The absence of sleeping properly can turn your entire life into a tiring chore. If you consistently fail to get enough rest, even mundane everyday tasks are liable to seem like incredible feats of endurance. So, if you’ve recently found yourself contending with sleep issues, you’d do well to get to the root of the problem. Considering how common troubled sleep is, it should come as no surprise that there are a variety of reasons you are not sleeping properly.
Your Mattress is Uncomfortable
Many of us abstain from purchasing new mattresses as often as we should. Given how expensive mattresses can be, we tend to make do with the ones we have until they become completely unusable. While this may seem like a boon to your finances, it can also be a huge detriment to your nighttime comfort levels and overall better sleep.
So, if your mattress is old, worn-down, uncomfortable or any combination thereof, it’s time to get a new one. Even if you’re not keen on spending the money, enhanced sleep quality is well worth a relatively small financial sacrifice. While this isn’t to say that you should go all-out and purchase the priciest mattress you come across, you also shouldn’t purchase a mattress solely because it’s affordable. Although it may entail spending a little more than you’d prefer, it’s perfectly possible to get a good mattress for a reasonably fair price.
As is the case with virtually every other type of product, you’re likely to get what you pay for when shopping around for a new mattress. So, if you go with the cheapest possible option, don’t be surprised if you don’t see much of an improvement in your sleep quality. Conversely, a good hybrid mattress should prove relatively easy on your finances and conducive to enhanced overnight comfort.
Your Sleep Schedule is Inconsistent
Regularly going to bed at inconsistent times and getting inconsistent amounts of sleep is liable to leave you in a perpetual state of fatigue. So, if your current sleep schedule could stand to see some improvement, there’s never a bad time to start working out the kinks.
First off, you’ll need to impose a set bedtime on yourself. Although many of us begrudged our parents for giving us bedtimes when we were children, this served an important purpose: to ensure that we got enough sleep. In addition to giving yourself a bedtime, make sure that it’s one that allows for seven to eight hours of sleep.
Secondly, you’ll need to prime your mind and body for slumber. This step is particularly important for anyone who has trouble getting nice and relaxed in the leadup to bedtime. So, anywhere from 30 minutes to a full hour before your designated bedtime, shut off your phone, television, computer and any other screens that are occupying your attention. Next, engage in activities that will leave you relaxed and ready for sleep – examples of which include meditation, reading and journaling.
If your new bedtime is earlier than you usually hit the hay, you’re likely to go through an adjustment period. The good news is that after a few weeks, your internal clock should become acclimated to this schedule, and you’ll start getting tired around the same time each night.
You Have Untreated Mental Health Issues
In addition to interfering with our physical and psychological well-being, mental health issues can throw a wrench into our sleep schedules. Uncontrolled stress, depression, anxiety and grief are just a handful of the mental health afflictions that can keep us awake at night. So, if your sleep issues stem from such psychological afflictions, make a point of contacting your physician and seeking out a good therapist, counselor, psychologist or other relevant mental health professionals.
Sleeping properly is essential to maintaining favorable physical and mental health and answering all the challenges the waking world throws at you. So, if your current sleep habits leave something to be desired, it’s time to start reining things in. Millions of people grapple with sleep issues, and if you count yourself among them, there’s no sense in hoping for the problem to go away on its own. Should any of the examples outlined above apply to you, start taking measures to correct them posthaste.
