{"id":31731,"date":"2026-08-26T21:56:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T21:56:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ldblifestylebenefits.com\/?p=31731"},"modified":"2026-08-26T21:56:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T21:56:50","slug":"struggling-to-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ldblifestylebenefits.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/26\/struggling-to-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"Struggling to Sleep?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Having trouble sleeping? You\u2019re not the only one. Studies<\/a> show that more than half of American adults struggle with at least some form of insomnia, ranging from only a couple days to several years at a time.<\/p>\n

Insomnia can be caused by a variety of reasons, including stress, traveling across multiple time zones, or drinking caffeine too close to bedtime. But some lesser-known reasons are eating too late in the evening<\/a> and taking medications<\/a> that impact sleep cycles. Your body needs time to digest food and eating a large meal can throw off your natural circadian rhythm<\/a> \u2014 that is, your body\u2019s internal clock that controls your sleep-wake cycle. Medications for allergies, asthma, diabetes, and anxiety may cause REM sleep disorder<\/a> (RBD), in which you physically act out your dream through speaking or moving. Both late-night meals and RBD-causing medications can negatively affect your length and quality of sleep.<\/p>\n

As you age, certain life changes may mean that you experience insomnia more often. Your circadian rhythm naturally weakens<\/a>, meaning you get tired earlier in the evening, and wake up earlier in the morning. Ongoing health issues<\/a> can also disrupt sleep, such as sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome, which become more common with age.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1787777545448{margin-top: 50px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”31757″ img_size=”2560×1707″ css=””][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]Regardless of the reason you\u2019re experiencing insomnia, there are a few methods you can use to help fall asleep faster:<\/p>\n

Slow, deep breathing can help<\/a> your body relax, reduce stress, and promote a sense of calm that helps you fall asleep. The easiest way to do this is through diaphragmatic breathing<\/a>, which utilizes your diaphragm to breathe more deeply than you can with just your lungs. The diaphragm is located at the top of your stomach, just below your rib cage. You can breathe deeply with your diaphragm by simply following these instructions:[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1787777635590{margin-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n