Do you have problems sleeping and you want to avoid taking a prescription medication for the problem? If so, there are some things you can try at night, and ways you can change your surroundings to help you get the slumber you desperately need.

Schedule is one of the most important parts of getting a good night's rest. There are a few things you can do around the home with time management and scheduling to help you get the sleep that you need.

Temperature Control

The thermostat should be set around 65 degrees if you want to get a good night's sleep. You can get a programmable thermostat to lower the temperature when it nears bed time, and then to let the temperature rise in the morning when you are ready to wake if you worry about being cold. Being too hot can cause restlessness when you're trying to get shut eye.

Timed Blinds  

Your body will naturally want to wake with the sun, and if light is coming in your bedroom earlier than you're ready to wake up, your body is going to wake up anyways. It can also be hard to get to sleep if the sun isn't setting until late in the evening during the summer. Timed blinds that black out the room at night when it's time for you to go to bed, and that open automatically when it's time for you to rise will help you get on a good sleeping pattern. The blackout blinds will also keep street and car lights out of the windows.

Noise Machine

If you only need a noise machine to get to sleep, or if you need it all night, get one that can be programmed like the thermostat and the blinds. If the machine will start quietly when it's time for you to lay down, and get to full sound as you are sleeping, you can wake when it's tapering off and getting quieter. You can also have it set to shut off after a couple of hours if you only need it to fall asleep.

Timers can be your best friend, even if you feel like you're beating the clock to get some sleep at night. You can try some alternative options to prescription medication if you want to find a holistic way to treat your insomnia. Talk with your doctor about non chemical ways to deal with your sleeping problems.