#sleepawarness

It’s normal to stay up later than usual once in a while, but lying awake night after night is detrimental to your overall health. While there are plenty of over-the-counter remedies for inducing sleep, why do people experience restless nights in the first place? Here are 10 reasons why people have trouble sleeping:  

You skipped a meal. Skipping meals can be especially stressful on our sleep. Because it pushes us to eat close to bedtime, these late meals can cause negative changes in our sleep. Not only do you throw off your body’s time clock, but you are also depriving your body the fuel it needs to get through the day. It’s no fun to be hungry, and eating healthy meals will help keep your mind focused and less stressed. Less stress means less time lying awake at night.

You ate too much. Your body is not meant to digest as you sleep so it is important to eat a few hours before bed.  Remember that protein-rich foods are difficult to digest and spicy or acidic foods often cause stomach problems and heartburn.

You went to bed upset. It happens to all of us – either we butt heads with our significant other or we receive a late night email from work. Going to bed upset makes it harder for us to fall asleep. If you find that you are stressed or upset either try to resolve to problem or take your mind off of it by doing something you enjoy.  Sometimes, it's as easy as reminding yourself to smile. The act of smiling releases endorphins and makes you feel happy.

Your medication can have side effects. Some prescription medications can affect your sleep. According to Mayo Clinic, some antidepressants, heart and blood pressure medications, allergy medications, stimulants (such as Ritalin), and corticosteroids can prevent you from sleeping soundly due to their chemical properties. Additionally, over the counter medications such as decongestants and weight-loss products contain caffeine, which should always be avoided shortly before bed.

You drank too much alcohol. We all enjoy a fun night out with family and friends. However, it is important to know that drinking too much alcohol will disrupt your body’s natural sleep rhythms as you begin to process the alcohol. Alcohol might help you fall asleep faster, but you will not receive a quality night’s sleep.

You use technology while trying to fall asleep. While you might think mindlessly scrolling through your newsfeed and watching silly cat videos could help you wind down, the light from those electronic screens may actually curb your body’s natural production of melatonin (from sleep.org). Bright lights from our TVs, phones, computers and tablets trigger the mind into thinking it is daytime. Power down and try reading an actual book or do some bedtime yoga before bed to wind down.

The room is too hot or cold. If you’re warm at night: Try using sheets that are designed for keeping you cool at night, open a window, or turn on a fan. If you’re cold at night: Try investing in warm blankets and heavy sheets, or wearing flannel pajamas!

You took a nap. Sleeping during the day can mess up your sleep cycle. If you feel particularly tired, keep your naps short in length. A long afternoon nap will make it hard for you to fall asleep come bedtime.

Your mattress is old. Do you have a hard time getting comfortable? Tossing and turning will keep you from sleeping and it could all be due to one simple fact: you might be sleeping with an old mattress or with the incorrect mattress for your sleeping style. It might be time to replace it with something new and cozy.

Your room is too quiet. When everything is off and all is silent, it can be hard to keep your eyes closed. Try using an eye mask, ear plugs and a fan to create white noise. The National Sleep Foundation reported that the use of earplugs and an eye mask resulted in more time spent in REM sleep and elevated melatonin levels.

We hope we were able to bring awareness to some of your sleep disrupting habits. Crane & Canopy wants you to get the best night’s sleep every night. Here is how to sleep better every night with a list of 10 tips to better sleep plus a video!