How to Tackle What’s Keeping You Awake

With increasingly-troublesome side effects of skimping on sleep coming to light more and more often, it seems we’re starting to catch on to how important solid, regular rest is for our health.

1. Aches And Pains
Back pain, achy joints, sore muscles and other pains keep 69 percent of people awake at night, according to the survey. “Pain is one of the single most disruptive things to sleep,” says Ojile, “and pain has to be addressed.” There aren’t sleep hygiene tips that can simply make pain go away. Ultimately, he says he tells people to call their physicians to solve the underlying problem causing the pain, and better sleep will naturally follow.

2. Family And Relationship
Stressors Household chores and family activities keep 60 percent of people up at night, according to the survey. Having kids at home may offer some structure in terms of corralling mom and dad back from those late nights out, but that doesn’t mean it’s any easier to hit the hay. Often, once the chores are done and the kids are asleep, it’s the only time couples have alone. “But you can’t cheat the sleep,” says Ojile. “They need that time alone, but it’s robbing themselves of sleep and rest and that sleep debt catches up with them.” Instead, realize you don’t have to be SuperParent. Take a step back and see what can wait until tomorrow, he suggests. “The laundry will still be there the next day.”

3. Work Stressors
Finding a work-life balance keeps 46 percent of people up at night, according to the survey. It’s important to log off about an hour before bedtime and keep technoogy out of the bedroom, says Ojile, since smart phones and computers all emit large amounts of stimulating light. During this wind-down time, he suggests meditation, prayer, quiet reflection or journaling.

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Tagged body aches, environmental noise, pain, rest, Sleep, social life stressors, work stressors