SOYOUWANNA CURE YOUR INSOMNIA?
- It may seem obvious, but make your bed as comfortable as possible. Experiment with what works best for you, be it a feather bed, waterbed, bed of lettuce, whatever.
- Choose a position conducive to sleep. This is often the position you find yourself waking up in. If your sleeping partner is the source of your insomnia (as he/she often is), asking him/her sleep in the garage isn't a viable option. Rather, if he/she kicks or snores, think of buying a bigger bed or earplugs. If he/she makes many toilet trips during the night, situate him/her on the side of the bed closer to the bathroom.
- Get rid of the large, luminous clock staring at you. It not only produces distracting light, it is a stressful reminder that "Hey, you aren't sleeping. Yep, that's right. Not sleeping. Loser." The act of worrying about sleep is, in itself, enough to keep you awake.
- Control the amount of light in your bedroom. Excessive brightness not only affects your eyes, but it also influences the hormone production that helps to establish a healthy sleep cycle. Wear a sleep mask if necessary.
- When it comes to noise, many people find repetitive sounds easier to sleep through than intermittent and abrupt ones. Ear plugs or a continuous background sound such as a fan can help mask disturbing noise (the next-door neighbors' fight, a barking dog, etc). Another option to consider is a white noise machine.
- Control the thermostat. Temperature extremes, whether too hot or too cold, are no fun for the light sleeper.
