Quality sleep is responsible for many important aspects of our day-to-day life. Allowing the body to dispel any fatigue build-up, it also ensures several vital and complex processes, such as growth or healing, unfold exactly as they should. Just as crucial, its impact on our psychological health touches on memorization and on organizing the thoughts and events of the day. Therefore, it is not surprising that sleep disorders have repercussions on our mood, energy levels as well as nutrient absorption, or even our ability to deal with stressful situations. One of the main steps in avoiding these disagreements and countering our difficulty falling (and staying) asleep is to identify its cause or causes.
Sleep Environment
Problems falling asleep are quite often linked to external stimuli which can prevent restful sleep from taking place. Light, poor oxygenation of the room, electric devices left on, ambient temperature, a dry environment or a constant noise… It is then a question to finding the right answer to the issue at hand. This can be quite elementary: installing blackout curtains, unplugging electronics, turning down the heater or even opening a window. To remedy low hygrometry (moisture in the air), investing in a humidifier is usually sufficient. As for sound disturbance, a sleep headband such as HoomBand promotes calm and peacefulness. The headband plays relaxing stories and nature sounds, guided meditations or white noise.
Stimulating Evenings
Sleep disorders often have to do with the atmosphere in which we evolve in the evening, as well as a highly stimulating routine too late in the day. If we don’t purposefully dedicate the few hours before going to bed to calm and relaxation, they can hinder our sleep significantly. Television, social media, screens and energizing activities no longer have their place come night-time. When the day ends, you could instead prepare your body by dimming the lights and reading a book or, better yet, by listening to a story on your HoomBand. Slowly, the effects of tiredness take hold and sleep eventually ensues all by itself.
Distracting Thoughts
When the mind is worried or upset, the body can have a hard time “letting go”. Thoughts may race, turning into anxiety, sometimes even anguish, and sleep still eludes us, denying us its soothing presence to, instead, add to the vicious cycle. Here again, one of the best solutions consists in focusing our attention. Turn to your HoomBand and, rather than pleasant sounds or white noise, pick an inspiring story or a guided meditation. Allow yourself to slip into the land of dreams.
Other Causes for Sleep Disorders
There exist countless other possible causes which could lead to occasional or recurring sleep disorders. A lack of physical exercise, for instance, is often cited as a key factor in sleep-related issues. This is why carving out enough time to move your body throughout the week is so important. Don’t overdo it, though, as physical pain constitutes yet another determinant.
Having your evening meal too late, eating excess fat, sugar, or spices or, on the contrary, not eating a sufficient amount to curb your hunger could also result in difficulty falling asleep. Pay attention to your consumption of stimulants for a few hours leading up to bedtime. Black tea, coffee, alcohol and sugar do not contribute to sending the body the appropriate signals to invite it to wind down and help it find restful sleep.
Lastly, bedding can truly make or break a good night’s sleep. Making sure your mattress is just right for you and your pillow gives you the exact level of comfort you need goes a long way towards helping you get that much needed shuteye.
