This ESL Podcast is about sleep and insomnia Learn about some sleeping problems and learn English.

Dialog:

A: I haven’t been sleeping well lately. I’m tired all day but I can’t seem to fall asleep at night.

B: Have you had problems with insomnia before?

A: I’ve always been a light sleeper but I’ve never experienced anything like this. It’s been like this for over 2 months now. It started after I got my new job.

B: Is the job causing you much stress? Worrying or thinking too much can negatively affect people’s sleep.

A: I don’t think so. It’s a really relaxing job and I don’t think about it too much when I’m home. The only thing I can think of is that I drink more coffee now than I used to. I didn’t think that would be much of a problem since I don’t drink any after I get home.

B: Caffeine stays in the system for a long time. Try not drinking any coffee past noon. You might also want to do some yoga or other relaxation techniques before bed. You want to be in a relaxed state well before you get into bed. It will make falling asleep much easier.

A: What about drinking alcohol before bed. I find it helps me sleep.

B: You can if you want, but don’t have too much. Too much alcohol will decrease the quality of REM sleep.

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