Let’s get right into The Night Owl’s favorite topic – how to sleep. I started this site to talk about how to get the rest you need and I don’t want to disappoint, although my preferred method of helping you hit the hay is by boring you with my lousy writing until you can’t keep your eyes open.
But if you have problems sleeping, you are not alone. There are countless people who can’t get to sleep when they want to. And thus, toss and turn the night away. Maybe your partner keeps you awake because they snore, or because they are a night owl and you can’t relax. Your lack of sleep could be from a sleep disorder like sleep apnea which in that case, you should make sure you know all there is to know about your condition by seeking medical treatment. For more on sleep, you can read wikipedia for the real low down on sleep.
Your host here tonight suffers more from sleep deprivation more than anything else because I prefer to burn the midnight oil. I stay up way past my bedtime and many times have to get up early. In my case, I don’t get the rest that I need which is really kind of stupid. So, when I am ready to go to bed, I am exhausted. That’s my first tip, if you can’t sleep when you go to bed, stay up later until you are sleepy, but still get up at the same time every day.
If you work third shift, I’d suggest that you make sure that you sleep in total darkness by using a sleep mask. This will keep the light out. I can’t quote the sleep study, or know where for sure I saw it, but if you sleep with some light on in your room or through you window, it’s not healthy.
The key though is to find a way to get into that deep REM sleep. That’s the point where you are dreaming and resting really, really good. The kind of sleep many people only dream about.
I guess another thing that I can think of is that set up a sleep schedule and don’t take naps during the day. I know that alot of the time, my wife sleeps during the day and then can’t fall asleep. The problem though is that she is already rested not that she has a problem going to sleep. Although I know that sometimes, she has to get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and this disturbs her.
Another thing that bothers her is that sometimes, she’ll wake up because she has been coughing and she can’t go back to sleep even though she was sleeping good before she started. In her case, she doesn’t need a sleep aid, it’s more that she needs treatment to help her stop coughing and waking up.
I also wouldn’t use your bedroom to watch tv or to do work. Make sure that when you go to sleep at night that you haven’t conditioned your mind to doing other things that aren’t relaxing there. If you have things on your mind when you get ready for bed and have trouble sleeping or can’t sleep because your head is spinning. Get up and write down these things in a journal or a notepad.
Another good tip, is to take some reading material to bed with you or put on some good sleep music. I’d also make your bed as comfortable as possible and reduce the temperature of the room to about sixty eight degrees. I know that I always sleep better when it is colder in the room.
Remember though that if you are exhibiting any sleep apnea symptoms (not sleep apnia) or suspect you have some sleeping disorders that are preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep that you check it out. If you are like me and just suffer from a lack of sleep, you could benefit from some of these tips. In particular, setting up a sleep schedule and trying to get a good solid seven to eight hours of sleep a night.
My mom always told me when I had to go to bed early and wasn’t sleepy, that at least I was getting rest. As I have gotten older I appreciate that more, because it’s just a healthier lifestyle. You can retrain yourself and learn how to sleep better. You aren’t destined to have sleep problems forever.
I know I’ve been rambling and talking about all this sleep has made me a little tired. How about you. Are you getting sleepy yet? I know that just writing this post when I can’t sleep has made me feel sleepier already!
Keep track of the times that you go to bed. Try and get into a routine. Don’t go to sleep one night at 3am, one at 10pm….and then wake up at different hours everyday. Strive for consistency.
I think the most important thing is getting up at the same time each day and not to sleep in. Do everything that you can to go to bed when you are tired though even if when you go to bed is different each night. Fine tune your sleep cycle.
Try and keep it quiet as well, don’t have the radio on or some other type of background noise going on while you are trying to get your rest so that you can sleep well.
If those things don’t work, you can try some sleeping pills over the counter and there are some natural sleep aids and other sleep remedies but I know that when my wife has tried some of those, she says that she does get a deep sleep.
To recap, if you think you have a sleep disorder, make sure that you seek medical treatment. But, if it’s not a disorder and you have ad it checked out, you might try some of the suggestions I made here.
Anyway, this guy is getting a little sleepy now. I think that I will go take a nap and worry about how I am going to sleep tonight when the time comes.