“It’s not important initially to know how you’re going to create a result. What’s important is to decide you will find a way, no matter what.”  

~ Tony Robbins

It’s very common as one ages to have problems falling asleep, staying asleep, and sleeping long enough to feel rested and energized. I have wrestled with this for almost twenty years. Going through life sleep deprived leaves you mentally and physically miserable. If you don’t get enough sleep, things simply don’t go right. While I don’t get a perfect night’s sleep every evening, I can say I’ve dramatically improved my sleep and my life is better for it. The following can sound like a lot of work and it is. What was easy when we were young can be challenging as we age. However, if you’re someone with a real sleep problem, you know what I’m saying and I hope these ideas can improve your situation.

BECOME AWARE — Compare and contrast a good night’s sleep versus a bad night. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. What is the weight of the covers?

2. What is the temperature of the room?

3. Do the curtains shut out the morning light?

4. Does background noise help?

5. Does lavender aromatherapy help?

6. Is your mind racing trying to solve problems or fighting anxiety?

7. Is your jaw and face clenched or relaxed?

8. When was your last cup of coffee?

9. Did you drink alcohol?

10. Did you eat fruit or sugars for supper?

11. Does wearing a stocking cap or a sweatshirt help?

12. Do you need to try some prostate supplements to reduce trips to the bathroom?

13. We mentally process our day while sleeping. Did you watch a violent movie that evening?

14. Are you consciously relaxing your entire body? Your feet, legs, neck; face?

15. Is your mouth hanging open or closed?

16. Have you tried medication at bedtime?

17. Have you tried cleansing your sinuses with a NetiPot?

18. Are your arms on top of the covers or under the covers?

19. Have you tried placing a heating pad under your hips and lower back?

20. Does covering your eyes with a hand towel or stocking cap help?

It will take time, effort, and awareness as you sort through these questions, but it’s worth the work. What impacts a person’s sleep may be different for someone else, so you’ll have to experiment to find out what works for you.

My next suggestion is something everyone should try. It’s cheap, easy, and can have a profound impact on the quality of your rest. Get a breathe-right nose strip and give it a try at bedtime for a week. You may discover that you have mild sleep apnea and the extra air helps you get the deeper rest you need. I’ve done this and the quality of my sleep significantly improved from day one. 

As with so many things in life, your sleep challenges won’t likely be solved by one thing. Rather, it’s more likely to be a combination of solutions that, when put together, give you the results you desire. If you’re one of those people with significant sleep issues and this blog helps, then I’m grateful to have contributed to your success.

“The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves, too.”  ~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe