Chronic pain can disrupt our lives. It can affect our mood, health, and well-being and can disrupt our sleeping habits. Sometimes the pain can become so severe that it gets difficult to fall asleep. Insomnia or difficulty sleeping are common side-effects of severe chronic pain.

Here are some well-known sleeping tips for chronic pain to help you improve your sleeping habits.

1. Exercise or yoga
Your body needs to feel worn out or exhausted to fall into a state of deep sleep. Sometimes, heavy exercises (under supervision) help increase the need for sleep. Yoga, on the other hand, works by calming your mind and body. It can also help regulate breathing, which ultimately helps you deal with chronic pain. However, if you are only getting started with yoga, practice under a certified trainer. After understanding your pain areas, they can help you bring that under control.

2. Healthy diet
It is surprising how much a balanced and suitable diet, made according to your needs, can positively affect your pain and improve sleep. You may consult a dietician to help you fix up a diet plan as per your requirements. Certain foods also promote sleep. Such items may include rice, milk, cherries, kiwi, and certain kinds of pulses. One should try and avoid caffeine-induced drinks or food products anytime post afternoon. They make you stay awake and active for long hours.

3. Supplements
Supplements do not necessarily have to mean more medications. After consulting with your doctor about their safety depending on your current condition, you can take vitamins. These supplements can help you start improving your sleep quality and pattern, but ensure to not consume them in excess. 

4. Create and stick to a routine
Our bodies work best when we live on a routine. For people with chronic pain, this stands true. To do away with sleep-related issues, creating a bedtime routine will help. You can set an alarm for your bedtime, and when it rings you must get ready to go to bed. You can assign reading or journaling at this hour but refrain from using any kind of screens. After a few weeks, your body will know it is time to sleep.

5. Avoid taking naps
Taking a nap may seem like a good idea to deal with the day’s fatigue, but it always gets in the way of getting a good night’s sleep. It’s advisable to stay awake throughout the day and then go to bed early to avoid sleep-related issues.

It is important to get your sleep cycle under control because sleep helps your body rest. Moreover, it aids your body to cope with the constant battle of chronic pain. Following these simple sleeping tips for chronic pain will alleviate some amounts of discomfort.