top of page

Pitfalls to Avoid

Many things you may not think about could be contributing to your sleeplessness. Furthermore, things you may be doing to aid sleep may actually be harming you. This page indexes some of these issues.

Alcohol

It may seem like this would help get you to sleep. A lot of people feel tired after drinking alcohol. The truth is that while alcohol may put you to sleep, it disrupts your sleep cycle dramatically, and reduce the amount of rest you're actually getting while you sleep. Avoid having alcohol in your system when trying to fall asleep.

Caffeine

This one is a little more obvious. Caffeine is a chemical that blocks the receptors in your brain that allow you to feel drowsy. Modern living tends to include caffeine at all turns, and drinking several cups of coffee throughout the day has become normalized. Try to keep it to 1 or 2 cups in the morning, and try not to have any caffeine after 11 AM.

Nighttime Exercise

Don't get me wrong - exercise is one of the best things you can do to fight insomnia, but be careful when you do it. Try not to exercise less than 3 hours before bed. When you work out, your body goes into overdrive, and will be keeping you alert and awake at all costs. Try to work out in the morning, right when you wake up if possible!

Food

A strong breakfast, a light lunch, and a hearty dinner right? Well, not so much. Eating a large, late dinner can be harmful for sleep. Consider lowering portions, eating more light dinners, and focusing on vegetables and lean proteins rather than having a huge juicy steak. More so, leave at least 3 hours between dinner and bedtime to allow for digestion.

Insomnia Base

bottom of page