Did your mother tell you to try a warm glass of milk before bed? Did your coworker say you should be drinking a few glasses of whiskey instead? Have you read online that some herbal supplement can save the day? To find out the truth about how to fix insomnia, read on.

Try eating a very light snack that’s high in carbohydrates right before bed. Don’t go crazy with the size of the snack here, or it can lead to weight problems. But eating a small amount of something high in carbs can help your body relax enough to sleep. Two great options are a glass of juice or a cookie or two.

The ideal length of sleep is that which allows you to awaken feeling fully refreshed. Don’t try to sleep longer to make up for the past, or to make up for sleep you will miss in the future. Each night you should sleep until you feel rested. Don’t “bank” hours one night and then cut back on others.

Even though most people know that sounds, TV and light at bedtime can cause insomnia, classical music can a different story. There are many people that find classical music to be calming, and induces a relaxed state for sleeping. It’s very relaxing and can soothe you, which may lead you to falling asleep.

Don’t drink anything for several hours prior to going to sleep. An intake of too many fluids will cause you to urinate constantly throughout the night. Needing to wake up frequently for bathroom visits will drastically impair your sleep cycle. Stay hydrated earlier in the day and then cut back on fluids at night.

If you suffer from bouts of insomnia, take a look at your mattress to see if it may be contributing to the problem. If your mattress is to soft, too hard, or just old and uncomfortable, it could be the cause of insomnia, or frequent night waking. A new mattress might be just what you need.

While insomnia can really mess with your sleep schedule, try your hardest to start waking up earlier in the morning. This of course helps you be more tired at the end of the day. As you get back into sleeping normally, you can then return to your normal wake-up time.

Drink a warm glass of milk about 15 minutes before bedtime. Drinking warm milk is a great way to calm and soothe the nervous system. The calcium in the milk is what works in the nervous system to take the edge of and help you relax. When you are relaxed, you are more likely to fall asleep easier.

While it is perfectly okay to use a sleep aid to help you rest every once in a while, this should not be used as a long-term treatment for insomnia. If you have been having sleepless nights for more than a week, it would be a good idea for you to see a doctor so he can properly diagnose and treat you.

If you find yourself bored in the afternoon, go for a quick walk. That little bit of exercise can be enough to bring your energy levels up and allow you to be a little more tired at bed time. In the early evening, a walk after dinner can have the same results.

Have some whole grain crackers a few hours before bed to help you fall asleep. They contain tryptophan, just like turkey does, and this leaves you drowsy once it is digested. They also leave your tummy feeling full and your blood sugar high enough that you won’t wake up feeling hungry.

Don’t go over things again and again in your head when you are trying to fall asleep. If you can’t stop the thoughts in your head, write them down. Often they are the solvable problems that cause stress during the day. Try to take care of those issues then so you can sleep better at night.

Smoking can cause you to become highly stimulated, so having a cigarette near bedtime is a major no-no for the insomniac. In fact, the best way to get a good night’s sleep is to quit entirely. While it may leave you restless at first, after a few weeks you’ll get a good night’s sleep again.

Your bed is for sleeping only! Reading, watching TV or playing games will make you have a hard time going to sleep. Instead, do these things elsewhere and make your bed a place for rest, relaxation and sleep.

Advice is like skin – everyone has some! That doesn’t mean what you hear is accurate or even helpful. Searching out expert advice is always your best bet, and this article has it in spades. Use these strategies to help yourself sleep so you can end the feelings of lethargy and woe once and for all.

Good Solid Advice About Insomnia That Anyone Can Use was originally published on Spring