Do you feel exhausted all the time? Do you wait for the end of the day so you can rest, only to discover that you can’t? Are you feeling groggy, irritable, and sad because you can’t remember the last time you had a good night’s sleep?

Sleep deprivation is a serious condition that goes far beyond feeling tired in the morning. A lack of sleep can cause brain fog, a slow metabolism, heart problems, advanced aging and intoxication-like reflexes. It’s an epidemic in our “work faster and harder” society when the answer should often be to work rested and get more done in less time.

If you’re suffering from chronic sleep deprivation and aren’t sure why, below are some common (and not so common) potential causes with solutions for each. You deserve to feel better and the answers are out there. Hopefully, we have them here.

Potential Problem: Mattress

We spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping, therefore a quality mattress isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. Because we spend so much time on our mattress, it’s crucial to find one that matches your personal needs: i.e. length and thickness, temperature flow, flexibility (bounce).

Nectar offers a 365-day trial so you never have to wonder or worry if you’ve invested in the right mattress. Wherever you choose to go, find a product that stands by their quality and has your best interest as their goal.

Potential Problem: Diet

Most of us have been guilty of indulging in late-night cravings that leave us eating before bed. While the shame is usually in the caloric intake, the caffeine hiding in these foods might do the most damage.

Avoid foods high in sugar, or foods that turn into sugar (AKA carbs) and replace them with low-calorie vegetables. If you’re a coffee drinker, try to stop the java before noon and definitely avoid those late afternoon espresso shots to help you power through the day.

Potential Problem: Environment – Sound

It’s obvious that certain sounds will keep us up — fire trucks, crying babies, those neighbors that love to party until the sun comes up — but there are certain noises that might be keeping us up that we’re not aware of.

Do you have a leaky faucet? A clock that you find yourself counting the ticks to? Does your partner like falling asleep to music that you could live without?

Do an inventory of every sound you hear at night and write it down. Try eliminating everything you can and most definitely invest in some earplugs. If you’re still losing Zzz’s, you can check this one off your list and move on to–

Potential Problem: Environment – Visuals

In the morning does it feel like you’re residing on the surface of the sun? Does your partner turn on the lights to get dressed in the morning? Light is one of the biggest reasons our sleep gets interrupted and when that happens, it’s often hard to pick back up where we left off.

Find a sleep mask that is comfortable (so you actually wear it) and that stays on your head all night. Purchase blackout curtains, especially during spring when the sun comes out a little earlier than you’d like. It’s amazing how people can become “comfortable” with elements in their life, even if those things aren’t serving them – in this case, preventing you from getting a quality sleep!

Potential Problem: Screens

Do you like to wind down at the end of the day scrolling through Facebook or watching a little Netflix? While there’s nothing wrong with this, some experts say that the blue light from our electronics tells our brain to stay awake.

Blue light or not, this kind of stimulation could keep you up much longer than your body would like. Try trading in this late-night habit for a good book, meditation, or journaling. A little adjustment like this could go a long way.

Potential Problem: Medication

Are you taking medication on a regular basis? Many people choose to pop their antibiotics at night and because everyone’s body chemistry is slightly different, it might cause sleep deprivation.

Experiment with taking medication in the morning instead and see if you feel a difference. Of course, get this approved by your doctor first and find out if you should make this a gradual change or if you can immediately start taking your pills in the morning.

Because each person is different, there is no one solution to sleep deprivation. Trial and error will go a long way, so have the patience to experiment with different tactics until you find the rest you deserve. What else are you going to do while you’re not sleeping?

Published: 2018-04-24 20:14:40