What’s keeping you awake at night?

Hint – it could be something you may not have even considered.  Finding out what that may be is the first step in setting yourself up for a good night’s sleep.

Sleep is a basic human need (like water), so it’s important to ensure that good quality sleep is at the top of your priorities.

Your goal is not to sleep like a baby (remember – babies wake every few hours), but to sleep like an adult with 6-8 hours (depending on what is perfect for you) and to wake feeling refreshed and energised.

Sleep is a basic human need

If you aren’t getting restful and good quality sleep on a regular basis, it will impact all aspects of your life.  From energy, mood, your motivation, brain function, work performance, your health and your relationships.

Women are more likely than men to have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep

There’s reasons for this:

• fluctuation of hormones during each monthly cycle
• the roller-coaster of hormones and emotions during different life stages
• menopause (most usually due to hot flushes and anxiety)
• being woken by movement in the bed by your partner – men are usually larger and movement can cause disruption
• difficulty sleeping during pregnancy because of the position of the baby and just being plain uncomfortable
• light sleeping patterns of mothers – always with an ear open for your babies
• endless worry about children, finances, family, relationships, work and everything else a woman juggles each and every day
• and, just when you thought your worries were over, there are teenagers!

If you’ve been struggling with fatigue, waking up like the living dead and wondering how on earth you’ll get through the day, then you’re not alone.   Studies show that up to 33% of the adult population are not getting enough good quality sleep.  This can lead to accidents, lack of concentration, brain fog, increased illness, depression and, yes, weight gain.

7 Ways to Get to the Bottom of What’s Keeping You Awake

1. Time for a health check up

There could be a physical reason that’s keeping you up at night.  Pain being the most common.  Rule out the obvious and address your physical health issues.

2. Check medications

Some drugs are prescribed to be taken at a certain time of the day to be synchronised with your body’s natural bio-rhythms.  By taking them at the wrong time, you could be disrupting your body clock.  Also, check for side effects of medications.  Ask your doctor about an alternative if this is a problem.

3. Address your stress

And I mean, really take a good hard look at what’s keeping you up at night.  Then take steps to work through any issues.  Get help if necessary to find solutions.   Stress hormones can tip your body clock upside down, causing you to be awake at night and sleepy through the day.

4. Anxiety or panic attacks?

Anxiety hormones can wake you in the early hours with butterflies and feelings of overwhelm, leaving you awake to brood on your problems. Most likely, what you are worrying about will never happen, but getting back to sleep and shutting down your mind chatter can be difficult.  Talk to your health professional for solutions.

5. Look at your exercise routine

Being physically active with access to fresh air will always ensure a better night’s sleep.  If you’re guilty of being a couch potato, take steps to make sure that exercise is factored into your daily routine.

6. Blood sugar regulation

If you are regularly waking between 2-4 am, it could be a blood sugar problem.  By increasing your protein and healthy fats at dinner, you will sleep better without the blood sugar crisis in the middle of the night.

7. Reset your body clock

Sometimes insomnia has become a habit.  By going to sleep and waking up at the same time, even on weekends, you can reset your body clock.  It’s important to stick to the same time routine for a few weeks to be successful.

Further reading – Improve your sleep with these 13 practical tips for better sleep

I can help with sleep issues for better health.  Here’s your next step:

1. Book in for a consultation (in Clinic, Zoom or over the phone) to really drill down on what’s keeping you awake – Click here
2. Eating the right foods for your body can help restore microbiome and sleep patterns – Click here
3. Grab a copy of my Rebuild Your Life Journal for 5 simple daily journal prompts to ground you and get those habits and routines important for a good night’s sleep – it’s your daily reset button – Click here
4. Not sure what you need?  Book in for a 20 minute FREE discovery call chat with me – Click here
5. Sign up for my Newsletter for more tips – Click here

With your health in mind,

Catherine

Like this blog?  Then share with a friend – they’ll thank you!

Learn more about how you can take back control of your health.

Subscribe to the iNaturally Newsletter here www.inaturally.com.au