This is because of a variety of factors, including a decrease in melatonin production, hot flushes, and over-napping during the day.
When counting sheep is failing to coax the sand man into doing his job, turn to one of these four, creative tips to help you fall asleep faster.
1. Introduce a “power down” hour
One hour prior to lights-out, spend 20 minutes getting things done for the next day, 20 minutes on personal care, and the last 20 minutes on relaxation. This will put you in a good headspace for when your head hits the pillow.
2. Beware of naps
Most people love a good nap, but it is very difficult to do it right. To avoid nap induced insomnia, do not nap any longer than 45 minutes, and never go for a casual snooze later than four in the afternoon.
3. Adopt “constructive worrying”
Dr. Catherine Darley, the founding director of The Institute of Naturopathic Sleep Medicine in Seattle, says you can overcome cluttered thoughts by writing everything down before attempting sleep as a means of catharsis.
4. Give your bedroom its own fragrance
Our sense of smell is one of the most reactive functions of the human body. Adding fragrant oils or essential candles to the bedroom is not only relaxing, it can also trigger your body into associating those scents with sleep.