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Have you ever been unable to sleep, only to lay in bed for hours restless? Even worse, have you ever laid awake for so long that you begin to hear chirping birds outside? Although the sound of morning bird song is beautiful, there’s nothing more daunting than insomnia that lasts all night long. Sometimes, anxiety about insomnia and being unable to sleep only worsens the issue. Other times, medication or a pre-existing condition may be to blame for your sleepless nights. Half of all adults struggle with insomnia, and identifying which kind you’re dealing with is half the battle. Once you uncover whether or not your anxiety is based on short-term environmental factors or a long-term, serious condition, you can seek the proper lifestyle changes and treatment to finally achieve the quality sleep you’ve been dreaming of.

There’s a hack or quick fix for everything these days, but do these hacks really work? We’re continuously bombarded with tips to help us get our best sleep yet. They usually include things to implement into our routine, but we don’t spend enough time discussing what we shouldavoid at night to improve our chances of quality rest. For example, have you ever asked yourself if watching that fifth episode of Netflix is harming your chances of better sleep? Do you know if it’s bad to work out before bed? What about eating a large pizza thirty minutes before you plan to turn in for the night? Is that nightly glass of wine really helping you improve your circadian rhythm, or does it actually disrupt your sleep-wake patterns? We’ve rounded up all of the answers by uncovering seven things you should avoid every night for your best rest yet. 

Half of all older adults report that they struggle with their sleep in one way or another. It’s not a surprise that more people are buying and taking melatonin than ever before. Melatonin is known for helping to bring on the onset of sleep. There’s just one issue: the side effects associated with long-term use and high dosages. For example, melatonin anxiety is possible, as the supplement has been found to increase anxiety over time in some individuals. Melatonin nightmares are also a real risk since the supplement boosts the amount of time you spend in stages of sleep where dreaming occurs. That said, if used in small doses and for quick fixes, like to correct jet lag, it can be beneficial. So is melatonin really worth all the hype it receives as a natural sleep aid? Or does it do more harm than good?

Why do so many people find themselves waking up tired after eight hours of sleep? If eight hours is the recommended amount, why do so many people still feel groggy, irritable, and weary after sleeping all night long? As it turns out, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for the amount of sleep we each need. Some people may need more, while others need less. Furthermore, if the sleep you’re getting isn’t quality, restorative sleep, you’ll rack up a sleep debt and face the dangers of sleep deprivation. Genetics plays a role in the amount of sleep you need and finding the sweet spot depends on how you feel in the morning. Huberman Lab sleep recommendations may help you increase the amount of quality sleep you get each night, along with mouth taping for improved airway function as you rest

Counting sheep doesn’t work for most. Not only do a huge number of people experience sleep disturbances and disorders, but we’re also chronically low on a number of vitamins and nutrients. Is there a link between the two? Researchers think so. For example, over one billion of us are deficient in vitamin D, while half of all Americans suffer from a magnesium deficiency. In theory, boosting vitamin D intake or taking magnesium oil for sleep should work, right? The answer isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. However, if you’re chronically low on a specific nutrient, supplementation is sure to boost your time spent sleeping and overall quality of life. That’s why we’ve gathered science-backed recommendations for the top ten supplements to try for improved sleep.

Mouth breathing at night is extremely detrimental to your overall health and wellbeing. So how can you stop breathing through your nose instead of your mouth? Tongue training is a wonderful place to start. Physical aids such as mouth tape are great options, too.