Why Can’t I Sleep?

If you have ever kept asking over and over again, “why can’t I sleep”, you know just how aggravating it can be. Not only is it annoying when you can’t sleep, but you are not going to have a very good day because you are going to be tired and crabby, and not able to really function properly. If you can’t sleep at night, it may be for a number of reasons.

Stress is one of the biggest reasons why many people don’t sleep well, and the best thing to do about this is to find out what is causing the stress, then look for ways to eliminate it. If stress is not the problem, you may not be sleeping for other reasons. Some of the things that can cause sleepless nights include:

• Being Over-Stimulated: If you are too active before bedtime, it is going to take a while for your body and your mind to be able to wind down. Try not to do any physical activities just before going to bed, and do not get involved in anything that is going to really stimulate your brain, even a really good book. You want your body and mind to be relaxed when you are ready to go to sleep at night.

• Eating and Drinking: You should never have a heavy meal before going to bed. Your body is going to have to digest the food you eat before it can even think about starting to settle down for the night. You should also avoid certain beverages, especially any that contain caffeine and alcoholic beverages. If you do need a snack at bed time, make it something very light, and just have a glass of water to wash it down.

• Smoking: If you are a smoker, it is a good idea to quit, for a number of reasons. Not only is smoking terrible for your overall health, it is also something that can keep you awake at night. Nicotine is a stimulant, and those who think they can’t get to sleep without a cigarette are actually making a huge mistake because it is going to keep them awake rather than help them get to sleep.

These are just a few of the most common reasons why some people can’t get to sleep. If you keep asking yourself, “why can’t I sleep”, and you have ruled out all of the above reasons, it may be time to talk to your doctor and find out what is causing you to not be able to sleep at night. The sooner you find out what is causing the problem, the sooner you can deal with it and start sleeping better.