—
It’s 2018, so you probably don’t have the type of clock that “ticks” and “tocks.” But when you can’t sleep, you might still imagine that tick-tock, tick-tock counting down the moments until you have to wake up and embark on another stressful day. If it’s pent-up anxiety from the previous day that’s keeping you awake in the first place, the thought of facing a new dawn probably isn’t doing anything to quiet your mind. Here are a few common stressors and tips to combat them for a solid night’s sleep.
Family Life
Maybe you have strained relationships with family or friends that are causing you to toss and turn or night. Or it might not be the relationship itself, but rather poor health or difficult circumstances that cause stress surrounding your loved ones. This is a common source of anxiety, and you’re certainly not the first to feel this way. But those loved ones can be sources of strength, too. When your mind races, talk things over with a friend to slow your thoughts and get some shut-eye.
Finances
Everyone feels the weight of financial pressure at some point in their lives, regardless of how much you bring home every payday. Whether you’re struggling to make ends meet or trying to figure out a way to budget a vacation this year, the stress could keep you up at night. Instead of allowing money problems to trigger insomnia, try some natural remedies to unwind. For instance, sip on soothing chamomile tea or take melatonin, a natural supplement that brings on drowsiness.
Work
Probably the most typical type of stress stems from big projects or looming deadlines at work. Stress builds up like steam until you explode. When it comes to this type of anxiety, the best thing you can do for yourself is unplug before bed. The benefit of this is two-fold. First, the bright light that comes from your smartphone screen signals your brain to stay awake (like sunlight) and makes it harder to hit the hay. Second of all, when you power down, you won’t be tempted to answer any late-night emails.
You can also do yourself a favor when you’re at work and avoid too much caffeine, at least in the latter part of the day. In general, you should skip another cup of coffee for the six hours before your usual bedtime. And speaking of “bedtime,” it’s helpful to make this the same time as frequently as possible. This way, your body will naturally begin to unwind at certain times each evening.
Other Coping Mechanisms
No matter what’s stressing you out, you’ve already found some ways to cope and enjoy better sleep — and there are many more. You can try meditation to lull you to sleep, using an app such as HeadSpace or just take a few deep breaths until your heart rate starts to slow. If you wake up in the middle of the night, don’t lie in bed staring at the clock. Keep the lights down low, but head to the living room and listen to some music or read until you’re ready to snooze again.
Modern-day life certainly comes with its fair share of stress, but that doesn’t mean you have to toss and turn all night long. If you employ some of these techniques for better sleep, you’ll be able to rest soundly and face the next day with a clear mind and better attitude. So the next time you just can’t get some shut-eye, try one of these tips.
—
The role of men is changing in the 21st century. Want to keep up?
Get the best stories from The Good Men Project delivered straight to your inbox, here.
—
Photo provided by author.