Golden advice for a remedy against insomnia

Everyone has probably encountered insomnia at least once in life. Tossing and turning on the bed, thoughts racing, alertness and inability to relax and sleep, while simultaneously feeling fatigue, irritability, anxious, lethargy, depression...

Everyone has probably encountered insomnia at least once in life. Tossing and turning on the bed, thoughts racing, alertness and inability to relax and sleep, while simultaneously feeling fatigue, irritability, anxious, lethargy, depression... Yes, insomnia is extremely uncomfortable, especially if it becomes chronic and mixed with depression and anxiety.

1. Stress is a frequent insomnia trigger, therefore it is important to “de-stress” before going to bed. Bicycle riding, jogging, inline skating or some other physical activity help us to clear our head after work as well as to relieve tension and stress. Still, we should not engage physical activity too late in the day because we might find it difficult to fall asleep.

2. The golden rule of a good sleep is to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. The times can be different for different people, therefore morning persons will find it more natural to fall asleep at 10 p.m. and wake up at 6 a.m., while night owls will prefer to sleep from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Due to their specific stage of brain development, teenagers go to bed long after midnight and wake up around noon, while the elderly find it comfortable to sleep like small children. Whatever time to go to bed we find preferable, it is important to establish an eight-hour sleep routine by going to bed and getting up at the same time, including on weekends. 

3. We should also get some daylight exposure, especially in the morning and before noon, so that our bodies can generate sufficient quantities of vitamin D and melatonin that are important for normal sleep.

4. Some of us spend maybe too much time watching a mobile phone screen or TV, reading the news, playing video games or binging on TV shows, which stimulates our brains excessively. Blue light is very detrimental to sleep quality, therefore we should refrain from looking into a screen before going to bed, opting for reading a book or a hot shower instead.

5. Another good method is to take a hot shower just before bedtime. Our body temperature drops while we sleep, and a hot shower increases it. The resulting temperature drop facilitates sleep.

6. According to some experts, being tucked in a thick duvet reminds us of our time in the womb, which facilitates sleep. Moreover, its pressure on the body is similar to a hug or massage, which can be relaxing. Peruse our offer of duvets and bedding on our website.

7. Perhaps the problem is not in you, but rather your mattresspillow or bed? Sleeping on an uncomfortable bed can indeed impact the quality of your sleep. Have a look at our offer of mattresses, beds and pillows on our website.

This article belongs to the series All about sleep hygiene.

Connected