Insomnia Causes - Is It You Or Your Bedroom?

Making yourself and your sleeping quarters extra comfortable may be all you
need to break out of your insomnia. An investment of just a few hundred dollars
can be the difference of sleeping soundly all night or tossing and turning.

Beds, Pillows and Blankets.

If sleeplessness is a problem, start thinking outside the box. Look at your
bed, your pillow and sheets. Chances are, they are not up to par. Would a king
or queen living in a palace sleep like this? In this modern age we have the
advantage of driving to the mall, shelling out a few bucks and creating a
comfortable environment fit for royalty.

Sometimes something as simple as replacing your old, flat pillow can improve
your sleep habits dramatically. If you're willing to invest $50 or more, a
goose-down pillow is generally considered the best type of pillow. There are
other good options than goose down pillows, such as specialty pillows for side
or back sleepers. Take your time in the store to find the right one for you.

Next, consider buying a higher quality mattress, especially if the one that's
contributing to your sleeplessness is old and/or saggy. If a mattress is out of
your price range, a cheaper alternative would be buying a comfortable mattress
topper. Like pillows, a goose down mattress topper would be the best choice, but
the NASA inspired 'memory foam' is quickly becoming the topper of choice for
many. Memory foam is known to conform to your body shape.

Blankets and bed sheets can also be an underlying cause of insomnia. Are you
waking up in a sweat, or too cold? You may be awakening unnecessarily at night
to adjust your blankets and/or sheets, only to find you cannot fall back asleep.
Blankets and sheets come in a variety of fabrics, softness and thicknesses. As a
general rule of thumb, the more you spend the more comfortable the blankets and
sheets will be.

Finally an overlooked consideration. How often do you wash your sheets,
blankets and pillow tops? There is nothing like the feel or smell of freshly
washed fabric against your body. Get in the habit of washing your bedding
frequently.

When it comes to bed accessories, keep in mind that you generally get what
you pay for. Trust me, avoid the $5 or $10 cheapies! Also look for weekly 50%
off sales (or Buy 1/Get 1 Free offers). Kohl's and JC Penny are two excellent
places that frequently have these types of sales.

Your Room Environment.

Now let's focus on another room related issue that may be contributing to
your insomnia. Are you uncomfortable at night because your room is too cold or
too warm? Without really realizing it, poor room climate may be an underlying
cause of insomnia. Next time you toss and turn, ask yourself: Does this room
feel comfortable? If not, try adjusting your room temperature as needed. If
you're renting a room or finances deter you from making cooling or heating
adjustments for the entire home, consider investing in a single room heater or
small fan. Make sure that either one has several adjustable settings and that
the fan is quiet.

Though the reasons and causes for your insomnia may be more complex than just a comfortable bed and bedroom, improving the quality of your bedding and environment surely cannot hurt. With the exception of purchasing a higher quality mattress, upgrading your bedding should not set you back too much financially. Why not sleep like royalty tonight?

Expanding on his personal battles and recovery from anxiety & its associated disorders, H. Mikael Nisula authors and operates his website Helpful Remedies. While discussing his unique recovery & coping techniques from anxiety, addiction, depression & more, H. Mikael also closely examines his anxiety-related bouts with insomnia. Here he takes a look at daytime insomnia management, prevention measures, simple bedroom considerations & natural alternatives to traditional meds & more.