While not every person needs the same amount of sleep each night to feel well-rested, most studies show people feel their best when they get between 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. When people are younger they tend to sleep more than when they are older, although this isn't always true. While insomnia can be a passing nuisance, many people, as many as 60 million people, find insomnia a chronic problem. What can you do to prevent insomnia from overwhelming your daily life? Plenty.

If you find you are constantly struggling to stay awake during the day, or battling lethargy almost daily by gulping down cup after cup of coffee, there's good news on the horizon. You don't have to pop another pill to start feeling your best. Just a few hours of extra rest a night may be all you need to recover from the dull cloud that currently surrounds your head. Here are some simple non-invasive solutions you can try that will help you get the ball rolling and improve the odds you will find the insomnia cure you need to get a good night of sleep tonight.

1. Visit your health care provider. This doesn't mean you have to ask your doctor for a prescription medication. Your doctor can help you discover what your risk factors for chronic insomnia are and what you can do about them. You can talk to your doctor about your currently lifestyle. Make sure your doctor reviews your medical history and talk with your doctor about your lifestyle habits. Your doctor may recommend a few simple strategies you can easily adopt that will improve the sleep you get each night, no pill needed.
2. Find out what the more common symptoms of insomnia are, because you may not have insomnia. Many people blame insomnia for their sleeping problems when stress or depression are the real culprits behind poor sleep.
3. Make sure you exercise a little bit every day. If you can do so outdoors. If you have a break at work, take advantage of it. Rather than run to the water cooler, go outside and take a walk around the 'block' or parking lot. Do whatever it takes to get a bit of fresh air. Exercising early in the day can help you sleep better at night.
4. Find out what your insomnia triggers are, so you can actively avoid them during the day (and night).
5. Find an herbalist and ask about natural herbal remedies to treat insomnia or other sleeping problems. Just make sure you also check in with your doctor before taking them to ensure they are safe. Herbs can interact with medications in bad ways, just like other medicines can, so use herbs with care.
6. Try sleep acupuncture as a short or long-term insomnia cure. Many people find insomnia often responds well to natural remedies like acupuncture or acupressure or a new form of acupuncture known as electro-acupuncture.
7. Avoid stimulating activities in the evening, which can contribute to poor sleep. Television at night is not conducive to a good night of sleep. If you must watch television, do so, but don't do it in bed. You should reserve your bed for sleep and sex alone.
8. Set a bedtime routine so you go to bed at about the same time every night. This will condition your body so you sleep more and you get better quality sleep when you sleep at night.
9. Make sure the environment you sleep in is health and "sleep promoting". For example, try painting the walls of your bedroom a warm, soft and peaceful color. Bright orange is not a good color because it will keep you awake. Look for rich colors if you want to go dark. Make sure you make your bedroom a sanctuary where you can enjoy a good night of sleep.
10. Talk with other people that suffer from insomnia or related sleep disorders. Insomnia support groups abound. Talking with other people may provide you with more insight about insomnia and may give you a chance to vent about your troubles so you can sleep.

Are you looking for like-minded friends, people like you that want to combat insomnia without a lot of complicated prescription sleep aids or medical interventions? Why not join us at our sleep forum and let us know what you are doing to combat insomnia naturally? I look forward to hearing from you!