We all crave a good night’s sleep. But for some of us, achieving that is much easier than for others.
It can be so incredibly frustrating spending hours at night tossing and turning when all you want to do is drift off into a deep slumber and wake up refreshed.
There are many different tips and tricks when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep when the old traditional way is not working. One of the most popular is a sleeping aid known as melatonin, which can help our body naturally get into a circadian rhythm and fall asleep. Our body actually produces melatonin naturally, and melatonin as a supplement just aids our body in doing what it is naturally designed to do.
Many people actually refer to melatonin as the “hormone of darkness”. This is because it is able to help one of the glands in our body respond to low light. This means that when it realizes there is low light, your body will start to shut down and get ready for bed.
One reason why melatonin naturally is often not enough is that there are multiple factors throughout the day that can actually prohibit our body from producing enough. This includes things like feeling stressed, having too much blue light exposure, or drinking too much coffee.
When our body is not able to produce melatonin naturally, this is where a melatonin supplement can come in to help. But what happens when melatonin supplements do not work either?
Luckily, there are many different melatonin alternatives that you can also try. So next time you are getting ready for bed, here are all the different ways to still try to get a good night’s sleep.
1. Try an Essential Oil Patch
Another great way to promote sleep naturally is through essential oils. One of the most direct ways for your body to benefit from this is by putting on a sleepy patch that is infused with all the essential oil scents that naturally calm your body and brain down. Not only will it be easier to fall asleep, but you will wake up feeling super refreshed too. The smell is so important when it comes to winning the bedtime battle and can have a real impact on calming our entire nervous system! The patch doesn’t take more than thirty minutes to really work either.
2. Get Into a Good Sleep Routine
Another important way to try to get a good night’s sleep long-term and have melatonin actually work again is by practicing good sleep hygiene. This means that you are disciplined in going to bed at the same time every single day—even on the weekends. Your body will grow more and more accustomed to the signals that it is time to wind down and soon it will be feeling near impossible to ever make it up pasts your standard bedtime.
3. Fuel Your Body with Protein
Nutrition is another huge factor in our body’s ability to produce and absorb melatonin. One reason why it may not be working is that your body is actually deprived of protein. If your blood sugar levels are not normal, you may wake up in the middle of the night starving or even be too hungry to focus on anything else but food while lying in bed. Try having protein-dense meals at dinner and see if you feel a difference.
4. No Technology in Bed
This one is super hard to follow, but allowing technology into the bedroom is actually one of the worst things you can do when it comes to your body’s ability to absorb melatonin. The blue lights from the screens are particularly damaging and are a huge reason why society, in general, sleeps so poorly these days. So ditch the technology in the bedroom and let your body rest easy as you drift off to sleep.
5. Try Taking Different Supplements
Melatonin supplements are not the only sleep-promoting supplements that have been proven to work. In fact, did you know that magnesium can also help you feel tired enough to go to sleep? In fact, studies have shown that magnesium is best at relaxing your physical body and bringing a calm state of mind to your brain so you can sleep soundly throughout the night. So talk to your doctor or nutritionist about other supplements that may be able to help you too!
Conclusion
If you are struggling to sleep and melatonin is no longer working, do not worry. There are so many different alternatives that will be able to help you. From trying an essential oil-infused sleep patch to trying different supplements, you will be able to find a solution to your sleeping woes. And best of all, you will once again enjoy waking up feeling refreshed and ready to start the new day ahead!
