Alaska Sleep Education Center

Here’s How to Fall Asleep Faster

Have you ever noticed that on the nights that you want to fall asleep quickly you seem to toss and turn more than you do every other night Its frustrating at best and can be downright infuriating if youre a clock watcher If youre one of those people youre not alone There are plenty of ways to help you get a better nights sleep but what it boils down to in the end is making appropriate lifestyle changes and winding down before bed
Check Out The Condition Of Your Mattress
Hows your mattress looking these days The rule of thumb always stated that you need to replace yours every ten years but as technology has improved so has the quality of your mattress Springs and coils do wear out and can be damaging to your back thus making a good nights rest a difficult task to achieve but if youve got a better product such as a latex mattress or one made from memory foam then you can probably get more than ten years out of yours
Some of the most common signs that youre going to need a replacement soon are pretty obvious but they include
Discomfort and a disrupted quality of sleep Do you wake up feeling achy and uncomfortable not like you slept soundly
Sagging in the middle If you wanted to sleep in a hammock you would have tied one between your trees but if youve got a noticeable sag then thats a major red flag
You wake up with a runny nose itchy eyes or scratchy throat Yes its true Your mattress could be collecting dust and pollen making your allergies flare up and causing you to have a hard time breathing properly while you sleep
After living with a lackluster bed for some time youll be amazed at the quality of sleep you can achieve when you get a new one Dont underestimate how important a comfortable mattress is in your quality of sleep
Unplug An Hour Or So Before Bedtime
teen_phone_bedMost people are guilty of this Watching TV before going to bed and then once youre in bed youre staring at your phone for another 45 minutes before actually trying to go to sleep Although we all do it the fact is that it can seriously hinder your ability to sleep when youre looking at your phone before bedtime Your brain has a difficult time coming down from all the stimuli youve thrown at it before trying to relax making REM hard to achieve and keeping you in a light and uncomfortable sleep stage
An hour or so before going to bed find a calmer way to wind down than playing Candy Crush or updating your status Try a form of relaxation that doesnt involve a screen like
Reading
Coloring Adult coloring books are available just for bedtime
Exercising
You might think its impossible to step away from your phone or computer 100 but remember that there was a time before smartphones existed Remind yourself that its better for yourself and your health if you mute it and do something else before trying to go to sleep
Start An Exercise Routine
Your doctor will happily list off the plethora of reasons that you should be exercising but did you know that regular exercise is also a great natural way to help you sleep better Working the excess energy out of your body can help you feel sleepy and more than ready to go to sleep when bedtime rolls around If the idea of exercise makes you groan dont despair All you need to do is find a method that you enjoy
Yoga
Already relaxing on its own yoga is a form of exercise that involves stretching and holding different poses for a specified duration It is great for building flexibility and helping to control your breathing plus there are many poses that are proven to help you sleep better and get there faster
Swimming
Your entire body gets a workout when you swim The force of the water against the pressure of your body is a powerful way to build muscle mass get your heart pumping and the blood flowing happily throughout your body
Dance
Some people are born with natural rhythm and if youre lucky enough to be one of those people then dancing is the perfect way to burn off excess energy and get you feeling good Classes that might be fun include hip hop line dancing and yes even pole dancing
Beyond helping you get to sleep and feel like youve gotten a good workout exercising benefits every part of you You gain more confidence in yourself you feel better and your blood and heart pump more easily
End Bad Habits
Biting your fingernails isnt keeping you awake but there are some other bad habits you might be doing to yourself that are making your nights much longer than they need to be Put a stop to whats keeping you awake at night by having good sleep habits which is known as sleep hygiene
Quit Napping
Waking up is hard to do and if you have the opportunity to nap during the day it can feel like the smartest choice youve ever made Spoiler It isnt While it might feel refreshing at the moment youre cuddled up with your feather pillows and blankets long naps disrupt your sleep schedule and prevent you from feeling sleepy at the correct time
Dont Consume Caffeine Late In The Day
By all means let your beloved bean juice give you the zing you need to get going in the morning Coffee is Gods apology to humanity for the mornings we are forced to wake up early but dont go nuts with it Limit yourself to only drinking caffeinated drinks in the morning and afternoon but stop after threeish in the afternoon Your mind and body need a chance to come down from the uppers youre feeding them so that youre tired by bedtime
Be Consistent
If youre a parent then youve seen up close how important a regular sleep schedule is for infants and young children What makes you think that you grow out of that when you get older Go to sleep at a regular time and wake up at a regular time every day By doing this you can help to retrain your brain and body and get them back to something resembling a normal sleep pattern
A night of poor sleep is a struggle that all humans through time and space know End your miserable nights of lying awake by developing new patterns and throwing out old ones It takes some subtle lifestyle changes but when you wake up feeling less like a troll then they are well worth it
Sleeping is a precious resource to everybody human and not If youve had more trouble in being able to fall asleep or staying asleep make sure you contact your doctor and ask him or her further about your condition and ways you can cope with it I hope these tips and info have been of your nourishment and aid you as you try to go to bed tonight
Learn more about insomnia and download Alaska Sleep Clinics FREE downloadable e book below If you need than just a few habit adjustments to improve your sleep call us today  907 374 3063 to get the answers diagnosis and treatment you need
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Jennifer Hines
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Alaska Sleep Clinic's Blog

Our weekly updated blog aims to provide you with answers and information to all of your sleeping questions.

Brent Fisher, MBA, FACHE, FACMPE
President and Chief Executive Officer

“Alaska Sleep Clinic has a history of providing the most comprehensive sleep medicine services in the state of Alaska. Its potential has only begun. I am here to take these high-quality, comprehensive services to all Alaskans.”

Experience

Brent Fisher has held leadership positions spanning a wide variety of complex and start-up organizations: manufacturing (pharmaceutical & medical device), software development, hospitals (academic and community), medical groups, consulting, hospice, military, engineered devices, engineered plastics, and private equity.

Publications and Organizations

His writings have been published in various magazines, trade journals, and medical journals, including the Physician Executive Journal, Healthcare Executive, Modern Healthcare, Group Practice Journal, New England Journal of Medicine, and Journal of Healthcare Management (Best Article Award).

He has served on the Board of Directors of professional associations, civic organizations, and businesses.

Hobbies and Activities

Brent enjoys being with his family, serving in the community, hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting.