Sleepless nights are, unfortunately, way too common. While some people toss and turn all night and other people could sleep through anything, each of us has had a night where we would be willing to trade almost anything we own just to catch a little shuteye. So what makes some of us sleep so well and other stay up all night? How can we sleep a little better this year? 

Sleep Facts

How do I know if I have insomnia?

Insomnia is the inability of falling asleep or staying asleep at night. If you roll around trying to fall asleep all night or even if you sleep all night but wake up feeling exhausted, you might have insomnia. Here are some common signs to help you determine whether or not you have insomnia:

• You have a hard time falling asleep even if you’re tired
• You wake up a lot during the night
• Once you wake up in the night you have a hard time falling back asleep
• You rely on sleep aids to help you fall asleep
• You wake up too early in the morning
• During the day you’re tired, irritable, or drowsy
• You have a hard time concentrating during the day

What are the causes of insomnia?

Insomnia is usually a symptom of something else in your life, so if you can find the root cause of your sleep troubles, you’ll be able to make a head start at getting a better night’s sleep. Some common causes of insomnia are:

• Stress
• Depression
• Anxiety
• A recent traumatic experience
• Medications or health problems
• Bad sleep environment
• Irregular schedule

How can I sleep better at night?

So how can I start sleeping better at night? What can I do to solve my sleep problems? Well, like I said before, you should start by identifying the root cause of your sleep issues and work on fixing that. Even while you work on whatever is causing your insomnia, there are some simple sleep fixes that will help get you closer to that perfect night’s sleep!

• Create the perfect sleep environment in your room. Keep your room quiet, dark, and cool. Make sure your mattress and pillows  are comfortable. If your mattress is old, don’t wait to get a new one.
• Keep a regular schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. Even if you’re tired, wake up at the same time each day to help your body get used onto a schedule.
• Don’t use any screens at least an hour before bed. Screens emit blue light that disrupts the production of melatonin, so put your phone away and turn off the TV.
• Avoid stress before bedtime. If checking your email, having tough discussions, or working before bed causes you stress you should put it off and do these things in the morning.
• Don’t nap during the day! If you do need to nap, just make sure it’s a short one and you are away before 3 p.m.
  

Do you have any tricks that help you fall asleep quickly?