Can't Sleep? 5 Proven Ways to Beat Insomnia

Insomnia: the inability to get a sufficient amount of sleep needed to wake up feeling rested and refreshed. It's been estimated that insomnia affects more than half of the adult population in the US. Thankfully, there's a lot you can do to keep yourself from becoming zombie-like
The first important thing to do is figure out why you're having trouble sleeping.  If your life is an insanely stressful mess leaving you constantly worried and anxious, that's your answer. If you're an over-thinker like I am, you might have trouble turning your brain off at night so you constantly jump from one thought to another. We could all use a little more Bob Marley, and three times the vacations in our lives... but until then there are still ways to relax.

 

1. Establish healthier routines

• Going to bed and waking up at the same times (yes, even weekends) will regulate your sleep cycles
• Alcohol, while it can make you pass out, limits your REM cycles which are needed to be rested and refreshed
• Wind down - turn lights off/down and calm your mind with reading, meditation or yoga.

2. Bedroom environment change

• Avoid watching TV and using electronics in your bedroom
• White noise - the hum of a fan can tune out distracting noises (especially for apartment living)

3. Lavender oil

• Place a few drops on your pillow - it is calming and helps reduce stress - mix that with slow, steady breathing and you'll be out!

4. Reverse Psychology

• Remember those college nights when you tried like hell to do anything but fall asleep... and you fell asleep?

5. Melatonin

• This is the sleeping hormone... you can buy it in pill form at any drugstore (in the US at least).  It'll help you fall asleep, regulate your internal clock and it's not habit forming since it's natural

-Scrizzle

* What tricks do you have for falling asleep?