Go to sleep

If you find it hard to go to sleep at night, you may have tried everything you can think of. Some of the common things that people try are; sleep aids, warm milk, sleeping early, taking a warm bath, counting sheep and reading a book before bed.

Some would say that they’ve tried everything and still can’t go to sleep. Is it because these methods aren’t effective? It’s true that some methods will be more effective on one person and less effective on another.

Sleep aids are often helpful for short term sleeplessness, but they should not be taken over long periods. The chemicals in sleep aids often take time to break down in the body, meaning a person might wake up feeling groggy. In many cases sleep aids help you go to sleep because of the placebo effect.

Warm milk will help you relax as it contains amino acid which turns into a sleep-enhancing compound. The effects won’t knock you out like a sleeping pill however the relaxing effect may just help you drift into sleep more easily.

Although sleeping early seems to make sense, it’s not a good idea if you’re planning to sleep more than usual. Oversleeping can further disrupt your circadian rhythm. If you’re really tired, then go to sleep a little earlier, but wake up at the usual time. Avoid doing this too often though.

Taking a hot bath right before sleep isn’t a good idea. Having a hot bath can help you sleep however. It’s best to take a hot bath and ensure you have at least an hour to relax and cool down before you go to sleep. The quick accelerated cooling of the body can recreate a temperature drop similar to a person drifting into sleep. A hot bath can also help you unwind, relax and soothe muscles and clear your mind, helping you go to sleep much more easily.

Counting sheep or counting down from a hundred can help you go to sleep, because when the conscious mind focuses on a mundane task there is more chance of you to drift off. By counting sheep, your mind isn’t so prone to latch onto every thought that pops into your head.

Reading a book before you go to bed can help some people relax and go to sleep. For some, this can have the opposite effect. If you’re someone who thinks about a movie and talks about a movie for hours after watching it, you’re more likely to latch onto the story in a book and have thoughts racing throughout the night.

Whatever you try when you go to sleep, make sure that it’s not too stimulating for the body or mind. Give yourself time to unwind and leave your worries and thoughts outside your bedroom. When you go to sleep, dedicate all your mental energy into getting as relaxed and calm as possible.

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