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I really like your list, but I also want to point out that humans have way more variability than we realize. A sure fire solution for some will do nothing for o

I really like your list, but I also want to point out that humans have way more variability than we realize. A sure fire solution for some will do nothing for others. It doesn't mean it's bad advice, just that context is everything when it comes to health, diet, and fitness for people. A few other things I would suggest that might help some. 8. Cut down on caffeine. The whole point is that it's a stimulant. I have had many conversations with people where they complained about chronic insomnia but also drank six cups of coffee a day. Caffeine has a longer half life in the body than you expect. Drink less and drink it earlier in the day. Personally, I have only one cup of coffee in the morning, and that's it. If I have any caffeine in the afternoon, I'm up all night. 9. Journaling. If I'm awake with the same anxious thoughts going through my head, I find writing them down helps massively. It's like my brain understands that I don't have to worry about forgetting it in any more and lets it go. 10. Exercise. Doesn't have to be super vigorous, but just going for a walk helps. We are animals. Animals need to move. Gotta get the wiggles out.

drzaiusapelord 5y ago
This is such a good point. /r/decaf has a lot to say about how life changing quitting caffeine is.
ulrikrasmussen 5y ago
Anecdotal, but cutting caffeine completely for at least a month is something that I think anyone with sleep issues should try. I drank at least five cups of coffee every day for the last couple of decades. While I have tried to keep away from it for a week now and then, I have never managed to eliminate caffeine entirely, and still ingested some from other sources like tea and soda. Until last year, when I started taking some medication that interacts with caffeine, forcing me to drop it could turkey. Aside from the splitting headache and flu-like symptoms that persisted for three days straight during withdrawal, my sleep almost instantly improved. For most of my adult life I have been a very light sleeper, waking up easily and having a hard time falling asleep. While I still have some nights where I can't fall asleep, the number of those have reduced significantly. Finally, I can actually remember my dreams again, and they are often quite vivid.

drzaiusapelord 5y ago

This is such a good point. /r/decaf has a lot to say about how life changing quitting caffeine is.

ulrikrasmussen 5y ago

Anecdotal, but cutting caffeine completely for at least a month is something that I think anyone with sleep issues should try. I drank at least five cups of coffee every day for the last couple of decades. While I have tried to keep away from it for a week now and then, I have never managed to eliminate caffeine entirely, and still ingested some from other sources like tea and soda. Until last year, when I started taking some medication that interacts with caffeine, forcing me to drop it could turkey. Aside from the splitting headache and flu-like symptoms that persisted for three days straight during withdrawal, my sleep almost instantly improved. For most of my adult life I have been a very light sleeper, waking up easily and having a hard time falling asleep. While I still have some nights where I can't fall asleep, the number of those have reduced significantly. Finally, I can actually remember my dreams again, and they are often quite vivid.