Having trouble sleeping? Tackling insomnia while staying at home

Amid the changes brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic, a lot of people have reported trouble sleeping. This has either brought about by an erratic schedule as they work from home or simply overwhelmed by the situation and what is going on around them as they try to keep life going.

Insomnia has a way of seeping out life from your day to day activities. When your body doesn’t get enough rest, you will be constantly irritable and the people around you will start noticing and avoiding you.

Working from home is already hard enough, adding insomnia to your plate will only lead to lethargy and this may compromise your work.

Here are some easy ways to help you fight insomnia while working and staying home:

Maintain a routine

Avoid living one day at a time because you are home and nobody is assessing your work. Your body is used to a routine and relapsing on that will make it pick up on the easiest habits. Which are normally bad habits?

Write down a schedule of the things you plan to do every day and stick to it. Ensure you go to bed early so that your sleep time doesn’t overlap into your daily schedule.

Reduce your caffeine intake

Stimulants ranging from coffee, energy drinks and soft drinks should be taken minimally if you want to have a normal sleeping pattern. Caffeine is mainly take to serve as an eye opener, to keep you active and awake.

When you take caffeine before sleep, it will interfere with your body’s clock and you won’t be able to sleep as required. You can swap coffee for a cup of tea which is more relaxing.

Reduce your screen time before bedtime

Avoid using your phone or watching a captivating movie just before bed. Your phone is a distraction because you will constantly come across funny stories or follow chats that can go deep into the night and cut into your sleeping time.

When you do a heavy activity before bed, your mind stays alert and hence you won’t be able to sleep on time as planned. You can read a book or write a chapter in your diary instead of watching television or using your phone.

Exercise regularly

When you get to exercise your body gets rid of all the tension in your muscles and this will help your body relax and make sleep easier.

The easiest way of getting a good night’s rest is by staying active during the day when you sit around all day your body is fully at rest and falling asleep at night can be hard.

Avoid exercising at night at this will leave you active for longer and interfere with your sleep. Furthermore, if you have insomnia avoid sleeping during the day so your body can rest at night.

Watch your diet

The kinds of food you decide to eat can also interfere with your sleep patterns. It is advisable to eat foods that are easier to digest at night and ensure to have dinner early so you can have a humble time to sleep.

Interfering with your meal times also affects your body’s metabolism, hence maintaining a regular schedule is key when fighting insomnia. Also, drink a lot of water during the day to fasten metabolism.

Make your bed comfortable

If your resting place is not comfortable enough, getting well-rested is close to impossible. Ensure your mattress is comfortable and your pillow is fluffy enough to help your sleeping posture at night.

Also, ensure your sheets are clean and fresh, it is easy to relax and fall asleep faster when your beddings are welcoming.

-This story was first published by Eve Digital (evewoman.co.ke)