Sleep Deprivation Versus Sleep Disorders – The Top 3 Ways to Combat Lack of Sleep

The rule of thumb is that the average adult needs at least eight hours of sleep every night to function efficiently during the day. But what if, for one reason or another, you fail to get the number of hours of sleep that your body requires?

Naturally, you will wake up feeling cranky, unable to function efficiently and you will not have that ‘bounce’ on your step that usually allows you to get through the day.

Making the Distinction between Sleep Deprivation & Sleep Disorders

Now, if you do have problems getting enough shuteye at night, there are two possibilities: it could be that there are some factors which contribute to your sleep deprivation; or you could have a sleep disorder.

Some individuals instantly assume that just because they end up feeling restless during the night, it already means that they are suffering from a sleep disorder. However, this is not necessarily the case.

Let’s say that you are not used to sleeping with the sound of traffic right outside your window, this is a simple case of sleep deprivation. Once you eliminate the outside factor of the distracting sound by using ear muffs – then you will get back to having enough, good quality rest during the night.

On the other hand, there are some individuals who, despite having a calm, quiet and relaxed environment in their bedrooms – just cannot seem to get enough rest during the night. This is the time that there is a possibility of your having a sleep disorder, which is caused by psychological or emotional problems.

If you think that there is an underlying psychological reason as to why you are not getting enough sleep, then you should immediately seek the help of a professional so that it can be resolved.

Enumerating the Top 3 Ways to Fight Off Sleep Deprivation

Unless there is a deeper reason why you are experiencing sleep disorders, there are a few ways that you can fight this battle. Here are the top three ways that you can improve your night’s rest:

1. Create a soothing ritual before going to bed.

It could be a warm bath, reading or listening to the sound of waterfalls – no matter which type of ritual it is that you will have, what’s important is for your body to recognize what they are so that it can relax and help you mentally and physically prepare in getting a good night’s rest.

2. Create an environment in your bedroom that is conducive for sleeping.

Keep the room cool, dim the lights and get comfortable sheets so that you can create an ambiance in your room that is conducive for sleeping.

3. Placing a television set in your bedroom is never a good idea.

This is especially true if you always tend to fall asleep with the television on. Once you get some shut eye but you can still hear the sound from the TV, the sound will still be processed by your brain which greatly disrupts your sleeping pattern.

There really is no substitute for having excellent sleep the previous night, so try your best to get rid of all the outside factors causing your sleep deprivation – and always have a good night’s rest.