Exactly What You’re Looking For On How to Stay Asleep

Question: I’m having trouble staying asleep. Falling asleep is no problem. What is a problem is hours later when I wake up, it’s pitch dark but I have a hard time falling back to sleep. What’s the solution?

What you describe is not unique. We’ve all been there. You hit the hay worn out from your fast paced day asleep practically before you head hits the pillow. Then at 2:17 AM we’re lying there wide awake. The longer it goes the more frustrated we get because we understand the consequences that lack of sleep will bring on. Which only makes sleep more elusive.

But what can you do to stay asleep throughout the night. Or failing that, fall back to sleep should you wake up?

Most commonly insomnia is a two part problem. Yes it can involve having difficulties falling asleep but as well staying asleep too.

This becomes problematic because seven to nine hours of sleep is what most healthy adults require each night. Fail to get the needed sleep and our health and ability to function begins to suffer.

It may be you need to prepare better to sleep straight through the night. Which is where a warm shower or bath comes in. When you emerge from the shower your core body temp starts to go down. Result? You feel drowsy. It works because this is what happens to your body naturally as you sleep.

But if the cycle of falling asleep and waking up goes on for several weeks guess what? Its time to see your doctor. For sure you don’t want to reach for sleep in pill form. Or if you use something over the counter be very careful so as to avoid the possible side affects like rebound insomnia that rears its ugly head once you stop taking the pills.

Which is why you’re better off treating under the care of a physician sooner rather than later. Because the solution to your problem may well be more complicated than you think.

Nor do you want to turn to alcohol for help either. Yes it may help you get to sleep initially. But then like clockwork the affects wears off and you wake up and can’t go back to sleep.

Most sleep issues like this can be resolved through getting enough exercise during the day, following proper sleep hygiene, and minimizing things that can keep you awake like being on the computer too close to bed time.

Let’s not forget that you want your brain to associate the bedroom with sleep. In such a way that walking towards it makes you sleepy. Okay maybe not quite like that. But that’s the general idea.

Anyway losing sleep is a losing proposition. One that carries a price with it regardless of whether your recognize it or not. As it affects both your health and productivity. For that reason you need to wake up to that fact and embrace better ways to insure you get a good nights sleep.