Sleeping problems is very common with Fibromyalgia. Research shows the best way to manage sleep problems is to have a set routine. Go to bed at the same time every night, do not have a TV in the room, and establish a routine so your body knows it is ready to go to bed such as drinking tea, reading, or taking a bath.
Although I try to adopt these habits, I find myself sleepless a couple nights per month. So I’ve come up with some of my own techniques.
If I’m not able to sleep because I feel like I have a large to-do list, I will get up and write down my thoughts so I don’t have to worry about forgetting something. I always find it funny that in the morning what was important in the middle of the night doesn’t seem to matter and it was silly to lose sleep over it. Sometimes, I’ll just log onto the computer and catch up on email. That helps me to feel more organized the following day.
Sometimes I’ll read or surf the net until the restlessness passes and I’m able to relax and go back to sleep again. Or I might take a warm bath or drink some warm tea and that’ll help relax me too.
If I’m wide awake no chance to go back to sleep, I’ll use that time to be creative. For some reason, I find I’m the most productive with writing materials or working on my website.
So as much as I try to get a good night’s sleep on a regular basis I find myself an insomniac on occassion and have strategies in place to help. What do you do to help?
Lisa Meloche, www.BodyworkAlternatives.com
