Sleeping through the night is not something everyone is always able to do, and there is a lot of advice to be found around improving your quality of sleep, and adopting healthy sleep routines. If you have insomnia for less than three months, it is called short-term insomnia. Insomnia that lasts three months or longer is called long-term insomnia.
For most, sleep problems tend to sort themselves out within about a month, according to the NHS.
The NHS says how we sleep and how much sleep we need is different for all of us and changes as we get older.
On average adults need seven to nine hours, while children need nine to 13 hours. Toddlers and babies need 12 to 17 hours of sleep, every day.
People with insomnia will regularly find it hard to go to sleep, and can wake up several times during the night and lie awake at night.
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Indeed, the Sleep Charity says achieving a great night’s sleep can be affected by what you eat in the hours before bedtime.
It adds: “Certain foods are known to calm the brain and help promote sleep so eating the right things in the evening is definitely part of the recipe for a good night’s kip.”
The charity says: “Bananas are an excellent source of magnesium and potassium which help relax overstressed muscles and make them an ideal go-to snack before bed.
“They also contain all-important tryptophan to stimulate production of those key brain calming hormones. Eat whole or whizz into a sleep-inducing smoothie.”
Caffeine interferes with the process of falling asleep, and also prevents deep sleep.
People who smoke also tend to take longer to fall asleep, wake up more frequently, and often have more disrupted sleep.
“Some people are naturally lighter sleepers or take longer to drop off, while some life circumstances might make it more likely for your sleep to be interrupted, like stressful events or having a new baby,” the NHS states.
If poor sleep is affecting your daily life or causing you distress, you can talk to your GP.