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I used to take the ability tosleepfor granted.
Getty Images / Graphic by Zackary Angeline
Then last year, for whatever reason, it suddenly became a struggle.
Even if I got to sleep, Id wake up fully five or six times throughout the night.
So what’s the difference between occasional tossing and turning and having a problem with sleep?
Five of them actually worked for me, while three failed miserably.
Im not going to lie: This onesucked.
Im just not myself withoutcoffeeor caffeinated tea in the morning.
But a thorough study of my caffeine habits was necessary.
Unfortunately, I found out that pretty much any caffeine will screw with my sleep.
So, I tried going cold turkey.
And Dr. Winter says that we subliminally kind of crave that feeling of being weighted down."
Blue-light-blocking glasses screen your eyes from the light that phone and computer screens give off.
So, I ordered theEyekepper Vintage Computer Glassesfor $10.99 from Amazon.
Of course, glasses aren’t the only option.
I used to think showers before bed were basically the same as a bath before bed.
Temperatures drop at night, so were programmed to fall asleep when our body temperature drops, Bancroft adds.
Temperature controls our circadian clocks, she explains, and anything warmer can trigger our brains to wake up.
For me, melatonin was nothing short of life-changing (or sleep-changing, I guess).
But it seemed too good to be trueand it kind of is, says Dr. Winter.
You should also confirm to take it at sundown, not right before bed, he adds.
Over-the-counter melatonin isnt regulated by the FDA, which can make choosing the right dose confusing.
TheNational Sleep Foundationrecommends taking between 0.2 milligrams and up to 5 milligrams for insomnia.
As always, talk to your doctor before starting any new supplements, including melatonin.
He claims it relieves stress and can help with insomnia.
While this exact method hasnt been studied, Dr. Winter says it cant hurt to try.
Unfortunately, it did pretty much nothing for me.
Same deal with this.
I tried a nighttime tea, which isgenerally a chamomile blend.
Unfortunately, I didnt fall asleep any quickerand I just had to wake up more to use the bathroom.
But, beware that it might have a similar effect on your bladder.
Sometimes, half the the battle is reassuring yourself that youwillget to sleep.
And when that doesn’t work, maybe try a few of the tips above.
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