Sleep is such a common problem. We may think if there's nothing on our mind, we will sleep, but issues with sleep go deeper. Our unconscious can be the very reason we don't sleep.

Also, we need to limit the amount we drink near bedtime, particularly drinks containing caffeine. Herbal drinks like chamomile, lemon balm, hops or passion flower are great alternatives. Alcohol although it initially makes us feel sleepy, is more likely to wake us up when we're trying to sleep.

Hydration

Keeping yourself hydrated during the day helps with sleep, as does coming off social media and switching off the t.v. and laptops too near to bedtime. The t.v. too near sleep time, triggers a chemical in the brain that interferes with sleep patterns. Reading a book, is the perfect remedy to help us get a restful night's sleep.

Declutter

De-clutter your life. You'll be amazed how simplifying your life, can simplify your mind and help you sleep. Also, fill a small travel spray with water and oils such as Clary sage and lavender essential oils and use the spray on your bed linen about an hour before bed time.

Sleeping soundly

Sleeping in separate bedrooms may seem drastic, but if you sleep with someone who snores, or who is continually restless, it should be a consideration. As we age, our sleep needs change, so does our need for sleep. Also, try changing your toggle quilt if you use them to match the season. That way you'll stay cool in the summer and stay warm in the winter.

Other tips include taking a prebiotic powder in a little water or juice for an hour before you go to bed, two kiwi-fruits an hour before bed, or a warm bath. Essential oil patches such as lavender also helps aid sleep too.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

Most people who read this blog

went on to read these blogs next
Date 23 October 2026
Author Ilana Estelle

Trauma and the Body: Understanding Isn't Enough

When the past shapes how we feel and respond We often think of trauma as something we remember, something that belongs to the past. The reality is we're not always sure we have or carry trauma. But the effects of difficult ...
Read more
Date 21 October 2026
Author Ilana Estelle

Learning to Trust Your Intuition

Ways to Strengthen Your Intuition and Trust Your Gut Having been locked in my head for years, I began to notice, listen to and trust what I later came to understand was my intuition in my early thirties. Have you ever had a ...
Read more
Date 18 October 2026
Author Ilana Estelle

The Things We Want to Be True

On Belief, Self-Deception and the Difficulty of Accepting the Truth We like to think that believing something is the final step in a process. We observe. We consider. We weigh up what we know. Then we arrive at a ...
Read more
1 2 3 … 531

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to receive regular updates

Enter your details below to be the first to receive updates on new articles on my blog.