Trouble sleeping is not unusual, but when you’re fighting cancer there are more factors that might cause it like pain, anxiety and stress. Different people might suffer from insomnia or poor quality sleep, there are a number of ways you may be able to help this.
Tips for Improving Sleep
To get better sleep:
- Go to bed and get up at the same time every day.
- Exercise regularly, even if it is just a short walk.
- Limit naps to less than 1 hour. Avoid long or late afternoon naps that could interfere with your sleep at night.
- In the afternoon and evening, avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine.
- In the evening, limit activities and do not exercise.
Make a bedtime routine:
- Relax for an hour or two before bedtime. Turn off the TV, listen to quiet music, read or take a warm bath.
- Keep your room cool, quiet and dark.
- Use your bedroom for sleep or sexual activity, not as a place to watch TV, read or do work.
- Go to bed when you are sleepy.
What to do for sleep problems:
- If you have not fallen asleep within 15 minutes or you wake and can’t get back to sleep, get up and go to another room.
- Go through your bedtime routine to help you relax.
- Go back to bed when you feel sleepy.
- If you still cannot fall asleep, get up again and repeat steps 2 and 3.