Sleep is so important. You need a decent night’s sleep to function the following day. Yet, so many people have disturbed sleep most nights, disrupting daily life. There can be several factors to consider. For example, your room may be too warm. Or, perhaps you had too much caffeine during the day. However, those tend to be one-offs. If you struggle to sleep more consistently, there could be an underlying reason. Are any of these five things keeping you up all night? If so, find out how to overcome them for a better rest tonight.
1. What’s keeping you up all night: Mental health as a factor
Your mental health can play a huge part in your sleep patterns. A mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety, can keep you up at night.
Your heart can race, and your mind can start to wander, which can be things that keep you awake instead of allowing you to get a decent night’s sleep. It’s not easy handling mental health issues, and lack of sleep can make things worse.
So, confide in someone close to you or a medical professional to ensure that you handle the underlying issues once and for all. They can help you find healthy coping mechanisms.
2. Is snoring a factor?
Snoring can be a massive inconvenience at night. Whether that is someone lying next to your snoring away or whether it is a problem that you struggle with each evening.
There are things you can do. You can try nasal strips, or even snoring surgery could be an option if you want a more permanent fix to the problem. Snoring is a big problem and can disrupt your sleep, so trying to find a fix can often be your best solution.
3. Hormonal changes
Whether it is menopause, your menstruation cycle, or simply finding out that you have a hormone imbalance, it can start to affect our sleep at night on a more permanent basis. Even frequent urination can cause huge problems and disrupt your sleep patterns.
4. Is stress keeping you up all night?
Stress can play a big part in your sleep patterns too. Many different factors can cause stress. You may have a problem with work, perhaps have an issue with your relationship, or even have financial worries.
The stress levels can mount up, causing your heart to race. And your mind might think of everything other than actually getting rest.
5. Your bedtime routine
Finally, could it be your bedtime routine that is causing you a sleepless night? Having too much technology before bed or not taking the time to wind down after a tough day can mean you are your own worst enemy.
Those sleep patterns are disruptive. This is why making some changes, such as avoiding technology before bed, can often prevent a lousy night’s sleep.
A good post, Christy. I am most fortunate as I can nearly always sleep even in times of stress and trauma. My poor hubby, on the other hand, battles to sleep when things are normal and it really goes pear shaped when he is stressed.
I am glad you get your sleep, Robbie ~ You are fortunate as so many people seem to take your hubby’s route instead! Enjoy your weekend :)
These are all good points, Christy, and certainly things we can all work on. Pain is a tough one though. I don’t usually have trouble falling asleep, but my back and shoulders (previous injuries and ongoing issues) wake me around 3-4:00 am. Sometimes I am able to go back to sleep, but many mornings I give up and get up.
Oh Michelle, sorry to hear of your chronic pain. I do hope it’s able to become more manageable for you xx Well at least you get to enjoy the quiet of the mornings <3
The best time of day!
Yes, I’m a morning person too! We have lots in common :)
In my case…I just think too much in nights…and this results in sleeplessness
Pain pure and simple, added to my mental problems causes me to have major sleep problems and I know I snore and can’t use the machine to help my sleep apnea. Every time I turn, which is constantly, I have pain shoot through my body in my back and neck area. pain pills aren’t helping. I am up and down all night trying to distract myself and move my back so the pain is gone for a little bit.
I’m sorry for what you’re going through, Tessa. Please make sure you tell your doctor these details. I hope relief comes your way soon xx
Thank you Christy!
And thank YOU for being here, Tessa
Winding down after my day is how I get healthy sleep. Your points are helpful. Thanks, Christy.
I am so guilty of not putting technology away!! I always have my phone beside me, I charge it there and its my alarm…. I should prob look at getting a alarm clock!! Great post xx
Avoiding technology before bed is a great idea! Sometimes even taking tech breaks altogether, if possible. Sometimes what we do during the day matters when we find the stress at night creeps in. Most of us have to work with what we’ve got under, and so little changes, like what we eat or drink (or not eating or drinking right before bed) might be in order :) Overall, each day is another day to take a deep breath, and try, try again, to put to use many of these valuable suggestions. Love and hugs my friend xo
Useful as usual Christy, on the light side I want to comment about a friend of mine, that when our friends occasionally travel to get together, no one wants to share a room with him, because he snores loud enough, and I mean LOUD, even if you are in the next room at the hotel you can hear him, enough to keep you up all night!
He is not even aware he snores!
Ironically when we are saved from this fate, it’s when his wife comes along with him, she’s so use to him snoring, she swears to us he doesn’t snore!
My only guess is, she really sleep so deep, she can’t hear him. there you have a match made in Heaven! :-)
Stress and overthinking are applicable for me, even when I try to ‘clear my mind’. A stable routine (chocolate and an engaging book) usually help with that but I often find that, because I have to get up in the middle of the night due to having a stoma bag, I can’t get back to sleep, and I can never really work out why. Very useful post – sleep certainly is important!
Caz x
Hi Christy”
Me and sleepless hours during the night are companions. I have found that putting away all electronics a few hours before sleep can certainly help.
Even as writers we have that tendency to keep tapping out the words late into the night, thus I leave it alone.
Yet another thing I found disturbing my sleep was watching the news late at night. As we are all aware there is very little that comes with the news that makes you fell good, so I just avoid it.
I found a mixture of ¼ teaspoon of honey, I teaspoon of Cocoanut oil and ½ teaspoon of sea salt just before bed helps. Mix them all together and drink it quickly. Add more honey if needed, found this little gem online and love it to help induce sleep…
Great article… Hugs and all…. Rolly
Christy, sleepless nights is something I am sure affects all of us at some stage and some of us all the time…an excellent post that is relevant and helpful. Out of everything I find emotional worries, stress the worst disturbance and the most difficult to control…the brain is so powerful.
All of the above, lol.
Well, well, a topic too, close to not comment on.
Snoring … I find it reverberates through the mattress. If I turn around, sleeping with my head at the foot of the bed, I find this solves that problem.
Stress is a disaster (working on that)
You didn’t mention cats. At about 4 a.m. they run across my body, they want to snuggle and purr, play hand mouse, steal cat food tins from the recycling bin, knock something over somewhere in the house and play floor hockey with a bottle cap (which sounds like a bowling ball at 4 a.m.).
Okay, I’m getting off the Tech now, and will go relax…..somewhere… in bed with the cats, I guess. :D
Good post, Christy :-)
This was very helpful but miss.oxford missed many points .
All good items! I just had a blog about a sleepless night. We’re in sync! Good post.