Sleep is an essential part of your existence. Not getting enough of it for a prolonged period of time can affect your health and possibly take years off your life expectancy. Enjoying a good night’s sleep is much easier for some than it is for others. Even if you are tired and you cannot keep your eyes open a distraction can often take away any chance of falling asleep. Common problems include joint or muscle pain, a racing mind, snoring, and the environment. The good news is that there are ways to eliminate the problems that are preventing you from enjoying a good night’s rest.
Joint and Muscle Pain
Many people live with chronic pain. Even an extreme workout or a long strenuous day on the job can take a toll on your body. It can cause stiffness and severe body aches. Unfortunately, this type of discomfort prevents you from sleeping. Luckily, there are ways to overcome this and get the rest you need to wake up refreshed and ready to begin each day. One of the hardest parts of dealing with muscle and joint pain is the inability to get comfortable. If your problem is on only one side of your body, sleeping on the other side might offer a quick fix. However, if the pain affects both sides finding a position that works in a regular bed can be difficult. An alternative to a traditional bed is one that you can raise and lower to take the stress off your joints. Another solution is a sitting to sleeping convertible chair. If you have trouble climbing in and out of bed this makes it easier. Unlike a traditional bed, sleeping chairs are adjustable and many have extra features including heat and massage options.
Racing Mind
There’s nothing worse than getting situated in bed ready for a good night’s sleep and the minute you close your eyes your mind starts racing. This is a common problem for many people. It may be a deadline for your job, a term paper due, and lack of money to pay your bills or the constant thoughts of planning out the following day. Whatever your particular reason for a mind that’s running 1,000 MPH, it will prevent you from sleeping soundly. Reducing the anxiety and putting your mind into a relaxed state is essential. One solution is to take a hot bath and light lavender scented candles. Studies show that lavender is one of the scents that relax the mind. Another is to meditate before going to bed to keep you calm.
Snoring
A partner who snores can cause you to remain awake until you are so tired that your body crashes. For many, this will prevent you from getting the amount of rest you need. Broken sleep is almost as bad as no sleep at all. It produces the same results and causes you to walk around in a fog, unfocused and basically lethargic. A quick fix to the problem is to wear a set of earplugs to drown out the noise. Another solution is to replace the pillows or even the bed so that the snorer’s head is positioned at the correct angle.
Environment
For those who work nights, getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep can be a problem. Since most of the population sleep at night they are up doing things like mowing the lawn and home repairs without any thoughts of someone next door sleeping. Compounding the situation is that the sun is also up and shining right into your bedroom. Many people who work the night shift use blackout curtains to eliminate the outside brightness and introduce white noise to drown out the distractions.
There are many contributing factors such as chronic pain, a racing mind, a noisy partner, and outside distractions that can play a role in whether or not you sleep soundly. The good news is that there are many ways to correct the problem so that you too can enjoy the benefits that come with a good night’s rest.