By BlackDoctor.org Contributor
1. Stress
I can’t tell you how many times I have stayed up late at night thinking about all the things I had to do the next day. Sometimes this leads me to think about all the things I have to do three weeks or even months from today. I find myself stressing out about things that I cannot deal with at that moment. Stress and worry are something I’m sure you deal with daily. However, you need to find ways to manage and cope with stress so that you do not spend your nights overthinking.
2. Lack of exercise
Exercise is not something I have always been a fan of. Although I have always been active, exercise was not always a top priority for me. I played sports growing up and throughout high school. However, when I attended college, the only exercise I participated in was walking from the library to the nearest bar. I would occasionally tag along with a friend and go on the elliptical for an hour. But other than that, I never realized the benefits of exercise like this study suggests.
3. Caffeine overload
Coffee or tea in the morning is a must for many people. Occasionally, an afternoon pick-me-up may be necessary, too. However, drinking too much caffeine throughout the day or too close to bedtime may be keeping you up at night. I used to love drinking a cup of tea or coffee after work to help hold me over before dinner until I figured out this was contributing to my nights of insomnia.
4. Noise
Too little or too much noise can also interfere with your sleep. I personally need white noise to block out any outside noises. When I am first falling asleep, even just footsteps can keep me awake as well as karaoke night at the bar next to my apartment building every Tuesday night.
5. Light exposure
Watching television, playing on your phone, and even digital clocks may be another surprising reason why you can’t sleep at night. Studies have shown that these types of lights interfere with signals in your brain telling your body it is time to shut down and go to sleep.
6. Irregular sleep schedule
Sometimes there are nights you seem to be restless for no apparent reason. Perhaps you have used all of the above suggestions, but are still tossing and turning. You may not feel stressed or even anxious but still can’t seem to fall asleep anyway. If this is the case, you may need to evaluate your activity that day.
7. Uncomfortable bedroom environment
Your bedroom should be your (and your partner’s) own private sanctuary where you feel safe and at ease each night. I have lived in many places over the past 10 years after leaving my childhood home. I have lived in dorm rooms, off-campus housing, summer beach houses, and a few different apartments. Although all of these places were very different from one another, I always managed to make my bedroom feel comfortable.
