• Question: Is there any way to get to sleep faster, I'm always awake for and hour or more before i drop off but I need more sleep. HELP!

    Asked by to Daren, Lynne, Phillip, Simon on 18 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Daren Fearon

      Daren Fearon answered on 18 Jun 2014:

      Sleep (or lack of it) can be effected by a wide range of factors. Your environment can play big role – levels of light and noise and how warm or cold you are have a large effect. Also, your habits throughout the day can improve sleep, with regular exercise being shown to help. The things you do before bed obviously are important. Eating lots or drinking things with lots of caffeine or alcohol before bed will make sleeping more difficult. Anxiety or stress can also play a part, if you are stressed about something then getting to sleep is harder, and if you end becoming anxious about getting to sleep this only makes it worse.

      I guess the best tips are to get regular exercise, create a comfortable environment for sleeping, don’t eat large amounts or drink caffeine before bed and try to do something to switch off or relax before going to bed. If not being able to sleep is becoming a big problem then it might be worth speaking to a doctor about it.

    • Photo: anon

      anon answered on 18 Jun 2014:

      I’ve read that you should try not to look at computers or electronic screens for about an hour before you go to bed.

      You have an internal clock in your body that is controlled by light levels and sets your body’s natural rhythm so that when it gets dark you start to feel sleepy. There is a large amount of blue light in modern screens that you don’t find in lightbulbs. The blue light mimics the sun and tricks your brain into thinking it’s still daytime so will keep you awake.

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