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Do you have trouble sleeping? If you do, you know how frustrating it is to lay awake while everyone else in the house is peacefully sleeping. It may seem like a cruel joke after all those months (or years!) of sleepless nights with the kids, that when they are finally old enough to sleep through the night, you are still up and awake in the small hours. While you may feel like you are the only person still awake at 4.00 am each morning, struggling to sleep is surprisingly common. The lockdown has impacted many people’s quality of sleep, and research shows that women seem to be struggling with sleeplessness more than men during the pandemic, with around 40% of mums saying that they were struggling to sleep.

Although struggling to sleep is common, it does not lessen the impact that sleep deprivation can have on your life. Taking action to get back into a sleep pattern and enjoying a good night’s rest is vital. Here are some of the methods you could try to help you improve your sleep:

Deal With Worries

Feeling worried is a major reason people struggle to sleep. Being up through the night, constantly worrying can be incredibly draining, which, combined with a lack of sleep, will make you feel awful the following day. To prevent you from going over the same thoughts over and over in your mind, you may find it helps to write a list of the things that you are worried about. Having worries written down often helps to stop them from taking up valuable headspace and allows you to relax enough to get some rest. After all, whatever the worry is, you will be able to deal with it better after a good night’s sleep.

Sleep Hygiene

The sleep hygiene method is commonly recommended for issues with falling asleep. Sleep hygiene focuses on creating a ‘clean’ environment for sleep. You will need to ensure that your bedroom is set up to aid sleep, so making sure that your curtains keep your room dark enough and that the room temperature is comfortable are good starting points. The sleep hygiene method also recommends that you avoid caffeinated drinks a few hours before bedtime and that you limit screentime in the evenings. Many people find the sleep hygiene method a helpful way to get back into healthy sleep habits.

Supplements and Remedies

You could try improving your sleep with CBD oil to test whether that makes a difference and helps you fall asleep and then stay asleep. Alternatively, you could try remedies such as herbal teas that are designed to aid sleep. Before you start experimenting with supplements and remedies, it is a good idea to check that they are safe to use and from a reputable supplier.

Once you have started to get a decent amount of rest each night, it should become a habit. You could try sticking with the same routine and see if your sleep pattern naturally adjusts.

B xx

Disclosure this is a collaborative post