As we get older, there are many reasons why we can't fall asleep as easily as we used to. To get a better understanding of this familiar topic, we spoke with Janet Kennedy, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist at NYC Sleep Doctor who specializes in treating sleep disorders.

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Technology

"One of the biggest reasons people have difficulty falling asleep is because of technology," Kennedy says. "We're very much attached to our phones and other devices, which can be distracting when trying to go to bed each night. A great way to stay off of your device is by keeping it in a different room before getting into bed."

While I'm certainly guilty of late-night scrolling and online shopping from time to time, I've noticed that even the blaring blue light from my TV has begun to impact the quality of my sleep.




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Stress

In addition to digital disruption, Kennedy points out another reason we can't turn off our brains at night: stress. "With busy schedules, careers, caring for family, and so on, it's overwhelming to process everything during the day," she says. "So when our heads finally hit the pillow at night, we can't help but think about all of the things we still need to do."

According to The Philips 2019 global sleep survey, worry and stress were the number-one lifestyle factors cited for impacting participants' ability to fall asleep and/or sleep well.1 Another survey conducted by Well+Good found the same thing: Participants named stress (over everything from money to work to family and relationship issues) as the leading cause for their sleeplessness.


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Overheating

Overheating, or night sweats, is another huge sleep inhibitor for many adults, especially women. A recent sleep habits survey by sleepwear and intimates brand Soma found, unsurprisingly, that about half of participants claim to have difficulty falling and/or staying asleep, with 57 percent pointing fingers at a restless mind—or being unable to turn off their brains at night. But in addition to the familiar stress factor, an overwhelming 36 percent of respondents also said their sleep suffers due to being too hot or sweating in the night. Any number of common factors, including fluctuating hormones, blood sugar levels, and certain medications, can lead to night sweats. In fact, Soma's survey revealed that being hot is a more common sleep issue than snoring (which only about 24 percent complained about).




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