Smoking is an addiction like any other, and, when a habitual smoker decides to stop smoking, there can be side effects. One side effect that is particularly disruptive to your normal routine and lifestyle is the sleep troubles smoking withdrawal can cause. This can range from minor sleep disturbances and nightmares throughout the night to difficulty sleeping when it is your normal bedtime. This can lead to fatigue and test the wills of many quitters fighting to break free of their additions. There are things you can do to help yourself sleep.
Step 1
Be active during the day. Exercising helps expend energy and wears your body out, making it easier to go to sleep when night strikes. Exercise can also improve your mood and lessen the severity of your nicotine withdrawal, easing your withdrawal symptoms, in general.
Step 2
Drink lavender or chamomile tea prior to going to bed. These teas do not have caffeine the way many others do, and they feature soothing qualities that can ease your nerves, making it easier to sleep at night.
Step 3
Take a warm bath or shower shortly before bedtime to relax your body--particularly, your muscles--and ease it into sleep.
Step 4
Consider taking a sleeping pill or other nighttime medication. This is risky, because you could become dependent on pills as a sleep aid. However, if you reserve using a sleep aid for nights when sleep is essential and other methods for encouraging sleep have failed, it may be your best option.
Tips and Warnings
- Avoid caffeinated beverages, like coffee and soft drinks, if you are experiencing sleep problems resulting from nicotine withdrawal.
Things You'll Need
- Lavender or chamomile tea
- Sleeping pills
