If you suffer from insomnia or the effects of sleep deprivation, here are some tips to help you get a better night's sleep:
1. Stop watching television or playing video games at least an hour before bedtime. Your mind needs time to adjust from the frenetic images and sounds of television to the calming influences of the bedroom. Reading a few chapters in a book, listening to soothing music or having a pleasant conversation are preferable to shifting suddenly from a high stimulus to dead silence.
2. Try not to eat spicy or heavy foods just before going to sleep. Digestion of food slows down considerably while sleeping, but gases still form. Many people are awakened in the middle of the night by the effects of acid reflux or a bloated stomach. Time spent treating the problem medically is time spent not sleeping. Getting back to sleep after a bout of indigestion can be very difficult. Try taking an antacid medication before going to bed on a full stomach.
Eating within two hours of bedtime is not a good habit in general. Substitute a late night snack for warm milk or decaffeinated tea.
3. Listen to your body's cycle, not necessarily the clock. Lying restless in bed as the hours tick away is no way to get meaningful sleep. If you aren't tired at your prescribed bedtime, wait until you are definitely showing signs of sleepiness before getting into bed. Many people who work unusual hours or swing shifts find they get more meaningful sleep by taking shorter naps when tired. Others adjust their sleeping hours over time to eventually match an ideal schedule.
4. Take sleep aids at the right time. Some people find it easier to get quality sleep after taking a drowsiness medication. The problem is that the pills must be taken at a certain time in order to be effective, generally an hour before bedtime. Taking sleeping pills right before bedtime can still result in a few hours of restlessness until the medication takes effect.
Don't be afraid to take a full dosage if you are sleep-deprived and have the extra time to devote to sleeping. Sleep aids will put you into a very deep sleep cycle, which may mean having at least two methods for waking up in the morning.
5. Try earplugs, white noise generators and eye masks. Sleep is a result of many different processes happening all at once.
Environmental cues such as sunset or a darkened room are part of those processes. If total darkness brings on a deeper sleep cycle for you, then try a light-dampening sleep mask. Some people are kept awake by extraneous noises, so a comfortable set of earplugs may also help induce meaningful sleep.
Sound cues can also help in the sleeping cycle, so many people find a white noise generator filters out unwanted sounds. These devices may also generate other natural sounds, such as a babbling brook, a moving train or crashing ocean waves.
2006-11-02 08:49:36
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answer #1
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answered by Stephanie F 7
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I think that Stephanie's answer is very good but I'd also recommend that you had a cup of Valerian tea before bedtime.
Valerian acts as a mild sedative & can help to promote a good nights sleep. There's more info in the first website below.
There have been studies of it's affectiveness - the second website below will tell you all about it, if you're interested, in loads of detail.
It's not recommended if you're pregnant or for the under threes.
I'd also recommend that you keep it away from any cats you might have ... mine went mad for the tea bags - fishing the used ones out of the bin to chew & even raided the cupboard & ripped open the packet of the unused ... they didn't seem to be hurt or affected by it ... just mad for the taste.
2006-11-02 11:47:08
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answer #2
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answered by Solow 6
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Warm bath
Drink Chamomile tea, or hot milk
Eat a banana
Read a book and stop beating yourself up about not going to sleep
Stare at the ceiling and try NOT to go to sleep, I have been told this actually works
Get a self hypnosis DVD, they can help
Keep to natural remedies preferable, leave the sleeping pills alone for goodness sake they make you sleep to deep and have side effects in most cases, so they are counter productive, trust me I do know.. Try natural alternatives. Good luck!
2006-11-02 08:55:20
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answer #3
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answered by SUPER-GLITCH 6
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You can try a relaxation technique. Get in a chair/bed and in a position that you feel comfortable in. Close your eyes, relax and breathe in to the count of three, hold your breath as long as you can then breath out to the count of five. While you are doing this think of a place where you feel safe and relaxed. Imagine the colour/smell/objects/memories anything nice. Make sure that while you are doing this you continue to breathe in the way I've mentioned. You could also play soft, quiet music at the same time. This really does work but not instantly. Try it night after night and you will be able to relax and sleep.
Good luck. p.s. Don't be put off by feeling silly.
2006-11-02 09:01:47
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answer #4
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answered by cosmic 1
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It depends really on what is keeping you awake. If anything is worrying you then you have to deal with that first or put it out of your mind. That done, I find a glass of milk helps and this might sound funny, but I read in Readers Digest that brushing your hair (unless you're bald of course), -- especially at the temples, relaxes you. I tried it and it works. Put the glass of milk down first though or you may spill it.
My ex husband couldn't sleep so he made himself a cup of tea, got back into bed and fell asleep balancing the cup on his chest (prat). Around 3am. the inevitable happened and he woke up covered in cold tea. lol
2006-11-02 09:31:22
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answer #5
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answered by nettyone2003 6
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Ok - presume you meant that you CAN'T sleep! This is a totally crazy suggestion, but it was given to my sister, and she tried it and it worked for her!
If you can't sleep, get out of bed and crawl around on the floor on your hands and knees. Go anywhere but just crawl around like that. Soon you will feel totally exhausted, so flop into bed and go to sleep!!!
2006-11-02 09:01:15
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answer #6
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answered by Caroline 5
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there is a natural product available in most supplement stores, it is called Kava Kava, it is a natural product from the south pacific, made from a plant native to that part of the world. I take a few drops in a glass of juice and sleep like a baby.
2006-11-02 08:49:33
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answer #7
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answered by essentiallysolo 7
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2016-04-23 07:02:50
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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Try going to bed at the same time each night. Keep yourself the right tempreture, people find it harder to sleep if they are tohot or to cold. Try to relaxe before you do go to bed. Dont go from watching tv or being on the pc streiht up to bed. Dont drink coffe or tea or other sugery and caffinetad drinks before going to bed. Try to avoid stressfull things like aguing. If you cant switsh your brain off try counting backwards from 300 to clear your mind of things.
2006-11-02 08:54:34
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answer #9
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answered by platapusman 1
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work out shortly before bed so you are really tired also limit your caffeine during the day and before bed. don't hang out in your room or on your bed use your bed only for sleeping. try drinking a tea like sleepy time tea so something like that you can also try aroma therapy that has helped some of my friends
2006-11-02 08:51:31
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answer #10
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answered by Coconuts 5
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