The Enemies of Sleep

Since sleep is a natural and essential ability shared by virtually all species, poor sleep isn’t the result of some genetic malfunction. In most cases, poor sleep happens because something is getting in the way of you sleeping.

Many people say, for example, that their sleep started to suffer due to shift-work or long-distance travel. It may be that the original trigger incident is several years in the past, and that the conditions that caused the sleep problems with sleep no longer apply. But they just haven’t found the way get back into a normal sleeping rhythm.

The right sleeping environment is also important. A bedroom should be quiet, the right temperature, comfortable and inviting, to encourage regular sleep.

If you are worried about something – and we all are from time to time – taking your cares and concerns to bed with you may seem unavoidable. But there are ways to leave them at the door so that the quality of your sleep doesn’t suffer.

Stress is endemic in our lives these days, so learning how to manage stress effectively during the day, and how to de-stress before bed, will mean that there is less chance of stress disturbing your sleep. 

Ignoring the stressors or denying your worries generally doesn’t work. Stress is a common cause of poor sleep, so dealing effectively with the effects of stress is a must. If not, the chances are that your mind will continue to work on the problem while you are attempting to sleep.

There's a circular relationship between sleep and mental health. Living with a mental health condition can affect how well you sleep, and poor sleep can have a negative impact on your mental health.

It follows that restoring balanced sleeping patterns is a vital part of restoring mental stability and wellbeing. 

Whatever the causes of disrupted sleep, learning the right steps and sticking to a routine is an effective way to overcome the enemies of sleep.