Winters can be long, cold, and inconvenient. Animals like to hide from the season by hibernating or staying below ground. People, on the other hand, feel more restless. It can be hard to figure out why insomnia is worse in winter for a lot of folks.
Here’s what your insomnia doctor knows about lack of sleep in the wintertime and how you can get your bedtime schedule back on track before the season is over.
Why Insomnia Is Worse in Winter: It’s A Temperature Thing
Many people get uncomfortable when the weather changes so rapidly. Even in parts of the world where the winters aren’t cold, it is still hard to constantly be adjusting to a fluctuation in the atmosphere. During the day, it can get stuffy, but at night it gets so cold. When you turn on your heater as you go to sleep, you can’t guarantee it will control the temperature of the room throughout the whole night while you try to rest.
Adjusting the temperature to your most comfortable setting is the key to getting better sleep during the winter. Experts suggest that you try to keep your thermostat between 60 and 70 degrees for the ideal sleeping temperature.
Darkness Comes Sooner
If there is one thing that people hate about wintertime, it’s that it gets so dark so early! This causes a lot of people to feel restless earlier on in the day, convincing the body that it is already nighttime. Some even suffer from seasonal affective disorder, otherwise known as SAD. According to MedlinePlus, up to 3% of the U.S. population suffers from seasonal affective disorder.
Not only can the darkening days cause emotional stress, but it can really put a strain on your body as well. Early sunsets can interrupt your body’s natural sleep-wake cycles, making it hard for you to go to sleep at the hour you actually want to. The best solution to combat this is to enjoy the sunlight to the fullest when it is out. Wake up early, open your windows, and spend time outside so your body can get a proper dose of Vitamin D.
You Eat More at Night
Winter is a time for feasts and celebrations. After cold days, you just want to spend the night with a hot meal and delicious beverage. Eating more at night can cause your digestive system to be thrown off schedule, making you have to go to the bathroom more often throughout the night. It is also hard for your body to shut itself down at night when the digestive process is still taking place.
You might get tummy aches, too! You don’t have to sacrifice the heavy meals. Just try to eat at least two hours before going to bed. Or, give yourself some time to have light snacks before bed, so you don’t fill up your stomach.
Prevent Insomnia with Professional Treatment Today!
If you are having a lot of trouble getting to sleep in the winter, it may be because you are suffering from symptoms of insomnia. To get treatment, visit our New York insomnia treatment specialists so you can get your sleep schedule back on track.
The world changes in many ways during the wintertime, and it can be difficult for your body to adjust so rapidly. You can protect yourself from insomnia by setting a regular temperature in your room and taking advantage of the daylight while you have it. By establishing a routine, you can help your body feel tired at the appropriate time. Get in touch with our insomnia treatment specialists at Sleep MD NYC and schedule your sleep health appointment today!
