When it comes to sleep, there are seemingly two types of people in this world: people who find that sleep comes easily and have no difficulties sticking to a consistent sleep schedule. Others, well, just don’t. More specifically, about 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Speak with a Professional
If you find that you are consistently having difficulty with getting quality sleep and it’s impacting your daily life, consider speaking with an expert. “Finding the right combination of behavioral changes to optimize one’s sleep may be a challenge with so many recommendations that float around,” says Siebern, who recommends finding a sleep coach. “Sleep coaching can assist with sorting through one’s sleep issues and developing a plan of action to start moving in a better direction.” You can also meet with your primary care physician to help you identify and treat any underlying causes that are hindering sleep, according to the Mayo Clinic.
"[Getting good sleep] is more about quality of life and engaging in the things that we value and gives us purpose," says Siebern. "Getting proper sleep helps bring us in that direction."