10 Common Causes of Poor Sleep That You Need to Know About
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s become commonplace for people to underestimate the value of a good night’s sleep. However, sleeping well is vital for our physical and mental well-being. If you’re feeling exhausted, struggling to concentrate or are generally feeling unwell, then it’s likely that you’re not sleeping well. The truth is that there are many reasons why we may be experiencing poor sleep, some of which we aren’t even aware of. In this blog post, we’ll be exploring ten of the most common reasons why people suffer from poor sleep and what you can do to overcome these causes.
1. Stress and Anxiety: The mind can be a powerful enemy when it comes to sleeping, and stress and anxiety are major culprits. If you’re feeling anxious, and your thoughts just won’t turn off, try relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing exercises.
2. Poor Sleep Hygiene: Poor sleep hygiene refers to poor sleep habits, and this can include drinking caffeine before bed, or simply not having a regular sleep schedule. Ensure that you are sticking to a sleep schedule, avoid caffeine and alcohol before sleep and create a calming bedtime routine.
3. Environmental Disruptions: External factors, such as noise or light, can be an enormous disruptor for your sleep. Try wearing earplugs, purchasing blackout curtains or earplugs to mitigate these issues.
4. Health Conditions: Health conditions such as sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome can both have a severe impact on your sleep quality. It’s important to seek medical attention to address these conditions.
5. Poor Diet: What you eat throughout the day can undoubtedly affect how well you sleep at night. Aim to consume balanced meals that avoid heavy fats and sugars close to bedtime.
6. Medications: Certain medicines may interfere with sleep or cause drowsiness during the day, make sure to check with your medical practitioner if your medicines are impacting your sleep.
7. Poor Bedroom Environment: Whether your bed is too hard, too soft, or unsupportive, or if too much light enters your room, the space you sleep in can sometimes be the culprit for poor sleep. If it’s time to change your mattress and pillows or add blackout curtains, then you should do so sooner than later.
8. Lack of Exercise: Lack of movement throughout the day can negatively affect sleep quality. Aim to engage in exercise during the day to experience deeper, more restorative sleep.
9. Napping: Napping too much or too little, particularly in the afternoon, can lead to poor sleep habits. Keep napping to less than 30 minutes, if possible.
10. Nutritional Deficiencies – Nutritional deficiencies, such as a lack of magnesium or vitamin D, can impact our sleep quality. Speak to a healthcare professional about the role of nutrition in sleep health.
There are many reasons why people may struggle with poor sleep quality. The good news is that there are many things that we can do to address the issues causing our sleeplessness. By following these recommendations and contacting a sleep health professional from Australia Sleep to get the referral process underway, you can improve your sleep quality, thereby optimising your overall health and well-being. Remember, quality sleep is a foundational pillar of good health, so investing in it is well worth the effort.
