Do You Have Trouble Sleeping in Olympia WA?

At our chiropractic clinic in Olympia WA, patients always tell us that they are struggling with sleep issues. Either they're having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or maybe sleeping through the night but still not feeling rested. Not getting enough sleep can be very taxing on a person. It's terrible for your mood. It's terrible for your immune system. It causes an inability to deal with stress productively. All these things have a cascading effect on your overall health and things can spiral out of control very quickly.

What causes my issue with sleep in Olympia WA?

This is a tough question because there are a million answers. Let's start with the quick and easy answer, scheduling. Often times people don't keep a regular sleep schedule. This is usually one of the easiest things to correct and very effective. Understandably some people's schedules are too crazy or a regular sleep schedule but for most of us we just don't pay attention to what time it is. We want to finish the last episode or we're too involved with a movie or we want our friends to hang out a little longer. On the flip side, getting to bed at a regular time but every morning getting up at a different time. Try going to bed at the same time every night, at a reasonable time. Then every morning set an alarm to wake up at the same time every day. (maybe sleep in on the weekends). It might take a couple of nights but your body will develop an efficient rhythm for restoring your energy levels.

Now that you've got a good sleeping pattern set, try avoiding things that stimulate the mind before going to bed and definitely avoid stimulating drinks like coffee or energy drinks. The mind won't shutdown and rest if it thinks it's already got enough energy. Try to avoid eating or watching TV in bed. Many people struggle to sleep because their body doesn't associate their bed with sleep. They view their bed as just another living space. When you see your bed your brain will automatically begin making preparations for hibernation if it is trained properly.

Now you're going to bed and waking up at a reasonable hour and you're avoiding activity before bedtime, let's make sure your bed is comfortable and your sleeping position is correct. If your body is tense and unable to relax, your mind will not shut off very easily. Everyone has a different preference for the firmness of their mattress so just make sure it's supportive enough. Same goes for your pillow. If you sleep on your side, make sure your pillow holds your head so that your neck is straight. If your neck is bent, it will stay like that for hours and it like when you squat down for a short period of time and then try and stand up. Your neck will struggle to straighten out and cause pain and stiffness. Which reminds me... stop sleeping on your stomach! This puts tremendous unnatural pressure on your spine and neck. If you sleep on your back, put a pillow under your knees. This allows the low back to relax. Make sure your pillow supports your neck comfortably and slightly lifts the chin to open your airway. Breathing is just as important when you sleep as when your are awake.

If you are struggling to get good quality sleep, come see us at Evergreen Family Chiropractic in Olympia WA. We can help you figure out the cause and develop a game plan that will help you get a restful nights rest.