedule your activity.
• Drink lots of water before boarding the plane and during the flight. The relative humidity of an airline cabin is very low, and you should drink extra water to make up for the dry conditions. Dehydration will make your jet lag even more miserable.
• Get plenty of sunlight during the day at your destination to let your body know that the sun is up. Artificial indoor light is not the same and your skin knows it!

In some cases, insomnia may be caused by an underlying physical or mental problem such as chronic pain, depression, asthma, or post-traumatic stress disorder. We recommend that you seek professional guidance with these problems to improve your sleep. You can recover from any of these conditions with a little help! It's up to you to take charge and actively make things better.

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