Effective Strategies to Combat Insomnia
Insomnia sufferers should adopt the mindset that missing a few hours of sleep won’t do serious harm. Often, insomnia stems from self-induced anxiety—constantly worrying about not being able to sleep creates a vicious cycle. To break this cycle, one must relax and let things happen naturally.
Use earplugs and eye masks—external noise is a major factor disrupting sleep. Wearing earplugs and eye masks places you in a world of complete darkness and silence. Initially, discomfort may occur, but repeated use will make it habitual and tolerable.
Practice Relaxation Techniques—light exercises such as tai chi or yoga before bed are excellent ways to relax both body and mind. If you’re unfamiliar with these, simply perform deep breathing exercises in bed. When stressed, breathing becomes fast and shallow, leading to inadequate ventilation. Deep breathing fully ventilates the lungs, increases sympathetic nervous system activity, reduces tension, and helps induce sleep.<brain>