When Sleep Escapes You – 4 Things Keeping You Up at Night

It is clear to me that the only people getting sleep these days are teenagers. Mine would sleep until noon and beyond if I allowed it, which I will not. Of course, I have to weigh this against the fact that as a baby she never wanted to sleep at all. She was always very late to bed and naps were over by the time she was two and she was well acquainted with the word “no”. As adults though, how good does a midday siesta sound to you? I would surely move to Europe for the shear reason this is not only allowed but encouraged. Of course while tempting, this is not a realistic solution to our sleep problems so we are left trying to figure out how to get some very much needed sleep for those of suffering from sleep deprivation, teenagers of course excluded.

No matter what the cause, sleep or lack there of, can take a very serious toll on us. Tired, yes but we are also talking about a shorter life spans. Who wants that to happen? Not me for sure. Lack of sleep can also cause us to be grumpy, less attentive, more emotional, and so much more. Think about it, there are warnings on over the counter medications that causes drowsiness where we are told not to operate a vehicle or heavy equipment. Being tired is a serious thing. Personally, if I don’t get a good night’s sleep I spend the day feeling like I am drudging through thick honey, chugging coffee in the hope that I can make it safely and alertly through the day. Too many nights without rested sleep has taught me though, there are things that we are doing that could be hindering us from a good night’s sleep.

Four Things that Could be Keeping You Up at Night

Stress – Need I Say More?

When my stress is high, my ability to get good solid sleep is low. This ebs and flows but in times of abundance of stress, my sleep is elusive at best. In general, by the end of most days I am zonked and fall asleep pretty easily. The issue is that jolt at 2:00 to 3:00 am that wakes me up. Most often my head is full of thoughts of things in life that are creating worry. When I have a pretty good handle on things and there are no storms brewing anywhere, I sleep pretty good. So the goal is to identify the things that worry you which are creating stress, and address or eliminate them.

Cut Back on Late Night Stimulants

I was pretty sure I could drink coffee late into the day and not feel affected by it. Or so I thought. After joining the 3 pm coffee run at work it was clear my sleep became more disrupted. When I realized it, I began to order decaf. Almost immediately the problem resolved itself. Besides coffee though, I have an uncontrollable weakness for chocolate, especially at bedtime. This too is a stimulant so be cautious if you are like me and like a little sweet treat before bed. That few minutes of indulging in such wonderful pleasure could lead to a painful day after. Want to learn more about what that caffeine is doing to your body and sleep? Check out this article from Kate Mitchell on “Why Caffeine Ruins Your Sleep…”

Give the Booze a Break

You may think because you knock out after a cocktail or two, you are getting the sleep you need. Think again! Alcohol will result in a whole lot of unrested sleep. While you fall asleep quickly, this is not deep sleep. You are not getting the REM sleep essential to feel rested. The result will be no different than those night you weren’t able to sleep in the first place.

Shut Down that Blue Light

Ditch the bedtime electronics. Trust me I am infamous for having my phone, my tablet, and, my computer, always close at hand. Even if I put down the phone and the computer, choosing to read instead of scrolling, I am on an electronic device. The issue? All that blue light emitting from those devices is tricking your brain into thinking it is daytime not only keeping you more alert but also reducing your body from producing melatonin, essential for rested sleep. So put away those devices and trade up for a good old fashion paperback. Me personally, I am trying to read more physical books which I gave up begrudgingly for the convenience of having a dozen books at my fingertips on my devices. It is actually comforting to have a book in my hands again.

Now you know several of the thing to eliminate to get started on the road to sweet somber. It is a long road and not always a quick fix this suggestions are a good start. If you need more tips, check out my post from last year “Sleep…Who Needs It??”

Love to hear what keeps you up at night. Please let us know in comments.

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